Great Income Means a Great Credit Score, Right?
Great Income Means a Great Credit Score, Right? Credit Report by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email Over the past few weeks I’ve taken to task some of the more stubborn credit myths that simply won’t go away, in part because their authors refuse to acknowledge their mistakes. The most recent blatant inaccuracy being circulated is […]
Why Am I Getting Calls From a Collection Agency?
Why Am I Getting Calls From a Collection Agency? Civil Penalty by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email Q: John, I started getting phone calls last week from a company called “name withheld.” They told me that they’re a collection company and that they are collecting a debt that I owed years ago to a credit […]
How Do Hard Inquiries Affect Your Credit Report?
How Do Hard Inquiries Affect Your Credit Report? Credit for Beginners by David B. Coulter Share Share Email Unless you’re using a credit monitoring service like SmartCredit®, you might only be using your one free credit report a year from each of the three main credit reporting bureaus to stay up to date. Lenders and […]
How Long Can Good and Bad Information Remain on My Credit Reports?
How Long Can Good and Bad Information Remain on My Credit Reports? Auto Loans by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email If you have good or excellent credit and haven’t had any late payments you’re probably not worried about how long data stays on your credit reports. If there is negative data on your credit report, […]
Should You Use Store Credit Cards?
Should You Use Store Credit Cards? Credit Cards by David B. Coulter Share Share Email Nearly every store, big and small, offers a store credit card. Although this concept initially began with large department stores, it is now possible to find store credit cards for gas stations, home improvement chains, and even candle and bath […]
Will Settlements Hurt My Credit?
Will Settlements Hurt My Credit? Credit Cards by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email I received the following excellent question from a Twitter follower yesterday. You can follow me on Twitter at @johnulzheimer. “John, I have about $8,000 in credit card debt and a company called me telling me that they can help me settle that […]
What Are Credit Reports and When Might You Need Yours?
What Are Credit Reports and When Might You Need Yours? Credit for Beginners by David B. Coulter Share Share Email Many of us won’t even become aware of credit reports until we apply for our first car loan, credit card or mortgage. To some, it can be a shock that there’s a record of our […]
10 Mortgage Terms Every Borrower Needs to Know
10 Mortgage Terms Every Borrower Needs to Know Credit Report by Maria Shahid Share Share Email The first step to joining the nearly 40% of American homes that are now “free and clear” of mortgage debt is to start making the regular monthly payments that lead to financial freedom. If you’re just beginning to navigate […]
Why are my credit reports different?
Why are my credit reports different? Credit Monitoring by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email The three credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, compile information from many different sources such as lenders, collection agencies and court records. The lenders come from many industries such as credit card, banking, credit unions, oil, retail, mortgage lenders, student […]
How Can I Protect My Score During the Holidays?
How Can I Protect My Score During the Holidays? Credit Cards by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email When you’re at the mall giving your credit cards a workout this holiday season please keep in mind how those actions can impact your credit scores. If you’re not sure how they work…here’s a refresher… 1. Payment history […]