December 15, 2023

Protecting Your Amazon Experience: Beware of These 3 Common Impersonation Scams

Introduction: Amazon, the e-commerce superstar that offers nearly everything under the sun, has become a target for scammers. In fact, it’s so popular that scammers are […]
November 27, 2023

Prehired Exposed: How Student Loan Borrowers Were Misled

“Prehired will void all outstanding income share agreements, refund harmed borrowers, and permanently cease operations”   In a recent announcement, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) […]
November 17, 2023

An Overview of the CFPB & State Initiatives to Stop Wrongful Medical Bill Collections

Why this will interest you This is crucial because many consumers have suffered due to incorrect and unverifiable medical bills on their credit profiles. We should […]
September 21, 2023

Reducing the Impact of Medical Debt on Credit and the Importance of Good Health in Your Financial Journey

Introduction: For those of you who’ve faced expensive medical challenges, the recent actions taken by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) are a step further in […]
September 14, 2023

Navigating the Financial Maze: Your Quest to Success with QuickBooks

Did you know that managing your personal finances is a lot like managing your business finances? In today’s rapidly changing world, one thing remains constant: the […]
September 5, 2023

Navigating Student Loan Payments: Your Guide to a Smooth Restart

Hello, fellow financial explorers! 🌟 October is just around the corner, and with it comes an important change for millions of federal student loan borrowers. After […]
May 1, 2023

Do the Comments on Your Accounts Affect Your Credit Scores?

Your credit reports are full of information about you and your credit management habits. Some of those details can impact your credit scores for the positive, […]
September 23, 2022

Things That Do Not Influence Your Credit Scores

Paying close attention to factors that can influence your credit scores is a smart move, especially considering their importance. Whether you want to open a new credit card, […]
September 16, 2022

Installment And Revolving Debt Affect Scores Differently

If you’ve ever researched methods of improving your credit scores you undoubtedly found hundreds or thousands of articles with tidbits of advice. Ubiquitous to almost all […]
September 9, 2022

The Anatomy of an 800 FICO Score

A decent credit score can open the door to many financial benefits. But, with just a “decent” score your options are still going to be capped. […]
September 4, 2022

What Is The New Credit Bureau Policy on Medical Collections?

On March 18th, 2022 Equifax, Experian and TransUnion issued a joint press release, which Equifax’s CEO, Mark Begor, posted on his LinkedIn page. The press release announced […]
September 3, 2022

Should I Ever Co-sign For Credit?

When I write articles about credit I rarely give my personal opinions on the topic. I generally believe that adults should make adult decisions on their […]
August 28, 2022

Why is VantageScore Different From FICO Credit Scores?

One of the most prevalent myths in the world of consumer credit is that we all have a single, three digit credit score. Nothing could be […]
August 21, 2022

Is Co-Signing a Loan a Good Idea?

Those of you who follow my writings, blogs, vlogs, and speaking engagements know I rarely give my personal opinions about credit-related issues. Whether it’s credit repair […]
August 14, 2022

Does Paying a Collection Improve Your Credit Scores?

Working to restore damaged credit scores is a little bit like solving a puzzle. People often look at their credit reports to find out what information […]
August 8, 2022

Do I Still Owe Money on a Charged Off Account?

The world of credit is full of funny terms and acronyms that consumers may find confusing. One example is the term charge off. Some people see […]
August 1, 2022

Will Adding Utility and Rental History Raise My Credit Scores?

If you research credit-building strategies, you’re sure to come across advice recommending that you work to add positive accounts to your credit reports. And while new […]
October 21, 2021

What Is Risk-Based Pricing and Why It Matters To Your Credit

You already know that your credit scores help to determine whether a lender approves or denies your credit applications. Yet, just because you can qualify for […]
October 11, 2021

How To Dispute Credit Report Errors Effectively

When you’re working to repair your credit, it makes sense that you might want to explore different methods and hopefully make the process more effective. However, […]
September 30, 2021

How Re-Aging Works on a Credit Report

Working to rebuild damaged credit can be a long and often frustrating process. But there is a silver lining you can cling to if you’re working […]
September 22, 2021

Impact Of Joint Accounts On Credit After Divorce

Depending on the validity of their information, most sources indicate about 45% of marriages fail and end up in divorce. What this means is every single […]
September 14, 2021

Can Rent Reporting Really Help My Credit?

Normally when I write about credit I do so in a very matter-of-fact manner. Here are the facts, A…B…C. I’m going to change it up for […]
September 6, 2021

Are People with Low Credit Scores at Risk of Identity Theft?

Identity theft occurs when someone procures your personal information such as your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. The thieves then use this […]
September 1, 2021

Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Avoid Collection Calls

You’ve done your best to stay current on your obligations. But, for whatever reason, you just can’t maintain your payment obligations. Eventually, some or several of […]
August 27, 2021

Why is My Creditor Not Reporting My Payment History to the Credit Bureaus?

You apply for a new credit card and find out within a few minutes that your application has been approved. Congratulations! You’re about to get that […]
August 14, 2021

Can Lenders See My Utility and Rental Payment History?

When you apply for new a new loan or credit card, the lender or card issuer will always check your credit report or reports as part […]
August 6, 2021

Will Paying Off a Loan Hurt My Credit Score?

Paying credit obligations on time has the potential to help you establish solid credit reports and scores. This concept is easy enough to understand. But what […]
July 27, 2021

Will Adding Utility and Rental History Raise My Credit Scores?

If you research credit-building strategies, you’re sure to come across advice recommending that you work to add positive accounts to your credit reports. And while new […]
July 21, 2021

Do I Still Owe Money on a Charged Off Account?

The world of credit is full of funny terms and acronyms that consumers may find confusing. One example is the term charge off. Some people see […]
July 14, 2021

Does Paying a Collection Improve Your Credit Scores?

Working to restore damaged credit scores is a little bit like solving a puzzle. People often look at their credit reports to find out what information […]
July 8, 2021

The Anatomy of an 800 FICO Score

A decent credit score can open the door to many financial benefits. But, with just a “decent” score your options are still going to be capped. […]
July 2, 2021

Is Co-Signing a Loan a Good Idea?

Those of you who follow my writings, blogs, vlogs, and speaking engagements know I rarely give my personal opinions about credit-related issues. Whether it’s credit repair […]
June 29, 2021

What Is The New Credit Bureau Policy on Medical Collections?

On March 18th, 2022 Equifax, Experian and TransUnion issued a joint press release, which Equifax’s CEO, Mark Begor, posted on his LinkedIn page. The press release […]
June 20, 2021

Why is VantageScore Different From FICO Credit Scores?

One of the most prevalent myths in the world of consumer credit is that we all have a single, three digit credit score. Nothing could be […]
June 13, 2021

Installment And Revolving Debt Affect Scores Differently

If you’ve ever researched methods of improving your credit scores you undoubtedly found hundreds or thousands of articles with tidbits of advice. Ubiquitous to almost all […]
June 6, 2021

Should I Ever Co-sign For Credit?

When I write articles about credit I rarely give my personal opinions on the topic. I generally believe that adults should make adult decisions on their […]
June 1, 2021

Things That Do Not Influence Your Credit Scores

Paying close attention to factors that can influence your credit scores is a smart move, especially considering their importance. Whether you want to open a new […]
May 28, 2021

The Benefits of Having a Credit Monitoring Subscription

Maintaining solid credit reports and scores is a valuable asset with the potential to save you money and make it easier to qualify for the things […]
May 20, 2021

3 Reasons Deleted Accounts Reappear on Your Credit Reports

With respect to our credit reports, every single one of us has something in common. We all enjoy considerable rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act […]
May 14, 2021

The Pros and Cons of Paper and Online Credit Disputes

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (hereafter, “FCRA”) affords each of us many rights as it pertains to our credit reports. One of those rights is the […]
May 7, 2021

How Many Credit Cards Should You Have?

Credit cards are without a doubt the most vilified of all of the credit products not called “payday loans.” Credit cards can influence your credit scores […]
April 22, 2021

What Can I Do If I am the Victim of Identity Theft?

In 2020, losses associated with identity fraud were $56 billion according to a study performed by Javelin. And, because of Covid 19 more consumers are remote […]
April 15, 2021

The Credit Bureaus Are on Your Side

Your credit reports are so important to your personal bottom line. Accordingly, struggling with credit-related problems cannot be any fun.  It’s certainly understandable to be annoyed […]
April 8, 2021

I Paid Off a Negative Account But It Was Not Deleted

Working to improve bad credit is a wise use of your time and energy. Yet at the same time, cleaning up damaged credit may feel like […]
April 3, 2021

The Hidden Danger of Removing Old Accounts

Consumers have long enjoyed the right to an accurate credit report. The Fair Credit Reporting Act, which has been around since the early 1970’s makes that […]
March 18, 2021

How Long Does Good Information Stay on a Credit Report?

If you’re in the habit of checking your credit reports, then you’re aware that the information on your reports tends to change over time. New accounts […]
March 12, 2021

Is Re-Aging Common On Credit Reports?

The world of consumer credit is filled with terms and phrases that are uncommon elsewhere. One such phrase is “re-aging.” Re-aging occurs when a certain date […]
March 5, 2021

What To Do When Your Credit Score Isn’t Going Up

There are many reasons you might want a better credit score. Perhaps you want to qualify for a new credit card or loan. Or, maybe you’re […]
March 2, 2021

Does Paying Collection Accounts Help or Hurt Your Credit Scores?

When you fall behind on a debt, there are a number of bad things that can happen. Your creditor may charge you a late fee. With […]
February 24, 2021

Why Did One Credit Bureau Delete An Item But The Other Two Did Not?

Over 220 million Americans have consumer credit report information maintained by the three national credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. This means over 660 million […]
February 18, 2021

Can You Restart the Seven Year Clock?

When you’re working to improve your credit, the last thing you want to do is make a mistake and set back your progress. It’s also, however, […]
February 12, 2021

Three Ways to Protect Your Identity

Identity theft is a crime that occurs when someone steals your personal information and uses it without your permission, sometimes to apply for new credit in […]
February 6, 2021

You Have Hundreds Of Credit Scores

Keeping an eye on your credit reports and credit scores is a good financial habit. But if you’ve ever checked your variety of credit scores online […]
February 1, 2021

The Best Ways to Build Good Credit

Good credit is a necessity if you want to make your financial life easier. Good credit can help you qualify for loans and credit cards at […]
January 22, 2021

Should You Use Experian Boost?

When it comes to trying to improve your credit, there are a lot of different strategies you can employ. Some credit improvement techniques involve you paying […]
January 18, 2021

What Happens When You Dispute Accounts On Your Credit Report

When mistakes show up on your credit reports, federal law gives you the right to request that the credit reporting agencies correct them. This request is […]
January 14, 2021

Why Do Deleted Accounts Reappear on Credit Reports

Sometimes people disagree with the information on their credit reports. And while this can be frustrating, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) confers to you the […]
January 11, 2021

Understanding Why Your Credit Scores Drop

Credit scores, those three digit numbers ranging from 300 to 850, are used by almost every lender in the United States to support their lending operations. […]
January 4, 2021

The 609 Dispute Letter Myth

The condition of your credit will have a profound impact on your overall financial well-being. Unfortunately, many of us can have credit-related setbacks, such as a […]