Posts tagged as:

credit score

Credit score basics

July 23, 2009

All the information out there on credit scores can be confusing. At the heart is the FICO score, which is what lenders use to determine your riskiness as a borrower.
Here are the main elements of the FICO score:

Payment history – Account payment information on specific types of accounts you may have, such as credit cards, [...]

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Deal with your debt; do not ignore it

May 5, 2009

Nobody likes to talk about their debt. Not me, not you, not anybody. But your debts do not like to be ignored. As I wrote in my column for Consumerist yesterday  , if you let your debts go into default and do nothing, it could end up hurting.
Credit card companies in particular want you to [...]

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Gone in 60 seconds: 10 credit score myths

March 12, 2009

60-second video: Myths of credit | I Will Teach You to be Rich (via Lifehacker)

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Getting your credit score is getting more confusing

February 6, 2009

February brings two big changes to FICO credit scores. First, FICO credit scores are calculated differently as of yesterday. Second, as of February 14th, Experian will no longer give consumers access to their Experian credit score, although lenders will still have access to the number.
First, the changes to the way FICO scores are calculated. Consumerist [...]

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Credit reporting and you.

September 26, 2008

The following is a great discussion which took place on Thursday 9/25.  For a great instruction on credit reporting and consumers listen here.  The interview begins at 59:43 of the 1:19 broadcast segment.  
If you are concerned about your credit rating and/or report this is a must listen.

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Get credit score estimates to go with your free credit report

September 17, 2008

You have the right to get a free credit report once a year, but that does not include your credit score, the actual number that lenders use to determine your creditworthiness.
Credit Karma is one of several credit score “predictors” that have cropped up in recent months.
Kara McGuire recently compared her actual FICO score, and says [...]

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CreditKarma.com Makes Free Credit Score More Like FICO’s

September 2, 2008

CreditKarma.com Makes Free Credit Score More Like FICO’s | Consumerist

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Free monthly credit score estimates

June 30, 2008

LendingClub and Prosper.com will “grade” borrowers based on Experian data. WaMu credit cards include TransUnion-based monthly FICO scores (although it probably is not worth getting a new card just for that perk). E-Loan Mortgage offers a one-time score based on Experian data
But the best one seems to be Credit Karma, which offers a free daily [...]

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Free credit scores for all consumers? Almost…

June 6, 2008

Get your TransUnion score here! Free credit scores for all consumers? Almost… [The Red Tape Chronicles]

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Store charge cards will drag down your credit score

February 22, 2008

Nearly every store I walk into has a store charge card. Usually the store will offer 10-20% off of your purchase if you sign up for a card. Big deal. According to Bankrate.com, opening a store card account is an automatic 20-point hit to your credit score. Ouch. Why? Because “store credit cards are issued [...]

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