What is A Credit Inquiry?

What is A Credit Inquiry? Credit Monitoring by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email What in the world is an inquiry?  And, more importantly, why do they hurt my scores? And how are people who shop for the best rates protected from many inquiries?  Let’s tackle these in order… The definition of a credit inquiry is […]

Budgeting for Kids: Do They Need a Savings Account?

Budgeting for Kids: Do They Need a Savings Account? Credit for Beginners by David B. Coulter Share Share Email Opening up a kids savings account for your children and teaching them how to budget can help ensure success for your children’s financial future and hopefully stability for your own retirement as well. Most parents would […]

How to Create a Debt Management Plan that Works for You

How to Create a Debt Management Plan that Works for You Credit for Beginners by Staff Writer Share Share Email Managing debt is not fun, but with a structured plan, you can take control of your finances and work towards financial freedom, which can lead to fun! Whether you’re a young adult, a financial planner, […]

I Haven’t Used My Credit Card In Years, Why Isn’t It Closed?

I Haven’t Used My Credit Card In Years, Why Isn’t It Closed? Credit Cards by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email Your credit card is not automatically closed, even if it hasn’t been used for a few years.  Credit card companies really want your business, so they don’t usually close the account unless you can’t pay […]

A Week at The Beach…How I Chose The Credit Card I’ll Use

A Week at The Beach…How I Chose The Credit Card I’ll Use Credit Cards by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email Tomorrow we head out for a week and the beach and my bags are almost packed. When I leave tomorrow morning I’m going to have to decide which credit cards I want to take, and […]

Spend, Save, or Jump Ship

Spend, Save, or Jump Ship Credit Cards by David B. Coulter Share Share Email In a Perfect World So you have landed your dream job, you are well respected, and you are on the fast track to becoming one of your company’s leaders. An ever-rising salary coupled with the satisfaction from working in a company […]

What are “Score Factors”

What are “Score Factors” Credit Report by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email Score factors, which are also known as “reason codes”, describe the reasons your score was not higher. Since credit scores’ “secret sauces” are not divulged by the developer, score factors help to explain the score.  That way the company can explain it enough […]

Does My Credit Report Combine With My Spouse’s Credit Report When We Get Married?

Does My Credit Report Combine With My Spouse’s Credit Report When We Get Married? Credit Report by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email From time to time I’ll receive questions from consumers regarding how their credit reports react to marriage. Many people believe that your credit reports and credit scores merge when you get married. This […]

4 Ways to Pay off Your Car Faster

4 Ways to Pay off Your Car Faster Credit for Beginners by David B. Coulter Share Share Email Perhaps the best ride you’ll ever take in your car is on the day it’s 100% yours. The quicker you can pay off your car, the sooner you can take the wheel with complete financial peace of […]

Reporting Identity Theft

Reporting Identity Theft Credit Cards by Maria Shahid Share Share Email Identity theft is a frightening crime that affects millions of consumers each year. If someone gets your personal information, you want to do everything you can to help safeguard your identity. In some instances, identity theft insurance and monitoring may be worth considering. While […]