General Credit Tips

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act protects you when dealing with anyone who regularly offers credit, including banks, finance companies, stores, credit card companies and credit unions. When you apply for credit, a creditor may not:

Ask about or consider your sex, race, national origin or religion
Ask about your marital status or your spouse, unless you are applying for a joint account or relying on your spouse's income, or you live in a community property state (Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Washington)
Ask about your plans to have or raise children
Refuse to consider public assistance income or regularly received alimony or child support
Refuse to consider income because of your sex or marital status or because it is from part-time work or retirement benefits

You have the right to:

Have credit in your birth name, your first name and your spouse's last name, or your first name and a combined last name
Have a co-signer other than your spouse if one is necessary
Keep your own accounts after you change your name or marital status or retire, unless the creditor has evidence you are unable or unwilling to pay
Know why a credit application was rejected-the creditor must give you the specific reasons or tell you where and how you can get them if you ask within 60 days
Have accounts shared with your spouse reported in both your names
Know how much it will cost to borrow money
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO A FREE ANNUAL CREDIT REPORT .

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