What's Credit

The decisions you make about how you manage your finances and borrow money will affect you and your credit report and score.

Did you know that there are companies (credit bureaus) that keep track of whether you pay your debts and if you make payments on time? Then these companies make this information available in the form of a credit report and score.

A bad credit history can haunt you for a long time—seven years or more. That’s why the best thing to do is learn how to maintain good credit before there’s a problem. While this might seem complicated at first, it gets easier once you understand the basics of credit and how it works.

Credit is more than just a plastic card you use to buy things—it is your financial trustworthiness. Good credit means that your history of payments, employment and salary make you a good candidate for a loan, and creditors—those who lend money or services—will be more willing to work with you. Having good credit usually translates into lower payments and more ease in borrowing money. Bad credit, however, can be a big problem. It usually results from making payments late or borrowing too much money, and it means that you might have trouble getting a car loan, a credit card, a place to live and, sometimes, a job.

• Getting Credit or Insurance? Your Credit Score Effects What You Pay!
• Don't Be an On-line Victim of Identity Theft:
  How to Guard Against Internet Thieves and Electronic Scams
• ID Theft: Strategies and Help for Fighting Back
• Consumer Financial Rights
• Credit and Divorce
• Building a Better Credit Report
• Need Credit or Insurance? Your Credit Score Helps Determine What You'll Pay
• How to Manage Credit Card Debt
• What's Credit?
• Avoid Credit Card Fraud!
• List of Credit Reports, Credit Scores and Credit Monitoring
• About Credit Reports
• What to Do if Your Credit, ATM or Debit Card is Stolen
• Credit and Debit Card Blocking
• Do You Need Credit Insurance?
• Credit Report FAQ
• Credit Score FAQ
• Credit Counseling
• Tips for When You Get Your Credit Score
• What is Credit Score?
• How to Boost Your Credit Score
• How To Get Free Annual Credit Report
• How to Correct Inaccuracies in Your Credit Report
• Tips to Prevent Identity Theft
• What is FICO Score?
• Why Do You Need Credit Monitoring?
• General Credit Tips
• 5 Tips to Improve Credit Score
• Your Rights and Credit Reporting
• Fair Credit Reporting Act
• Equal Credit Opportunity Act

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