Credit Reports ResultsAbout Credit Reports Credit Reports Fact: Credit report info is now used by some insurance companies to help determine premiums--the lower your score, the higher your insurance cost. 

Credit Reports

 Did You Mean "Credit Reports" as in...

 Credit reports Credit reports
 Credit history Credit history
 Credit score Credit score
 Credit repair Credit repair
 Credit reporting bureaus: the big three Credit reporting bureaus: the big three
 

Credit reports "Credit reports"


Credit Reports 101 - The FDIC put together this extensive collection of brief articles on the most crucial elements of credit reports: keeping your score high, protecting yourself from identity theft and other scams, realizing the effect of bad checks on your scores, and other juicy information.

Credit Reports: What They Contain, What They Mean - This fact sheet from the nonprofit Privacy Rights Clearinghouse gives you not only a concise description of credit report contents and uses, but also information about getting your name off of mailing lists, correcting credit report errors, and addressing credit-related privacy violations.

Credit Report Basics - This portion of a larger FTC publication describes how credit report bureaus put together credit histories.

Do You Speak "Credit Report?" - A brief article from the always-helpful Bankrate.com gives a thumbnail sketch of a credit report and explains what you're looking at, looking for, and hoping not to find.

13 Myths about Credit Reports - This eye-opening report gets straight to the point in dispelling some common credit report misconceptions.

Credit history "Credit history"


What Is a Credit History? - Your credit history is spelled out in a credit report and is often boiled down to a mere credit score. The FDIC explains it all in this article.

Steps to Build a Credit History - This article contains solid, basic information on establishing a credit history if you don't already have one.

Credit History 101 for New Grads - Although these tips are published by a Texas state agency, they are useful for new high school graduates everywhere.

Quiz Yourself on Credit History Basics - In only 8 questions, this quiz nails some of the finer and most misunderstood points of the credit game. Beware: Getting your results does lead to an ad for a credit watch service.

Credit score "Credit score"


Fair Isaac Corporation's FICO FAQ - Here's some solid info from the Fair Isaac Corporation, creators of the mathematical formula used to develop that crucial figure: your credit score. Also known as a FICO score, the result of the Fair Isaac calculation gives lenders a number to help predict a borrower's creditworthiness.

The FTC on Credit Scoring - The Federal Trade Commission publishes a wide variety of essential information for consumers on a wide variety of topics. This link brings you straight to the FTC's online brochure about credit scoring.

Finding Out Your FICO Score - You'll see a lot of pop-up ads promising free access to your FICO score, but more likely you'll have to pay a small fee to buy that information from a credit reporting bureau or service. This page on FasterCredit.com's site provides links to several sources.

Free Self-Test for Credit Rating - This quick quiz won't give you the all-important FICO score but it will give you a good idea of how creditors might percieve your credit track record.

Credit repair "Credit repair"


The Straight Scoop from the FTC - The Federal Trade Commission hears about all kinds of credit repair scams from complaining consumers. This link takes you straight to the federal agency's main publication on credit repair schemes.

Most Common Credit Repair Scams - Bankrate.com's section on credit repair scams provides a great deal of information in this one meaty article.

If You Really Want to Know... - This exhaustive list of topics generally leads to mercifully brief answers and generally good advice.

New ID a Bad Idea - Considering changing your identity to fake a clean slate? First consider these facts from the FTC on that credit repair scam.

Credit reporting bureaus: the big three "Credit reporting bureaus: the big three"


Equifax's Credit Education section - Of the three big credit reporting bureaus, Equifax has the skimpiest consumer education section. However, you never know where you'll learn something new.

Experian's Credit Education section - Another of the big three credit report bureaus, Experian offers its own consumer education material. From this page you can link to credit profile basics in the "All about credit" section or pose a question to an online consumer credit advice column, "Ask Max."

Transunion's Credit Education section - Transunion offers perhaps the most substantial consumer credit education section of all three major credit bureaus.

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