The Ultimate Guide to Credit Cards
Tuesday, June 9, 2026

John Ulzheimer

Credit Expert
John Ulzheimer

About The Author

John Ulzheimer is an expert on credit reporting, credit scoring, and identity theft. The author of four books on the subject, Ulzheimer has been featured thousands of times in media outlets including the Wall Street Journal, NBC Nightly News, New York Times, CNBC, and countless others.

With over 33 years of credit-related professional experience, including with Equifax, FICO, Experian, VantageScore, and Credit.com Ulzheimer is the only recognized credit expert who actually comes from the credit industry.

He has been engaged as an expert witness in over 800 credit-related lawsuits and has been qualified to testify in both federal and state courts on the topic of consumer credit. In his hometown of Atlanta, Ulzheimer is a frequent guest lecturer at Emory University's School of Law.

Latest Posts

Worked On 64 Articles To Date
What’s the Difference Between FICO and VantageScore, Really?

What’s the Difference Between FICO and VantageScore, Really?

By: John Ulzheimer 3/31/2026

FICO and VantageScore are both credit scoring models, but they are separate brands and may be used by... Read More »

What Happens to Your Credit Report When You Pay a Credit Card Late?

What Happens to Your Credit Report When You Pay a Credit Card Late?

By: John Ulzheimer 3/30/2026

If you’re a few days late with a credit card payment, you won’t have to worry about it showing up on your... Read More »

Q&A: Why Does My Credit Score Change From Month to Month?

Q&A: Why Does My Credit Score Change From Month to Month?

By: John Ulzheimer 2/12/2026

Credit scores are based on information from your credit reports. They can go up or down each month... Read More »

What Credit Score Do I Need to Get Approved For a Premium Rewards Credit Card? 

What Credit Score Do I Need To Get a Premium Rewards Card?

By: John Ulzheimer 12/9/2025

This is an excerpt from a recent Q&A with renowned credit expert John Ulzheimer. You can see the entire... Read More »

I’m Starting College and Plan to Apply for a New Credit Card — Thankfully, My Dad’s an Expert

My Son's Thoughts on Applying for His First Credit Card in College

By: John Ulzheimer 9/9/2025

Editor’s Note: This piece was written by Mason Ulzheimer and his father, CardRates.com Finance Expert... Read More »

What is a FICO Score? How it Impacts Lending Terms and Credit Decisions

What is a FICO Score? How it Impacts Lending and Credit

By: John Ulzheimer 6/13/2024

A FICO score is any score designed and developed by the company, Fair Isaac. When you think of the term... Read More »

Do Credit Card Issuers Use FICO or VantageScore Credit Scores?

Do Issuers Use FICO or VantageScore Credit Scores?

By: John Ulzheimer 4/17/2024

The credit card is the default preferred method of payment for almost 200 million consumers, according to... Read More »

How Do Credit Cards Get Hacked?

How Do Credit Cards Get Hacked?

By: John Ulzheimer 3/14/2024

If you’ve ever gotten an unfamiliar alert from your credit card company or you’ve seen a transaction on... Read More »

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