Credit Score – Money Crashers

How Much Available Credit Should I Have?

Grant Sabatier — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 17:20:56 +0000

Credit utilization is one of the most important factors contributing to your credit score. Your credit utilization ratio refers to how much available credit you have at a given time. Credit utilization is critical because it signals to lenders whether you can use credit responsibly and pay your debts. In fact, credit experts say that

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8 Ways to Improve Your Credit Score After a Foreclosure

Brian Martucci — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 13:00:00 +0000

The worst part about foreclosure is losing your house, but the indirect financial fallout is pretty bad too. A foreclosure can cause your credit score to drop by 100 to 200 points, with much of the damage coming in the first two or three months after you first fall behind on your mortgage. If that’s

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How to Use a Personal Loan to Improve Your Credit Score

Christopher Murray — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 15:38:30 +0000

Finding out how much your credit score really matters can be a hard blow. Fortunately, diligently paying down a small, short-term loan gradually increases your credit score over time. And following these steps, you can potentially have the funds in your hand in a day or two.

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Creditworthiness Meaning — How to Build & Maintain Your Credit Score

Brian Martucci — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Being creditworthy has a massive impact on your life, from your ability to get credit cards and borrow money to signing up for utilities. But what does it mean to be “creditworthy”?

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Should You Use a HELOC to Consolidate Credit Card Debt?

Christopher Murray — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 13:00:00 +0000

If you’re a homeowner, you have a powerful tool that can help with debt consolidation: your home’s equity. A home equity line of credit uses your home’s equity to offer you a built-in line of credit you can draw on for various purposes, debt consolidation included.

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Credit-Builder Loans — Building Credit Made Easy & Affordable

Christopher Murray — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Discover how credit-builder loans can help you establish or rebuild credit quickly. Learn how they work, their features, and the pros and cons to make an informed decision.

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Line of Credit — What It Is, Meaning, Types (HELOC & Others)

Brian Martucci — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 17:00:00 +0000

Suddenly need a major infusion of cash? A line of credit may be a cheaper and more convenient option than loans or credit cards. But it comes with its own downsides. Find out more about credit lines before opening one.

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How to Add Rent Payments to Credit Report (and Boost Your Score)

Heather Barnett — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 13:00:00 +0000

It can be kind of annoying that your biggest, most important payment — your rent — doesn’t even count toward your credit score. Fortunately, these days, you can add rent payments to your credit report to improve your credit score without a lot of hassle.

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Active-Duty Alert (Fraud Prevention) — What It Is & How to Set Up

Dawn Allcot — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 20:25:23 +0000

An active-duty alert tells potential creditors and lenders you’re deployed and they should verify your identity before giving you credit. It’s a handy tool when you’re serving your country away from home. But there are other options for locking down your credit report. Which one’s right for you?

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Fraud Alerts on Your Credit Report — Types & How They Work

Dawn Allcot — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 18:11:16 +0000

Are you concerned about identity theft and credit card fraud? Placing a fraud alert on your credit report is one option. Find out whether it’s the best option for you and whether you need a regular or extended fraud alert.

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Your Rights as a Credit Cardholder — Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) Explained

Heather Barnett — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 17:00:00 +0000

As an American consumer, you have rights when it comes to your credit. From credit score access to the right to prevent fraud, learn about each right you have under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and how to protect them.

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How to Build Credit With CreditStrong Credit Builder Loans

Brian Martucci — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 16:36:16 +0000

A CreditStrong credit builder loan can help you improve your credit score with lower requirements than a traditional loan. Find out how it can help you improve your financial future.

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The Credit Karma Guarantee – Good for Business and Bad for Consumers

Brian Martucci — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 20:00:00 +0000

The Credit Karma Guarantee promises to pay you $50 if your application is denied. It sounds like a good deal, but are there hidden risks?

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CreditStrong Review — Build a Strong Credit Score

Heather Barnett — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 18:00:00 +0000

CreditStong is a one-stop shop for building installment and revolving credit. Is it too good to be true? I looked into it to see if it was a good fit for readers and ensure it wasn’t a scam.

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Credit Bureaus — What They Are & the Top 3 Reporting Agencies

Heather Barnett — Sun, 22 Jan 2023 16:13:00 +0000

You can’t read an article about your credit score without someone telling you to contact the credit bureaus to notify them of errors. But what are credit bureaus, how do they get their information, and what does it mean for you?

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How to Rebuild Your Credit Score — 12 Steps to Follow

Heather Barnett — Wed, 18 Jan 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Rebuilding your credit can take several years, but you can see progress almost immediately once you begin. If your credit score is less than perfect, learn how to fix it to start improving your finances.

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What Is a Credit Freeze & How Do You Lock Your Report?

Kelly Ernst — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 15:00:00 +0000

A credit freeze prevents scammers from opening a new credit line in your name, but it doesn’t prevent all fraud. You can still use your existing credit accounts when your credit is frozen. Freezing your credit is free with all three credit reporting bureaus, and a freeze lasts until you lift it.

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Average American FICO Credit Score by State – The Best & Worst

Brian Martucci — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 18:00:00 +0000

Find out the average credit score in your state, how (and why) it compares to neighboring states, and how your friends' and neighbors' FICO scores have changed over time.

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Should You Pay for a Credit Repair Service?

Kelly Ernst — Fri, 04 Nov 2022 20:22:41 +0000

A bad credit score hurts you in many ways. Credit repair companies offer to help you fix your score for a fee. But are they worth it? We take a closer look.

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How a Good Credit Mix Can Improve Your Score

Heather Barnett — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 21:44:36 +0000

Credit mix receives little attention in the grand scheme of credit score discussions. But for many borrowers, it’s still integral to improving overall creditworthiness. Are you one of them?

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