Question: Dear Steve, I have three credit card accounts, all with Citibank. Two of them are closed. The one open account has a credit limit of $1700. I am just $140 below the limit on it. The other two are at about 40% or less. I am getting dinged on my FICO score as they … Read more
It’s no fun to be fined for parking in the wrong place at the wrong time or getting a speeding ticket. Driving safely is important, which means that these infractions can even affect other things like your car insurance or life insurance rates. Will parking fines or speeding tickets affect my credit score as well? … Read more
Q: Is it legal for a mortgage company to all of a sudden demand a deferment balance from 10 years ago now, or will they foreclose on the home I am one month behind on the monthly payment? A: That sounds a lot like a balloon mortgage (a mortgage in which a large portion of … Read more
When you start to use credit cards and take out loans, you build a credit score that demonstrates your creditworthiness. Does that number stay static a day, a week, a month? In truth, it’s changing all the time. Most of your accounts probably report information to the credit bureaus every 30 to 45 days. One … Read more
Your credit score is the gateway to almost all your financial goals — from applying for a mortgage to purchasing a car. Having a good credit score can help you get the credit you need, as well as receive better interest rates and terms on loans, cellphone service plans and more. So, what do you … Read more
If you’re among the millions streaming more often during COVID-19, Experian is offering a way to use the leading video streaming service to boost your credit. Building on its groundbreaking consumer credit product, Experian Boost™, the company announced today that consumers can add video streaming payment history to their Experian credit reports using Experian Boost. … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, Largely former spouse debt. I have resolved/settled some, but 1/2 dozen accounts dragging credit down into 500’s. Time is a problem for me – have a busy law practice. Could use help to address negatives, and to advise what to pay, when. Greg Answer: Dear Greg, Well, the good news is you’ve … Read more
credit reporting company Experian, they’re growing faster than any other type of debt, with the second quarter of 2019 alone seeing a collective balance of $305 billion in the U.S. Experian goes on to say that this number is double the growth of credit card debt. One of the most popular reasons to take out … Read more
After your Social Security number, your credit score is one of the most significant numbers of your financial life. Your credit score helps decide whether you qualify for loans and what your interest rates will be. Using a credit card can have an impact on your credit score. Everything you do with a card — from … Read more
Household debt balances continued their upward trend in the second quarter, with increases in mortgage, auto, and credit card balances, according to the latest Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit from the New York Fed’s Center for Microeconomic Data. Student loans were roughly flat, a typical seasonal pattern in the second quarter. The Quarterly … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, Are fixed rate personal loans better than revolving credit (credit cards) for your credit report? I’ve seen different opinions on this so thought I’d ask the expert. Because of a business that failed we ran up some hefty credit card debt ($15k+). Would it be better for our credit score if we … Read more
Originally published December 11, 2009 Consumer debt is a world of double standards. On one hand you have advocates screaming about the evils of debt settlements or that groups that charge people for professional help to do debt settlements are ripping off consumers because settling debts is something that anyone can do. Don’t get me … Read more
Establishing a good credit score can be a confusing process, especially if you are getting conflicting advice about the best way to do it. A Credit.com blog reader asked us recently about the best way to build a credit score. He said he plans to start with a secured credit card, but some people are … Read more
One in 10 U.S. adults is invisible to much of the American economy because they have no credit report or score, a new report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has found. Those 26 million adults — disproportionately Black or Hispanic — have virtually no chance to borrow money or use credit cards. And another … Read more
Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) April 12, 2015 National Debt Relief recently shared in an article published April 6, 2015 how consumers who has either a very low credit score or zero credit score can finally have an easier access to credit. The article explains how FICO came up with the pilot program and who will mostly … Read more