If you regularly use a credit card, you may have wondered what it would take for your lender to increase your credit limit. In many cases, the answer is simple — all you have to do is ask. Under the right circumstances, a credit limit increase could benefit your credit scores. But how does the … Read more
Carrying a balance on your credit card means youâve paid off a portion of what you owe and left the rest for the next billing cycle. There are lots of reasons you might carry a balance. But itâs important to understand how it might affect interest charges, credit scores and more. People often leave a … Read more
If youâve only had credit cards and are considering your first car loan, you may want to know how fast a car loan could build your FICO® credit score. So, does a car loan affect your credit score, and can a car loan build your credit? Keep reading to learn more about how car loans … Read more
If your credit score is 450, it might seem impossible to get an auto loan. After all, FICO says that 450 is “very poor” credit, which is much worse than what most lenders consider good credit. However, even if you have bad credit, there are still ways to get a car loan. If you have … Read more
Dealing with debt collectors can be an unpleasant and stressful experience. You may feel pressured to make payments you can’t afford or agree to terms you don’t fully understand. While it’s important to take debt collection seriously, you also have certain rights when it comes to interacting with collectors. Knowing what not to say is … Read more
“Expert verified” means that our Financial Review Board thoroughly evaluated the article for accuracy and clarity. The Review Board is made up of financial experts whose job it is to make sure that all of our content is fair and unbiased. Bankrate is always editorially independent. While we adhere to strict , this post may … Read more
Your credit utilization ratio is a measure of how much credit youâve used versus how much credit you haveâtypically expressed as a percentage. In general, having a lower credit utilization ratio is better for your credit scores. But how do you calculate your credit utilization? Whatâs considered a good credit utilization ratio? And why does … Read more
One of the three main credit bureaus in the US is Experian. The other two are Equifax and TransUnion. Credit bureaus get information about your credit history from many places and use it to figure out your credit score. However, how accurate is the data Experian gives you? This article goes into great detail about … Read more
If you’ve got a 625 credit score, you might be wondering if that’s a good score or a bad score. According to Equifax Canada, one of the two main credit bureaus in the country, a credit score of 625 is in the range of what most people consider to be a fair to decent credit … Read more
You may be wondering, “Why can’t I use my Mastercard credit card at Costco?” Costco is a well-known warehouse club that is known for its big discounts and deals on bulk purchases. Many shoppers are aware that in recent years the warehouse club only accepts Visa credit cards in their physical stores. This has been … Read more