See my research, posts, and articles on credit scores, including how they work, ways to improve them, and common pitfalls to avoid. Click the link to learn more!
TransUnion found settlement enrollees who were still current when they enrolled fell 96 points, 645 to 549, measured six months before to six months after. Here’s what it leaves out.
Damon Day and I break down why bankruptcy fear is mostly a myth — and what actually happened to our credit and our lives after we each filed.
Paying a collection doesn’t remove it. It stays about seven years from your original delinquency, and whether your score rises depends on which model your lender pulls.
The 10-year number is real — but it’s not what you think. Here’s what actually happens to your credit after bankruptcy, and how to beat the one real catch.
A 609 letter can’t erase an accurate debt. FCRA Section 609 is a disclosure right, not a delete button. Here’s the truth and what actually fixes your credit.
Steve Rhode and Damon Day explain why budgets and payment plans break during inflation, why bankruptcy is less risky than the status quo, and what to do before your options disappear.
Phone bill went to collections? Here’s exactly what happens to your credit, your rights under FDCPA, and the steps that actually work to resolve it.
Gambling debt is ordinary unsecured debt — fully dischargeable in Chapter 7. From someone who has helped gambling debt survivors since 1994.
Carrying a balance to build credit? The CFPB calls it a myth. Here’s what 48% of Americans are getting wrong — and what it’s actually costing them.
Enrolling in a DMP can trigger adverse action on credit cards not in the program. Other creditors monitor your profile for signs of financial stress — and they can reduce limits or close accounts without warning.
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