Here is a question that resurfaces at least twice a year:
I should have a credit score of over 800 for the best rates, right?
Well, not necessarily. FICO scores range from 300 to 850; most lenders have a minimum score required for loan or credit card approval, typically in the mid 600s to lower 700s right now.
Yes, it [...]
The media is all over the news that the Senate passed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act. Now it goes to the House and the President wants it on his desk within days.
So what's in it for you? That remains to be seen as the House version has some differences and the negotiations [...]
As consumers are fine-tuning their financial fitness plans while trying to get better credit scores, the Universal Default topic keeps coming up. Questions such as, “How can they change my rate when I wasn’t late on that account?” or “I always make more than the minimum payment and I send it in early – what happened?” [...]
Today, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) approved new rules for the credit card industry; the Federal Reserve and the National Credit Union Administration are expected to approve the same rules later today. They are supposed to protect consumers from unfair and expensive practices. But they don’t go into effect until July 2010, [...]
As part of your personal Financial Fitness Plan, you need to read every financial document you get. Yes, really. Everything. You’re probably wondering how this could possibly be connected to improving your credit rating and getting a better credit score. There are actually several ways. The bonus is that almost all of them can help you save [...]
It’s that time of year. Many people are already shopping in anticipation of the upcoming holidays. And with the current economy, several stores are starting their holiday push earlier than usual to get even more people through their doors.
As personal budgets get tighter and the pursuit of savings and good deals becomes more important, people are often [...]