Becoming an Authorized User: Can It Help Your Credit?
Being added to someone else's credit card can help you build credit, or hurt it. Here is how authorized user status works, who's responsible for the bill and what to check first.
Topic
Credit Scores
What moves your score, how long things stay on your report, and how to rebuild.
What Is a Good Credit Score?
Credit scores usually range from 300 to 850, but what counts as "good" depends on the lender. Here is how scores are grouped, why you have more than one, and how to improve yours.
Hard vs. Soft Credit Inquiries
Not every credit check hurts your score. Here is the difference between hard and soft inquiries, how rate shopping is treated, and what to do about inquiries you don't recognize.
How Long Do Late Payments Stay on Your Credit Report?
A late payment can stay on your credit report for years, but its impact fades. Here is when late payments get reported, how long they last and what you can do.
What Is Credit Utilization and Why Does It Matter?
How much of your available credit you use is one of the biggest factors in your credit score. Here is how utilization is calculated and how to lower it.
How to Rebuild Credit After Debt Problems
Late payments, settlements or bankruptcy don't have to define your credit forever. Here is a step-by-step plan to rebuild, using tools like secured cards and credit builder loans.
Credit Freezes vs. Fraud Alerts: When to Use Each
A credit freeze and a fraud alert both help protect you from identity theft, but they work differently. Here is how each one works, what it costs and when to use it.
How to Read Your Credit Report
Your credit report is the record lenders use to judge you. Here is how to get yours for free, what each section means and what to look for.
How to Dispute an Error on Your Credit Report
A wrong late payment or an account that isn't yours can drag down your score. Disputing it is free. Here is how to do it, step by step.
How Debt Relief Affects Your Credit Score
Every way out of debt shows up on your credit report differently. Here is what consolidation, a debt management plan, settlement and bankruptcy can each mean for your score.