There’s a lot of advice floating around out there about how to manage your credit cards and other debts to maximize your credit score. The trouble is, not all this wisdom is created equal, and some tips intended to help your credit can actually have the opposite effect. Here are seven supposedly “smart” tips we’ve heard bandied about
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A comprehensive study of consumer credit reports by the Federal Trade Commission found that the accuracy of consumers’ credit files is better than some surveys had indicated, but worse than the industry has claimed.
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Everybody knows how important it is to maintain good credit, but a lot of people don’t know how. Some think it’s necessary to revolve a credit card balance to get a higher score or don’t know the impact of checking their own …
Could this be a light at the end of the credit crisis tunnel? According to new research from Fair Isaac Corporation, the company responsible for FICO scores, the percentage of Americans with top-notch credit scores is the best it’s been since 2008. In addition, the number of people in the bottom tier of the credit spectrum has fallen to …
If you’re a credit card customer with an account in good standing, this is a good time to ask for a credit limit increase. After the financial crisis in 2008, issuers got very stingy with credit, cutting limits or closing …
While your finances might not be the first thing that springs to mind as Valentine’s Day approaches, your credit can be affected by your partner’s history and spending habits. Credit counselors advise couples to sit down together …
There are a whole host of things that can wreak havoc on your credit score, from maxing out a credit card to having a home foreclosed on or declaring bankruptcy. But people often worry about situations or events that actually …
Maybe you think you know all there is to know about your credit score. Don’t pay late; don’t have a slew of maxed-out cards. It’s true that those things are important, but credit scoring is a complicated process. There are many …
During and after the financial crisis, consumers had a hard time obtaining new credit cards or accounts. This trend appears to be reversing, but a closer look at who banks are lending to has some experts worried. The number of …
The past few years have been rough on real-estate values and employment figures, which translates to a third category that’s been trampled in the aftermath of the Great Recession: consumer credit scores. According to research …
You probably know that having a good credit score is important for your financial stability. What you may not realize is just how good a score you need these days to be considered top-notch by lenders. Banks are aggressively …
