Credit Report

The information in your credit reports is what's used to create your credit scores, so you don't want to let mistakes on your credit reports potentially throw your credit scores out of whack. Here's how to dispute credit report mistakes, step-by-step.

It's common to believe that a credit score is really only helpful when you want to borrow money and therefore (so the questionable logic goes) you don't need to check your score until you want to borrow money. Here are four reasons why that way of thinking is wrong.

By Steven Ely Unless they are in trouble, most people don't wake up in the morning thinking about credit. Not even me, and I've spent much of my care...

Many Americans will be getting tax refunds from the government, and tax refunds are "found money" -- money you forgot was yours. It's as if the government lifted up your couch cushions and found a few hundred dollars.

As most travelers look for ways to stretch their budgets, the benefit of a credit card's initial bonus cannot be ignored -- the right one can give you an extra $500 to play with.

Could you imagine being denied a loan because someone who shares your name tarnished your credit history? It could happen. Credit reports are ofte...

Debit cards have also sprouted in the wallets of young Americans. Unable to get credit cards until age 21, more Generation Y consumers rely on debit cards for routine money management.

If you've had a headache trying to understand your own credit score, pass the aspirin; you aren't the only one.

Jim is careful to always pay his bills on time, keep his credit balances low and has a pretty good credit score.  Rick, his roommate, is quite the opposite.

What do you own that's more valuable than money and more precious than jewels, but can't be locked up in a safe? Your identity. And thieves will do anything to take it.

Call it financial grave robbing. Each year the identities of nearly 2.5 million deceased Americans are used to open credit cards, apply for loans,...

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) recently announced a policy change in how they will treat mortgage loan applications for those whose credit histories contain unpaid collection accounts.

While your payment history ranks as the most important piece of your credit score, it can take months or even years to dramatically improve it. Looking for a quicker fix? Focus on what's known as your credit utilization rate.

This year Duke and Missouri were the culprits for obliterating my brackets. So in the spirit of March Madness, I thought I would share a few lesser known tips for keeping your credit score from looking like this year's busted brackets.

Federal law allows government agencies and businesses that have a legitimate need for your credit information to access your credit report before doing business with you or after you become a customer -- even without your permission.

What you don't know about credit can hurt your personal finances on many levels. So here are seven more lies about credit scores that you should never fall for.

It's the prepaid card with training wheels. In a move that differentiates American Express from other prepaid debit cards on the market, the compa...

Even if you've been through difficult credit problems, it's important to establish current, positive credit references that can boost your credit scores over time.

It should come as no surprise that if you've fallen behind on your bills, you may be hearing from debt collectors. But there are things they aren't likely to tell you, and knowing these things can make all the difference in resolving your debts.

When it comes to sh*t New Yorkers say, you probably wouldn't expect to hear, "I have a better credit score than you." Apparently, they're being modest.

If you want to raise your credit score, here's the real trick: Get educated about how the credit system works. Then you'll know what levers to pull to make your credit score trend up or down over time.

As many of us have learned, life gets even more complicated when your parents come to you for assistance with their money matters -- or worse, when they don't ask for help but really should.