When you review your credit report, you may notice a section showing companies that have recently accessed your credit information. Some of these entries are known as hard inquiries, and they commonly appear after you apply for a new credit card, mortgage, auto loan, personal loan, or another type of credit. Seeing a hard inquiry … Read more
A credit freeze is one of the strongest tools available for protecting yourself against identity theft. By preventing most lenders from accessing your credit reports, a freeze makes it much harder for someone to open new credit accounts in your name without your permission. Millions of Americans choose to freeze their credit after experiencing a … Read more
Protecting your personal information has become more important than ever. Every year, millions of consumers receive notifications informing them that their sensitive data may have been exposed in a data breach involving a retailer, financial institution, healthcare provider, employer, or government agency. Once personal information such as your Social Security number, date of birth, or … Read more
Your credit report is one of the most important financial documents you have, yet it’s also one of the most overlooked. Many people check their bank accounts regularly, monitor their investments, and review monthly bills, but rarely look at their credit reports. Unfortunately, waiting until you’re applying for a mortgage, auto loan, or credit card … Read more
Understanding Your Credit Report Your credit report is one of the most important financial documents you’ll ever have, yet many people never look at it until they’re denied a loan, rejected for a credit card, or discover they’ve become victims of identity theft. Every time you apply for a mortgage, auto loan, personal loan, or … Read more
Credit Score vs. Credit Report – Understanding the Difference When people talk about credit, they often use the terms credit score and credit report interchangeably. While they are closely connected, they are not the same thing. Think of it this way: your credit report is like your financial report card, containing detailed information about your … Read more
Understanding a Fair Credit Score Many Americans fall into the fair credit range, yet they often wonder what that means for their financial future. Is a fair credit score considered good? Can you qualify for a mortgage or auto loan? Will lenders approve your credit card application? The answer is encouraging: a fair credit score … Read more
Understanding Soft Credit Inquiries You check your credit report to make sure everything is accurate. Your credit cards and loans look familiar, and you do not see any missed payments. However, farther down the report, you notice several company names under a section labelled: You recognize the name of your bank and the credit-monitoring service … Read more
Understanding Hard Credit Inquiries You apply for a new credit card because it offers a useful rewards program and a lower interest rate than your current card. A few days later, you check your credit score and notice that it has changed. When you review your credit report, the name of the credit card company … Read more
Your credit score is a numerical representation of information in your credit history that helps lenders assess credit risk. When you apply for a credit card, mortgage, auto loan, personal loan, or another form of credit, a lender may use a credit score as one part of deciding whether to approve your application and what … Read more