Category Archives: Credit Repair
Freezing And Unfreezing Your Credit Report
Monitoring your credit score can be stressful, especially if it is getting lower, or if it is not increasing as quickly as you would hope. Even worse, requesting credit reports too frequently can adversely affect your credit score, so the best-case scenario is just to live with the uncertainty of only finding out whether… Read More »
Good News About Medical Debt And Credit Reports
Paying down debt feels great, but it is discouraging when, after you make the last payment on your payment plan from your emergency room visit, your application for a car loan still gets denied? Most debts stay on your credit report for seven years, even if you were just a little bit late paying… Read More »
Beware Of Credit Repair Scams
It is possible to get out of debt, but there are no quick fixes. Most of us are stuck in a situation where, even though we work day and night and live modestly, we barely have enough money to keep up with the payments on our debts, and with big debts like student loans,… Read More »
What Is A FICO Score, And Why Is It So Important?
FICO stands for Fair Isaac Corporation, and it is a software analytics company that calculates borrowers’ credit score to determine their credit worthiness, and lenders in turn use loan applicants’ FICO scores to determine whether to extend loans to these applicants. Just as Google updates its algorithms every so often in order to provide… Read More »
Credit Card Limit Increases: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
Getting an offer for a credit limit increase on your credit card feels like a win, especially if you are trying to rebuild your credit after a bankruptcy filing or another serious struggle with debt. Your instinct might be to jump at every opportunity to increase your credit limit; after all, an increase in… Read More »
You Can Get A Home Mortgage With Lackluster Credit, But Should You?
Owning a house gives homeowners a feeling of financial stability, even if they must contribute a large portion of their income each month toward mortgage payments. Unfortunately, most people in our society live paycheck to paycheck, and home ownership remains elusive. The good news is that it is possible to qualify for a home… Read More »
The 609 Loophole: Myth Or Reality?
Schoolchildren in South Florida have been known to circulate a rumor to the effect that, if you say “Bloody Mary” to your reflection in the mirror three times in a dark room, a vengeful ghost by that name will appear and commit horrific acts. Anyone who has tried to do this found that the… Read More »
How to Tell Family and Friends about Your Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a public process in the United States. Not only are your court records public, but people can find out about your bankruptcy by doing a background check. Some newspapers also publish a list of the names of people who filed for bankruptcy in that jurisdiction. It’s unlikely that your friends and family… Read More »
Credit Card Fraud is Declining
New research has shown a helpful decline in credit card fraud. According to a report discussed in Forbes magazine, fraud dropped to $6.4 billion in 2018, down from $8.1 billion in 2017. The numbers were compiled by Javelin Strategy & Research. These numbers might not mean much to consumers, since banks end up eating… Read More »
House Democrats Look to Ban Use of Credit Score when Setting Car Insurance Rates
Your credit score matters, particularly when you try to get a loan. Those with the best credit scores tend to qualify for the lowest interest rates. If your score is weak, then your interest rate will be higher, and you will ultimately pay much more over the life of the loan. Your credit score… Read More »