Question: Dear Steve, I need help with my credit history and payments. I contacted the credit collection companies and started paying on some outstanding accounts. How can I get my credit fixed and remove these accounts to be able to raise my credit score? Sonia Answer: Dear Sonia, This recent podcast talks specifically about how …
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 …
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? …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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. …
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 …
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 …
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 …