Unemployment, furloughs, unexpected personal financial crises, and pay cuts affect consumers, many of whom turn to their credit cards and lines of credit to help them pay for basic necessities. Some lenders and creditors are changing the rules they follow when lending money and lowering credit limits. This makes borrowers wonder how the lower credit … Read more
Why you should care about your credit score and credit report Part of the Guide to FICO Three major credit bureaus compile information about consumers’ borrowing habits and use that data to create detailed credit reports for lenders. Another organization, FICO, developed a proprietary algorithm that scores borrowers numerically from 300 to 850 on their … 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
Hey there friend! If you’re sittin’ there wonderin’ “How do I swipe my credit clean?” you ain’t alone. We’ve all had them moments where we peek at our credit report and think, “Man, what a heckuva mess!” Maybe you’ve got late payments, collections, or some weird account you don’t even recognize. You’re dreamin’ of wipin’ … Read more
Hey there, friend! Ever wondered if paying your bills early could give your credit score a sweet lil’ boost? I mean, who doesn’t wanna see those numbers climb, right? Well, lemme spill the beans upfront: paying bills early can help your credit score, but it ain’t a direct ticket to the top. It works mostly … Read more
Depending on when you borrowed your Sallie Mae student loans, they may be a type of federal debt — and could be eligible for forgiveness programs. Editorial disclosure: Our goal is to give you the tools and confidence you need to improve your finances. Although we receive compensation from our partner lenders, whom we will … Read more
A credit limit is the maximum amount of credit a lender authorizes a borrower to use on a credit card or line of credit. If the borrower exceeds the credit limit, they may be subject to penalties, fees, or even canceled credit cards and lines of credit. Keep reading to learn how credit limits work, … Read more
Installment agreements can help you manage IRS tax debt. But what if you have a lot of different kinds of debt? Can you have more than one agreement? Our tax team looks into this and other questions below. Have tax debt and want to set up a payment plan? Call Innovative Tax Relief for a … Read more
According to the Government of Canada, a credit score is a 3-digit number that represents how likely a credit bureau thinks you are to pay your bills on time. 1 It can be an important part of building your financial confidence and security. 1 For example, building a good credit score could help you get … Read more
We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone. Purchasing a home is … Read more