How Bad Are Collections For My Credit Reports and Credit Scores?
How Bad Are Collections For My Credit Reports and Credit Scores? Auto Loans by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email “John, I’m in a battle with a doctor’s office over a bill they sent to me that I know is supposed to be paid by my insurance company. I flat out refused to pay it and […]
Can I use prepaid cards or debit cards to help build my credit?
Can I use prepaid cards or debit cards to help build my credit? Credit Cards by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email If you want to build credit, prepaid cards or debit cards are not the solution. The key reason is that they don’t report information to the three major credit bureaus, which are Equifax, Experian […]
What Are The CFPB Examination Procedures for Consumer Reporting Agencies?
What Are The CFPB Examination Procedures for Consumer Reporting Agencies? Credit Monitoring by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email In March 2012, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced that they were targeting consumer reporting agencies (CRAs) with at least $7 million in annual revenue. This included 30 companies, representing 94 percent of the market and […]
When Using a Store Credit Card is Beneficial
When Using a Store Credit Card is Beneficial Credit Cards by David B. Coulter Share Share Email I have a friend who recently got married. After visiting the traditional suit rental shops in the mall, he was leaving through Macy’s. Provincially, it happened to be one of Macy’s biggest sales days of the year. After […]
Why isn’t an account removed from my credit report after it is paid?
Why isn’t an account removed from my credit report after it is paid? Credit Cards by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email Your credit report includes both current and historical account information. Credit grantors want to make a lending decision based upon both historical and current payment behavior. Historical information is an indication of how you […]
What are Trade Lines?
What are Trade Lines? Auto Loans by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email “Tradeline” is one the common credit industry terms used to identify accounts on your credit reports. Trade lines are the credit card accounts and loans on your credit report. A trade line contains accounts receivable data provided by credit grantor and includes a […]
Why Are There So Many Student Loans On My Credit Reports?
Why Are There So Many Student Loans On My Credit Reports? Credit Monitoring by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email “John, I’m a recent college graduate and I’ve been in the work force for about 2 years now. Last week I pulled my credit reports and I have six, yes SIX, student loans on my credit […]
Personal Line of Credit vs. Personal Loan: What Are the Key Differences?
Personal Line of Credit vs. Personal Loan: What Are the Key Differences? Credit Score by David B. Coulter Share Share Email Over the course of a lifetime, you probably will need to borrow money at least once. Whether it’s to buy a new car, send a kid to college or refurbish your home, you may […]
Why Isn’t My Prepaid Debit Card On My Credit Report?
Why Isn’t My Prepaid Debit Card On My Credit Report? Credit Cards by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email Prepaid debit cards have been all over the consumer finance news for the past year. They are becoming a more popular choice for consumers who don’t want or can’t get credit cards or traditional bank accounts. The […]
Can I Get Scammed Buying a Gift Card?
Can I Get Scammed Buying a Gift Card? Credit Monitoring by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email I got this question from a Facebook friend. It’s a great question considering we’re about the enter the holiday shopping season. If you have a question for me please submit it to me via Facebook or Twitter @johnulzheimer. Q: […]