How to See What 5 Data Reports Reveal About You
Your past — even details you may have forgotten — can be exposed with just a click. When you apply for a job, find an apartment or switch insurance companies,…
Bev O'Shea
Bev writes about credit scores and credit reports for NerdWallet. Her work has been featured in USA Today, the Christian Science Monitor and MSN Money. She mostly follows her own advice about not worrying about a perfect score (although she had one for at least a few minutes). In her free time, she enjoys music, fitness, murder mysteries and dark chocolate.
Posts by Bev O'Shea:
What Is a Credit-Builder Loan?
A credit-builder loan is designed to help people who have poor credit or who have little or no credit history build credit. A good score makes approval for credit cards…
How I Ditched Debt: Tenacious Focus on the Goal
In this series, NerdWallet interviews people who have triumphed over debt using a combination of commitment, budgeting and smart financial choices. Responses have been edited for length and clarity. Samantha…
Help Your Partner’s Credit — Without Harming Your Own
When you get married, your credit files stay single. And if one spouse has a good credit score and the other does not, it’s particularly important to maintain your credit…
Self Lender Offers Credit-Builder Loan Without Money Upfront
If you have no credit or — worse — bad credit, establishing a good credit reputation can seem impossible, because no one will approve you for a card or loan.…
How Long Do Hard Inquiries Stay on Your Credit Report?
Hard inquiries on your credit — the kind that happen when you apply for a loan or credit card — can stay on your credit report for about 24 months.…
How to Dispute Credit Report Errors in 3 Steps
Errors in your credit reports can cause your scores to be lower than they should be — and fixing them can be a quick route to a better score, which…
Equifax and Fiction: 4 Data Breach Myths to Dismiss
The details of the massive Equifax data breach are jaw-dropping. The personal data of nearly 148 million Americans — in many cases including Social Security numbers — were exposed to criminals. Equifax…
Credit Bureaus: What They Are and How They Work
Experian, Equifax and TransUnion are the trio of companies commonly referred to as the “three major credit bureaus.” There are many more bureaus, but these are the main ones that lenders,…
The Scariest Thing to Find on Your Credit Reports
Monitoring your credit reports should be like flossing: a routine that’s not fascinating but that can help prevent something painful from developing. So if an account that’s not yours pops…
