credit score myths

Your credit score has nothing to do with your age, gender or career. Here are the five factors that matter.

A good credit score is one of the basic building blocks to financial stability. However, even well-informed consumers may still believe in one or two of the commonly-believed myths about those crucial three digits. "We're seeing a lot of myths out there and a lot of misperceptions consumers have...

You've seen those ads for subscription websites that let you check your credit score, but haven't bitten. We here at Walletpop can't say we really blame you; they're kind of pricey, and some consumers have complained that trying to cancel can be a bit of a hassle. Besides, you figure your credit...

By now, most WalletPop readers are aware of how important a good credit score is. But you're not alone if you're confused about what makes up that score and how much each of those components matter. We talked to Barry Paperno, consumer operations manager for FICO, the organization to which the...

Lita Epstein is WalletPop's resident credit score expert. Write to her in the comments box below. Many of the questions I receive relate to credit scores and how to improve them. There are many myths out there which I debunk below, but first let's take a look at what a credit is and who creates it....

I'm not sure how this myth got started, but it's one of the most harmful myths out there. The worst thing you can do to destroy your credit score is to file bankruptcy. A chapter 7 bankruptcy stays on your credit report for 10 years and can reduce your credit score by as much as 265 points. Credit...

This is Part 2 of Lita Epstein's series Busting the Credit Score Myths. For Part 1, check out Closing Cards to Improve Credit Score. Be sure to check back with WalletPop for the rest of the series later this week! Lowering your credit limits definitely will not help your credit score. In fact in...

Sometimes when you apply for a loan for a major purchase, such as a mortgage, you're told you can improve your credit score if you close some of your credit cards. Don't believe it. In fact, sometimes when you close an older card you can actually cause your credit score to go down. Credit scoring...