Lots of people have bad credit. According to national stats, most of us have a blemish or two, but if your credit report is full of issues then you may need to look at the culprit; you.

People who have true credit issues are victims, no doubt about it, and you should use every tool and tactic available to you to fix the issues, but if your credit is full of negative items, and I do mean full, then maybe a little reality check is in order.

Lots of people try to use the excuse of errors to remove legitimate items and often times it works, but what I tend to see is the clean up is short lived because the person repeats the same actions again.

If you’re going to be late on credit card payments, mortgage payments and even rent or utilities, you can expect that information to land on your credit reports each time. Some people pour hours of work into fixing their credit issues, only to mess it up again and again.

This isn’t what credit repair should be used for, and frankly it makes it harder for the rest of us who are trying to use the system to fix real mistakes. With so many credit reporting issues, the system is taxed and filled with people trying to right a wrong, but we’re up against repeat credit offenders who fill the system with disputes and complaints.

If you truly understand the value of your credit, you will do everything in your power to keep it looking perfect. I understand there are people who cannot avoid credit issues because of an illness or a job loss, but those who pay their bills late just because they’re lazy or don’t care really need to stop taxing the system just because they can.

I equate that kind of abuse to insurance fraud or workers comp fraud. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. If we’re all going to complain about the credit system and how flawed it is, then we as consumers need to be accountable as well.

I can say this firsthand because I have managed to keep my credit perfect for the last 20 years. I’ve been through job layoffs, illnesses, slow work times just like many of you, but outside of those circumstances, I pay my bills on time and I use my credit responsibly. I don’t buy new cars when I don’t need to, I don’t max out my credit cards, and if I get a medical bill, I pay it. You should too.

Taking responsibility of our credit will make a cleaner leaner credit system for the rest of us. Thats the heart of credit education– to educate and learn- to benefit you financially.

Financial responsibility starts with you.

J.K. Feathers, Credit expert, Contributor