Bad Behavior: Men, Women and Credit Card Debt
Tracking how men and women used credit cards over the course of a year revealed some striking differences -- and proved that both sexes could manage their debt a lot better.
credit report
6 Smart Moves to Boost Your Credit Score
Even if you're not planning on applying for a mortgage or credit card anytime soon, you need a good credit score. Here are some lesser-known strategies to help boost yours.
Four Things to Know About the New VantageScore Credit Score
The new credit score on the block, VantageScore 3.0., is a revamped version of the original VantageScore -- a generic credit scoring model that has been around since 2006.
Parents, Beware: Identity Thieves Are After Your Children
Parents, beware: Your offspring are in the crosshairs of financial scammers. According to AllClear ID, an identity-theft protection company, children are 35 times more likely than adults to be identity theft victims.
When You've Passed On, Who Inherits Your Credit Card Debt?
When we die, we leave all kinds of things behind, including our debts. And it's not always clear what exactly happens to those obligations. Consider your credit card debt, for example.
There Could Be Something Wrong With 42 Million Credit Reports
The Federal Trade Commission just released a report on the credit reporting industry that could spell trouble for tens of millions of consumers: 25 percent of people had at least one error that could negatively impact their FICO credit score.
Study: 1 in 5 Consumers Had Error in Credit Report
One in five consumers had an error in a credit report issued by a major agency, according to a government study. The FTC study also said that 5 percent of the consumers identified errors in their reports that could lead to them paying more for mortgages, auto loans or other financial products.
Scammers Hacking Computers by Calling Victims on the Phone
It's the latest scam: A con artist calls your phone posing as a tech from a big computer company, and claims to have detected a virus on your computer. He (or she!) then asks for access to it in order to "help" you. Agree, and your troubles are just beginning.
Prepaid Cards Can't Hurt Your Credit, but Can't Help It Either
Some people think that using prepaid cards can help them build or restore their credit. Not true. Unlike traditional credit cards, or even secured cards, the best one can say about prepaid cards is that they won't let you damage your credit.
3 Surprising Findings From the Latest Study on Credit Reporting Agencies
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau analyzed data from the three largest CRAs %u2013%u2013 Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion %u2013%u2013 over the last year. We pored over the 38-page report. Here are a few of the most staggering findings we came across.
CFPB Complaint Site Takes on Credit Report Issues, Too
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's complaint website already gave Americans a way to seek redress over problems with credit cards, mortgages, bank accounts, auto or personal loans, even student loans. Now, it's also ready to help us deal with credit reporting agencies.
Where Does Your Spouse's Credit Card Debt Go When They Die?
When a husband or wife dies, it's not just the emotional issues that can be overwhelming; the financial issues can be, too. Here are three important financial actions no widow or widower should delay taking -- and the answer to the pressing question in the headline above.
Are Banks Giving Up on Credit Cards?
After a long spell of losses on their credit card portfolios, banks are finally seeing that business return to normal profitability. So you might expect that those banks would be racing to offer new credit card to customers. You'd be wrong.
To Pay or Not to Pay? How to Handle Old Debts
With interest rates at record lows, now is the time to refinance your mortgage. But what if you find an old unpaid debt that's impairing your credit score? The answer isn't as obvious as you might think.
Need a Loan? Ask a Stranger: The Power of Peer-to-Peer Lending
America's big banks are still deeply hesitant to lend money to most ordinary folks. But in the year's since the financial crisis knocked the legs out from under us, an alternative borrowing option has been gaining ground: peer-to-peer lending.