Category:
Credit Score

How Collections Affect Your Credit Score and What You Can Do About It

By Sarah Brady | February 10, 2026

There aren’t many things you can do to lose 100 points from your credit scores, but having an account go to collections is one of them. When you fall behind…

How Long Do Closed Accounts Stay on My Credit Report?

By Tom Jackson | October 14, 2025

You might be finished with a credit account, but that doesn’t mean the credit account is finished with you. Closed accounts stay on your credit report for 7-10 years. A good one…

Pay for Delete: Can It Really Help Your Credit?

By Tom Jackson | January 6, 2025

Wouldn’t it be great if you could make your financial mistakes disappear from the public record? You can, sort of. “Pay for Delete” is a financial strategy in which you…

Why Do Lenders Look at Credit Reports?

By Bents Dulcio | January 6, 2025

Credit reports contain information that helps lenders assess risks associated with lending you money. This data gives lenders a well-rounded perspective on how you’ve managed credit in the past, which…

Good Credit Scores: FICO & VantageScore

By Pat McManamon | September 11, 2020

Debt consolidation is a sensible solution for consumers overwhelmed by credit card debt. It can be done with or without a loan. Consolidation cuts costs by lowering the interest rate…

Security Freeze vs. Fraud Alert: Which Offers Better Identity Theft Protection?

By Tom Jackson | July 9, 2020

Credit card fraud and identity theft rank among the chief personal finance concerns that Americans have about our credit cards. Credit card companies and credit ratings firms address these worries…

Paying Off Your Loans Early

By George Morris | March 4, 2020

If you make loan payments on time and keep debt under control, good for you. Many people want to be in your shoes. Pat yourself on the back, but don’t…

Top Credit Reporting Mistakes & How to Fix Them

By Tom Jackson | February 28, 2020

The Big Three credit reporting agencies – Experian, TransUnion and Equifax – must accurately gather data from billions of transactions and use that information to track and reliably report the…

Will My Credit Score Be Damaged If I Close Several Credit Card Accounts At Once?

By Tom Jackson | February 28, 2020

For a variety of personal reasons closing credit card accounts might seem like a good idea. Do these reasons to do so sound familiar? You want to avoid (or end)…

Top Credit Score Facts and Myths

By Tom Jackson | February 6, 2020

Credit scores matter. A lot. So it’s best to understand what they are, how they are calculated and what they mean. Something this important should not be shrouded in myths…

Sources:

  1. Wu, Chi Chi. (2025, July 30) The Latest on Keeping Medical Debt Out of Credit Reports. Retrieved from: https://library.nclc.org/article/latest-keeping-medical-debt-out-credit-reports
  2. N.A. (ND) FAQ About FICO® Scores in the US. Retrieved from: https://www.ficoscore.com/faqs-about-fico-scores-us
  3. N.A. (ND) How Do Collections Affect Your Credit? Retrieved from: https://www.myfico.com/credit-education/faq/negative-reasons/collections-affect-credit