Credit Articles

Like It Or Not, You Have A Score To Settle! (Part 1 of 2 on Credit Scoring) Just when most people finish with school and can stop worrying about test scores, there's a new kind of scoring that enters the picture. It's called credit scoring. And, its...

The Beginning of the Credit Card Era In 1951, Diners Club issued the first credit card to 200 customers who could use it at 27 restaurants in New York City. From that modest beginning, credit cards have become an indispensable part of modern life. Co...

The process of clearing credit can be laborious and frustrating. Understanding your rights empowers you and saves you time and effort. By employing the following tips, you can enlist the help of credit reporting agencies (CRAs) as you work to improve...

Let's be crystal clear, right up front. Paying someone to "fix" your credit is a waste of your time and money, since the negative issues that are temporarily removed from your file will only reappear again in a couple of months. Be careful with credi...

1. Payment History -- 35% The number of accounts paid as agreed and a good payment history give you a higher score. Negative points lower credit scores because of 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days late on any debt. The dollar amount of these delinquencie...

We've all seen the ads on television or in magazines, shouting, "Erase bad debt!" or "Remove negative entries from your credit report!" If you're a person suffering from a less-than-stellar credit rating, those headlines may seem like the answer to a...

If you are married, establish separate credit accounts. Try to finance real estate in just one partner's name to increase your investment financing potential. Avoid joint credit, which limits financing possibilities for both individuals rather than o...

The process of clearing credit can be laborious and frustrating, but your efforts will be paid for in better financing. Your rights are protected by laws, but you need to take reasonable actions toward your goal of clearing credit discrepancies. You ...

To repair your bad credit does not necessarily mean that you now have a good credit, absolutely not. When most people have bad credit, they either purchase a credit repair book or seek a credit expert help. But before you do anything about your bad...

There's only one way to discover the "health" of your credit. You need to examine your credit report. Your credit report is your "consumer identity" that potential lenders will use to judge your credit worthiness. Use these tips to give your cred...

Ah, the "good old days". If you are a baby boomer, like me, then you probably remember how important it was to rush to the bank on payday. You had to get there before the teller lanes closed so that you could have your "cash allowance" for the wee...

You've just opened your credit card bill and attached to your statement you find a "convenience check" included. It may already be filled out with a dollar amount such as $300, $500, or even $1,000. Your mind fills with ideas of what you could buy...

"Erase Bad Debt !" "Remove Negative Items From Your Credit Report" You've probably seen these headlines and others just like it promising to clean up or "fix" bad credit. For someone who suffers from a bad or poor credit rating, these headlines are ...

If you opened a credit card statement recently and were pleasantly surprised to find that your minimum payment due was lowered, don't be so quick to "jump for joy". What may appear as a small boost to your monthly budget is actually the rock that ca...

As a consumer you've learned the importance of establishing a good credit rating with your lenders. Whether you are shopping for a new home or auto, or searching for the best deals on insurance, your credit worthiness will be judged by your credit r...

In Less Than 30 Days. "What can you do to increase that set of three numbers on your credit report that can be so important with your financing?" I came across this question as I was surfing discussion groups the other day.  Check out my answer: ...

If you want to purchase a new home or refinance your current mortgage, be sure to check out the wide array of loan programs available. If you have less than excellent or even poor credit, you can still qualify for a loan. If you have outstanding cre...

Reach into your wallet or purse, pull out a card, swipe, and you're done. It is very easy to use a credit card. The problem lies in choosing a card - and it has nothing to do with the picture on the front! Choosing a credit card that works best for y...

Help! I've Been Turned Down You received an envelope in the mail with a great offer for a low interest credit card. You read all the details, even the boring small print and decided that this card fit your needs to a tee. You filled out the required ...

Do you have a poor credit rating? If so, you are one of tens of thousands of Americans with the same problem. In fact, it seems that this has become a national 'disease.' And just what do people need that have a disease? They need a cure. Here are so...

Do you have enormous credit card debt? You are certainly not alone. According to research, the average family in the United States has $7000 in credit card debt and pays about $1000 in interest each year! Throw in a late payment or two, or an over-th...

Prepaid credit cards have been around for over ten years now, although they are just now coming into the spotlight. Prepaid credit cards are basically credit cards backed by major credit card companies that offer you the ability to deposit money ont...

The Best credit card for the home user is at this time in the Discover series of credit cards. All these cards have low APR rates and many great rewards program. The Best card for the business user is at this time in the CitiBank Business card series...

As many small business owners know, financing is crucial to the financial health of their enterprise. While some small business owners have the resources to launch their business, most look to the credit market for financial help. Indeed, the banking...

Chances are you've gotten your share of offers for Bad credit credit cards, Bad credit visa cards and Credit cards for people with bad credit. Re-establish your credit with a pre-approved bad credit credit card, regardless of your credit history, som...

One of the most powerful financial tools that the modern technology has ever-produced is the credit card. And there is definitely no denying that a credit card is an extremely and overwhelmingly useful and powerful financial tool only if it used prop...

Every year, college freshman are bombared with offers for student credit cards. Parents need to talk about in talking about the responsibilities that go with having a credit card, before their son or daughter goes off to college. I'm not suggesting t...

Bad credit can have a serious negative influence on a variety of things in your life…not only can it prevent you from getting the loan that you need or the credit card that you want, but it can also keep you from getting certain jobs or into certai...

Though it can affect a variety of aspects of everyday life, there are a large number of individuals who don't know exactly how credit works. If you're one of these people, don't worry… you're obviously not alone, and credit isn't always the easiest...

Credit cards have become a major financial industry, uniting cultures with a common form of payment and allowing purchases to be made on credit so that individuals have additional options when they're short on cash. Unfortunately, many people see cre...