Credit reports contain errors on a regular basis. So, before applying for new credit or beginning your credit repair journey make sure that all of the information contained in your credit report is yours. Reasons for such mixes include: Common name. For example, a father and son who live at the same address, or who don’t add Sr.
Category: Credit Score
5 common mistakes that can cripple your credit score
Have you ever been surprised when your FICO score dropped? Most likely, it’s because you made one of the five mistakes below. Most people aren’t aware of the impact some of these actions have. And what’s interesting is that it appears that the higher your FICO score, the greater the drop when you make a
Tools for building credit: Credit builder accounts, secured cards
Having poor credit can turn your financial world upside-down. You could face unfavorable loan terms, credit denials, even difficulty qualifying for a lease or the best insurance rates. A December 2020 Credit Sesame survey, however, noted that the cost of a poor credit score goes well beyond finances and can impact almost every area of… Continue reading Tools for building credit: Credit builder accounts, secured cards
How do credit cards affect your credit score?
Your credit score – that, single, all-important number – has an enormous impact on your financial future. But too many people don’t understand how this number is formulated or how their actions will help or hurt their score, especially when it comes to credit cards. One key thing to note: The balance on your cards… Continue reading How do credit cards affect your credit score?
Building credit has never been so easy – or fun
Once upon a time, building credit was a grind. First, you’d need to find a card issuer willing to accept your less-than-stellar credit score, which usually meant getting a secured card with a low credit limit and no rewards. Then, it could take a year or more before you could graduate to an unsecured account.… Continue reading Building credit has never been so easy – or fun
Gender gap extends to credit score perception vs. reality, survey finds
Women in the U.S. are more likely than men to believe they have poor credit scores (16 percent vs. 10 percent), but the credit score reality in America doesn’t necessarily align with that perception. A recent CardRatings survey among over 2,000 U.S. adults ages 18+ found that numerous factors may impact how Americans view their… Continue reading Gender gap extends to credit score perception vs. reality, survey finds
How to build credit after divorce
On your own? Take these five key steps to establish or rebuild your good credit rating.
How to dispute and fix credit report errors
Mistakes on your credit report can lower your score and cost you money. Here’s how to find and fix them.
5 credit report items that won’t affect your score
Your credit report may be canon when it comes to predicting your worthiness as a borrower, but there are actually some line items most scoring models are built to ignore.
I have bad credit and I’m on unemployment benefits. I just need a low credit limit to help in emergency situations. I can pay small charges back right away. What do you recommend?
It sounds like you may already be in an emergency situation. Even if an additional credit line could help even out your cash flow woes, you may get better results by rebuilding your credit and shoring up your savings.