Which Type of Credit Score Is Most Used for Auto Loans?

Which Type of Credit Score Is Most Used for Auto Loans? Credit Report by David B. Coulter Share Share Email When shopping for a car, most consumers are well aware that the car dealership will check their credit before moving ahead with a sale. Simply put, the better one’s credit, the lower the rate, and […]

What Affects Your Credit Score?

What Affects Your Credit Score? Credit Monitoring by David B. Coulter Share Share Email Maintaining a high credit score is essential as it is the determining factor when apply for a loan, mortgage, or credit card. Unless you make all of your purchases with cash, managing your credit score is one of your most important […]

Great Income Means a Great Credit Score, Right?

Great Income Means a Great Credit Score, Right? Credit Report by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email Over the past few weeks I’ve taken to task some of the more stubborn credit myths that simply won’t go away, in part because their authors refuse to acknowledge their mistakes. The most recent blatant inaccuracy being circulated is […]

How Do Hard Inquiries Affect Your Credit Report?

How Do Hard Inquiries Affect Your Credit Report? Credit for Beginners by David B. Coulter Share Share Email Unless you’re using a credit monitoring service like SmartCredit®, you might only be using your one free credit report a year from each of the three main credit reporting bureaus to stay up to date. Lenders and […]

How Long Can Good and Bad Information Remain on My Credit Reports?

How Long Can Good and Bad Information Remain on My Credit Reports? Auto Loans by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email If you have good or excellent credit and haven’t had any late payments you’re probably not worried about how long data stays on your credit reports.  If there is negative data on your credit report, […]

Should You Use Store Credit Cards?

Should You Use Store Credit Cards? Credit Cards by David B. Coulter Share Share Email Nearly every store, big and small, offers a store credit card. Although this concept initially began with large department stores, it is now possible to find store credit cards for gas stations, home improvement chains, and even candle and bath […]

Will Settlements Hurt My Credit?

Will Settlements Hurt My Credit? Credit Cards by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email I received the following excellent question from a Twitter follower yesterday.  You can follow me on Twitter at @johnulzheimer. “John, I have about $8,000 in credit card debt and a company called me telling me that they can help me settle that […]

What Are Credit Reports and When Might You Need Yours?

What Are Credit Reports and When Might You Need Yours? Credit for Beginners by David B. Coulter Share Share Email Many of us won’t even become aware of credit reports until we apply for our first car loan, credit card or mortgage. To some, it can be a shock that there’s a record of our […]

Why are my credit reports different?

Why are my credit reports different? Credit Monitoring by John Ulzheimer Share Share Email The three credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, compile information from many different sources such as lenders, collection agencies and court records.  The lenders come from many industries such as credit card, banking, credit unions, oil, retail, mortgage lenders, student […]

What Credit Score Is Needed To Buy a House?

What Credit Score Is Needed To Buy a House? Credit Report by David B. Coulter Share Share Email Unfortunately, there is no single credit score that can guarantee a borrower a mortgage at a rate she is comfortable with. This is because each lender is free to set their own credit score requirements, based on […]