Credit Rating | Credit Card Topics

17 Credit Scoring Secrets Exposed (By a FICO Expert)

By: John Ulzheimer, 5/4/2023

Your credit scores play an important role in your financial life. That’s certainly no secret. But credit scoring systems are complicated, and there is no shortage of mystery behind those three-digit numbers. Since 1991, I have been a part of the consumer credit industry with time spent at both Equifax and FICO as an employee and at dozens of other credit-related entities as a contractor and expert witness. If I've learned anything in my more than 30 years in the credit business,... read more »

How Nova Credit Leverages First-Party Data to Solve the Problem of Financial Exclusion

By: Jon McDonald, 9/13/2022

In a Nutshell: Consumers with access to reasonably priced credit have more opportunities for financial improvement. But the three major US credit bureaus tend to reward consumers who have what they consider appropriate credit-use records and exclude many others, including immigrants and infrequent credit users. Nova Credit helps financial providers assess the creditworthiness of millions who don't fit the conventional mold. It accomplishes that by analyzing alternative data from... read more »

What is the Average Credit Score in America?

By: John Ulzheimer, 9/13/2022

Your credit scores aren’t something that you should just set on a shelf and forget about for any extended period. It’s important to keep an eye on the health of your credit — that includes your credit reports from Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian and the various credit scores associated with each of those reports. And, just to see where you rank nationally, you may want to pay attention to how your credit scores stack up relative to the average FICO Score. Let’s... read more »

9 Best Credit Cards For Rebuilding Credit (June 2023)

By: Eric Bank, 8/11/2022

Did you know that besides making purchases, you can use credit cards to rebuild credit? It's been my experience that folks are more familiar with how credit card mistakes can destroy credit rather than help it. But the redemptive powers of credit cards are available to anyone willing and able to pay their bills on time. Of course, a credit card can't heal your credit history if you don't own one. We've rounded up the best cards you can get even with very poor credit. Use one... read more »

How Much Will a Secured Card Raise My Score? (June 2023)

By: John Ulzheimer, 8/10/2022

If you’ve done any research on how to build or rebuild your credit, you’ve undoubtedly stumbled across online forums or blogs that indicate that secured cards are a practical approach in that endeavor. As with most of these credit-building strategies, there’s a little bit of myth and truth circulating the web. So, exactly how much will a secured card increase credit scores? A Secured Card Doesn't Guarantee a Specific Credit Score Increase Consumers have lots of... read more »

What Would Student Loan Forgiveness Do to Your Credit Scores?

By: John Ulzheimer, 7/11/2022

The forgiveness of student loan debt is almost always in the news. The issue has become a lightning rod for controversy among supporters and those who oppose the concept. Regardless of where you stand on the topic of the government allowing people to walk away from their debts, there is another practical issue to consider: How would student loan forgiveness impact your credit reports and credit scores? Credit Reporting and Student Loans Student loans are similar to other... read more »

Can My Credit Card Issuer Update My Credit Report?

By: John Ulzheimer, 8/4/2021

Most credit card issuers report their cardholder’s accounts to the three major credit reporting agencies. As a result, there's a good chance your credit card account shows up on your credit reports from Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. What you may be surprised to learn, however, is that the credit card information on your credit reports does not update in real time. It begs the question, “Can I ask my credit card issuer to update my credit report more often?” Your... read more »

8 Ways Your Credit Score Affects Important Life Milestones

By: Andrea Woroch, 8/2/2021

Your credit score is more than a number — it’s a magic key needed to unlock the door to a better life. When managed wisely, your credit can help you reach various goals and milestones, like buying a house or starting a business, and it can provide access to many conveniences that allow for a more comfortable life. On the flip side, poorly managed credit can keep you from getting ahead in life by limiting access to important daily essentials and increasing the cost of borrowing... read more »

Continental Finance Uses Prequalified Offers to Expand Access to Those with Less-Than-Perfect Credit

By: Matt Walker, 7/13/2021

In a Nutshell: Consumers who have stumbled along their financial journey often have trouble regaining their footing because the credit industry tends to overlook subprime and near-prime consumers. But Continental Finance has been servicing this segment for more than 15 years. The company markets a suite of credit products designed for people who have less-than-perfect credit but are ready to demonstrate their creditworthiness and progress in their financial journeys. Continental... read more »

Credit.com’s ExtraCredit Earns Recognition for Building and Protecting Credit and Paying Rewards

By: Matt Walker, 3/18/2021

In a Nutshell: The ExtraCredit offering from Credit.com combines all the tools consumers need to manage their credit journey in one intuitive app. Users can report rent and utility payments, safeguard their identity, track their FICO® scores, and even earn cash rewards. Those dealing with financial setbacks also receive access to discounted credit repair services. For helping consumers achieve their credit management goals through accessible technology, ExtraCredit from Credit.com... read more »

Discover Credit Scorecard Boosts Transparency and Helps Consumers Maintain Better Scores

By: Matt Walker, 3/9/2021

In a Nutshell: Establishing a credit history and maintaining a healthy credit score is extremely important for U.S. consumers. Financial institutions rely on credit scores to help determine a person’s creditworthiness whether they’re qualifying for a credit card or purchasing a home or automobile. Discover Credit Scorecard helps consumers stay on top of their credit scores and understand the factors that go into them. The free service is available to anyone whether they are a... read more »

Why Closing a Credit Card May Be a Risky Move for Your Credit Score

By: John Ulzheimer, 1/7/2019

There’s no question that your credit card accounts influence your credit score, so closing a credit card may be a risky move. If you open a credit card account when you have little to no established credit history, the new account can help you build a better credit score. If you over-utilize your credit cards, they can negatively impact your credit score. And yes, if you close a credit card account, you may damage your credit score. We'll explore why in the article below,... read more »

8 Most Common Credit Scoring Myths Dispelled

By: Erica Sandberg, 11/7/2018

Myths about credit scores abound. They tend to get passed on from one person to the next, and by the time the stories get to you, they can be hard to shake. However, if you believe them, your credit scores and financial health may suffer. It’s time to learn the correct information. Here are eight of the most pervasive credit scoring myths. 1. There is Only One Real Score, FICO, and the Rest are Fake FICO may be the most widely known and used of all the credit scores, but it is... read more »

How to Freeze Your Credit Reports in 2023

By: John Ulzheimer, 10/11/2018

In a country where over 1,500 reported data breaches occurred last year and where you freely disclose your personal information to third parties, it is virtually impossible to keep your personal information completely safe from people with bad intentions. Identity theft has been a huge problem for many years, and it likely will not be going away anytime soon. In 2017 alone, the Federal Trade Commission indicated over 370,000 reports of identity theft were made by US consumers to... read more »

Know the Score: GetCreditScore Helps Australians Keep Track of Their Credit Status

By: Ashley Fricker, 7/9/2018

In a Nutshell: A person's credit history — whether it's solid or shaky — can have an impact on the outcome of big life decisions, such as taking out a loan to purchase a car or home or starting a business. That's why it's important to know where your credit stands. GetCreditScore offers a free and simple way for Australians to keep track of their credit score, understand the factors that influence a credit score, and learn how to improve it. // Most consumers will need to take... read more »

9 Expert Solutions: Build Credit Without a Credit Card (June 2023)

By: Ashley Fricker, 5/14/2018

It may seem a bit paradoxical, but here, we'll take a look at how to build credit without a credit card. No matter how tasty others find a dish, if you've had a horrible experience with a particular food, chances are you'll avoid it like the plague thereafter. Similarly, regardless of how many people extol their virtues, if you've been burned by credit card use before, chances are you're not too keen to give them another chance. Unfortunately, while there are thousands of... read more »

TotallyMoney.com Provides More Than a Quarter-Million UK Users with Access to Free Credit Reports and Tools to Improve Their Scores in Less Than Six Months

By: Ashley Fricker, 1/25/2018

In a Nutshell: Around 55% of US adults check their credit score at least once a year. The number is far lower in the UK, where Brits have had difficulty accessing their credit profiles in the past. To help solve that issue, TotallyMoney.com began offering UK residents free access to their credit history and scores in August 2017. A quarter-million residents have already used the platform to see their score, which also includes the company’s Borrowing Power which uses proprietary... read more »

12 Best Credit Cards for Building Credit (June 2023)

By: Ashley Fricker, 8/25/2017

Finding the right cards for building credit is a crucial step on the journey to establishing, or re-establishing, good credit. People looking to build credit are starting their credit journey for the first time, while others may be resuming a journey derailed by a financial mistake (or three). Either way, building -- or rebuilding -- a positive credit history can have substantial benefits for your financial future. Why? Because credit reports are used by everyone from potential... read more »

5 Facts: Capital One® Credit Tracker (Now CreditWise from Capital One)

By: Mike Randall, 11/30/2016

Capital One is one of the largest and most respected credit card issuers in North America, with more than 70 million customer accounts. In addition to offering a wide variety of credit card choices for consumers, Capital One also provides credit tracking and free access to credit scores through its popular Capital One Credit Tracker tool. Since 2014, Capital One’s Credit Tracker has helped American consumers view and track their credit score whenever they want. Keeping up with... read more »

Walmart Credit Card: Bad Credit OK? (June 2023)

By: Toby Sembower, 2/23/2016

Walmart is world-famous for its deep discounts on everything from bath soaps to bicycles, making it one of the nation's most popular stores for credit card users. The discount retailer is also known for promoting its own Walmart-brand credit card to its shoppers, which leads many potential applicants to ask the question: "Will Walmart approve me if I have bad credit?" The answer, most likely, is no. While there are a handful of reports from those with credit scores in the 600... read more »

Why Credit Cards Help & Hurt Your Chances of Getting a Mortgage

By: Scott Sheldon, 10/6/2014

Credit cards are a double-edged sword. Depending on the scope of your credit, obtaining and using credit cards may actually improve your credit score. On the other hand, they have the potential detriment of your ability to qualify for a mortgage. Here are the reasons why: A credit card payment eventually becomes an obligation or rather a liability. When a mortgage lender qualifies you for a loan, they take 45 percent of your gross monthly income less any current and present... read more »

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