credit reports
Consolidated Credit’s 12 Days of FinLit Infographic
5 Essential Finance Tips for High School Seniors
Credit Report Cleaning Instructions Infographic
‘Jamming’ cleans your credit — temporarily
Guest Post by Kelly Dilworth A long-running scam by illegitimate credit repair operations is throwing a wrench into the already-beleaguered credit report dispute process, making it harder for the big three credit bureaus to keep up with legitimate disputes. Credit reporting agencies complain they are inundated with dispute letters bulk mailed by fraudulent credit repair clinics, […]
Complain and Win: 4 Tips for Calling Credit Card Customer Service
By Karen Haywood Queen A sense of dread fills many of us when we think about calling to report a credit card problem. The countless minutes spent listening to soul-destroying hold music — only to wind up with an unhelpful customer service agent who drops your call — are enough to make even the most […]
How Bad Moves on Social Media Could Damage Your Credit Score
By Erin Lowry Dramatically quitting your job via viral video might seem appealing after your boss starts screaming at you — again– but for the sake of your credit score, it’s probably not a good idea. According to a recent report from the Wall Street Journal, lending companies and Fair Isaac (FICO) might soon start […]
Learn on to Better Manage Your Money during National Financial Wellness Month
What better time to tackle your holiday debt than to start taking a more proactive role during National Financial Wellness Month. It is not a coincidence that this month-long holiday follows the Christmas spending season as January is usually the time when Americans realize that they have financially overextended themselves. All month long consumers take […]
Four Myths About Credit Scores
Credit scores are essential for financial success, as lenders will use this figure to determine what terms and rate to offer on all loans – mortgages, personal lines of credit, auto loans. That being said, it is important to have a vast knowledge about this number, so people don’t do anything to damage their rating. […]
Students Have Alternatives To Credit Cards
Newlyweds: Keep Credit Positive After Combining Finances
How to End a Bad Relationship with Your Credit Card
Your credit card may be your best friend when it comes to long shopping trips, booking vacations and your weekly manicure and pedicure sessions, but when the end of the month rolls around and your bill comes due, you may realize that your relationship with credit is more toxic than beneficial. A healthy and […]
Breathe Fresh Air! It’s Time to Spring Clean Your Finances
Spring is around the corner, and I’m sure many of you already started opening your windows and cleaning the dust that accumulated during the winter. While cleaning your house is important, don’t forget to give some fresh air to your finances. As organizing a messy closet makes you feel more comfortable and happier, getting rid […]
Don’t Be a Victim of Credit Report Errors
As you may have heard, a Federal Trade Commission study showed that 5 percent of credit reports have mistakes that could lead consumers to pay more for loans, insurance and other financial products. This fact is not surprising, as we can’t expect millions of credit reports to be perfect. And having an error on your […]
Steps to Achieving a Perfect Credit Score
What’s in Your Credit Report?
Want to buy that house for your kids to grow up in? Or even just rent that car for a weekend getaway? You had better make sure your credit report and credit score will hold up to scrutiny. Payment history, number of accounts and age of oldest account are all huge factors in lenders and […]
America Earns a C+ in Credit Scores, What’s Your Grade?
Credit scores can be a symbol of financial success for many, but for others they represent a barrier to achieving their goals. With an average credit score of 680, many Americans have trouble purchasing a home or obtaining new lines of credit. This score is comparable to a C+ in school. At the state level […]
Protect Your Credit Report
Do you regularly monitor your credit report? I strongly advise you to start doing so if you’re not already. There is no worse feeling then seeing a debt that isn’t yours show up on your credit report. And why in the world would you want to be stuck carrying the weight of someone else’s […]
Know the Difference Between ‘Good’ and ‘Bad’ Debt
Whenever we talk about debt it’s usually negative and in most cases for good reasons! Credit card debt might be preventing you from saving money and high student loan payments may leave little room for traveling and experiencing the finer things in life, but the truth is that not all debt is created equal. We […]