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November 29, 2004 09:39 AM

What to Do About Your Credit


Excerpt: Free credit reports are coming your way. But you may have to take further steps to fix mistakes you come across, or pay for other information, such as your actual credit score. It could be worth the trouble.

　 　

Free credit reports are coming your way (see Tip of the Week for details). But you may have to take further steps to fix mistakes you come across, or pay for other information, such as your actual credit score.

It could be worth the trouble. Credit reports contain payment histories, loan balances and other important personal and financial information used by lenders, insurers, employers and landlords.

"The implications of your credit are huge," says Norma Garcia, senior attorney at the nonprofit Consumers Union. "Your credit report and credit score impact your ability to get loans or credit cards, and even to access housing and employment."

For the credit bureaus, the new offering is expected to mean fewer sales of credit reports, which typically cost $9 each. But the bureaus hope to make up for the lost revenue by marketing credit scores, identity-theft monitoring services and other products to a broader array of customers.

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Free Credit Reports Coming, With Pitches (November 30, 2004)
Free" may just be another word for something else to buy, at least when it comes to credit reports. Under a federal law passed a year ago, consumers will be entitled, beginning as soon as tomorrow, to a free credit report every year from each ...
Teens Need To Embrace Identity Protection (November 30, 2004)
Experts at the Qwest 2004 Summit on Protecting Teens from Identity Theft found that teens tend to be more careless about sharing personal information, especially on the Internet. So teenagers, here are some tips to help you keep your identity safe: - Be smart online ...
A Generation Weighed Down By Debt (November 28, 2004)
Two weeks ago, when Beth O'Connell ordered several books from Amazon.com, she received a distressing surprise: She had hit the limit on her credit card. Sorry, no books. "This is my first maxing out," explains Ms. O'Connell, a publicist in Watertown, Mass., who graduated from ...
7 Ways to Improve Your Credit Score (November 25, 2004)
While credit opportunities are opening up for consumers, poor credit ratings are blocking the doors of opportunity. Lenders are stopped when loan applicants can’t show good credit ratings. It behooves consumers to know the score when it comes to credit rating. Mortgage company decisions, as ...

Read all 26 posts in the same category of Credit/Credit Card:

Capital One Sued Over 'Deceptive' Ads - Jan 01, 2005
Frequent-Flier Cards Delay Fee Collection - Dec 27, 2004
It Pays To Surf For Auto Loans Online - Dec 27, 2004
Perishable Credit Card Numbers Take The Fear Out Of Web Shopping - Dec 27, 2004
American Express, Citi Ink Deal - Dec 26, 2004
Citigroup Says It Will Issue American Express Cards - Dec 17, 2004
MBNA Pitches Rival Visa Card - Dec 14, 2004
Credit Card Loyalty Put to the Switch Test - Dec 09, 2004
Credit Cards Offer Safety In Buying Online - Dec 06, 2004
How to Deal With Your Debts - Dec 04, 2004
FACTA & Your Credit - Dec 03, 2004
Warning On Internet Loans - Dec 02, 2004
High Court Sets Truth In Lending Limit - Dec 02, 2004
Free Credit Reports May Reveal Surprises - Dec 01, 2004
Free Credit Reports Coming, With Pitches - Nov 30, 2004
Teens Need To Embrace Identity Protection - Nov 30, 2004
A Generation Weighed Down By Debt - Nov 28, 2004
7 Ways to Improve Your Credit Score - Nov 25, 2004
Free Credit Report Details Announced - Nov 25, 2004
One Late Payment Can Hit Finances Hard - Nov 25, 2004
Free Credit Reports Are On The Way - Nov 23, 2004
Card Debt - Nov 22, 2004
Soaring Interest Compounds Credit Card Pain for Millions - Nov 20, 2004
Gas Cutter - Nov 02, 2004
Payment Rates - Nov 02, 2004