A good credit rating is important, whether you've got great credit or are still working on getting there. A few simple habits can ensure that your credit rating stays good, or keeps improving. A good credit rating gives you more choices, more benefits, and more flexibility, all at a lower cost. When your credit score reaches the mid-700s, you can be confident that lenders are generally happy to do business with you. Credit scores of 720-750...
Major corporations known as credit bureaus or credit reporting agencies compile your credit information then sell it to businesses that need your credit information. From getting approved for credit cards and loans to getting a job, the information in your credit report plays a major role in your life. Here are some rules defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act that every credit reporting agency has to follow. They must make your credit report available to...
Many of the companies you have accounts with regularly send your account activity to the credit bureaus. Then, businesses that you want to have an account with you check your credit report to determine whether to approve your application. Here are a few things your credit report says about you. Whether you pay your bills on time. Each month, your creditors report our creditors report whether your payment was on time for that month. Any payments...
When you start missing payments on your bills, you'll begin receiving calls and letters asking you to pay for the debt. Depending on how late your payments are, this contact could come from one of two companies: the original creditor or a debt collector. As you may guess, the original creditor is the company who you originally had the account with. This is the credit card issuer, the lender, or another business you had a service with,...
The number of places offering free credit scores has increased substantially over the years. It’s easier than ever to get a truly free credit score – that is, one that doesn’t ask you for a credit card number and covertly sign you up for a trial subscription that has to be cancelled. If you use one of these free credit score services or you’re thinking about using one, you might wonder how much can you trust...
Your auto loan payments are one of the most important of your monthly payments. Missing loan payments can have serious consequences for your credit and put you at risk of losing your only source of transportation. After three missed payments, many auto lenders will declare your loan in default and at that point they may begin the repossession process. In repossession, the lender takes possession of your car – they don’t have to ask or warn...
How much time do you devote to protecting your credit? Believe it or not, many people never think twice about this. Instead, they go about their life, hoping that nothing bad ever happens. Rather than take the risk, here are three simple ways to protect your credit: 1. Keep Your Personal Information Safe This can mean many things. For example, store financial documents in a safe place. Along with this, don’t share your personal information with...
Major corporations are losing massive amounts of consumer information due to data breaches. Most recently, Yahoo reported a breach of more than 500 million accounts. It is the biggest data breach in history (as of September 2016). The impact of having your information exposed in a data breach depends on the type of information stolen. Basic information alone – email addresses, usernames, and passwords – typically enough to commit fraud or identity theft. But if hackers...
No one would knowingly volunteer to be a victim of fraud or identity theft. While you may do your best to keep your financial details safe, you could be unknowingly putting your identity at risk if you do any of these things. Use the same password for all your online accounts. We have dozens of online accounts for everything from email to social media to bank accounts. Unfortunately, many people get lazy and simply use the same password for...
Student loan debt has grown steadily over the last several years, with the total amount of outstanding debt topping $1.3 trillion according to a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Many borrowers owe more than $50,000 and some even owe more than $100,000. Dealing with student loan debt can feel overwhelming, but it's possible. Explore your repayment options. Many student loan providers give you several different options for repaying your student loans. Some...
