Identity Theft Protection Services: How They Compare in 2026
Providers such as LifeLock and Aura can be worth the cost to keep your information safe. Even cheaper? Freezing and monitoring your own credit.
Credit Monitoring Services: Are They Worth the Cost?
Credit monitoring services track changes to your credit reports, but you can monitor your credit on your own for free. Here’s how to decide if a paid service makes sense.
Credit Reports: What They Are and How To Read Them
A credit report is a record of all your lines of credit and your payment history. Credit reports can be several pages, our interactive tool walks you through how to read them.
Fraud Alert vs. Credit Freeze: What’s the Difference?
Fraud alerts require extra scrutiny on credit applications, while credit freezes are meant to keep new credit accounts from being opened in your name.
Can Medical Bills Affect Your Credit? Here’s What to Know
Unpaid medical bills could hit your credit report, but those with starting balances of less than $500 shouldn't appear.
Voluntary Repossession: What It Is and How It Works
If making your car payments has become unmanageable, voluntary surrender may be a better alternative to having the car involuntarily repossessed. It's a difficult choice, but options are available to support your decision.
How to Remove Collections From Your Credit Report
Do your homework, gather evidence and either dispute the account if it’s an error or ask for a goodwill deletion if you paid the collection.
How to Calculate Your Credit Utilization Ratio
Credit utilization is calculated by dividing the balance by credit limit for each card and for all cards together.
How to Report Your Rent to Credit Bureaus: Rent-Reporting Services Guide
Reporting rent payments to credit bureaus may help build credit. Here's what to look for if you're considering this service.
How Long Do Derogatory Marks Stay on Your Credit?
Missed payments, collections and other derogatory marks can stay on your credit reports for seven years or more.
Credit Score Not Going Up? Here’s Why and Tips to Grow It
High credit card balances and late payments are common culprits, but there are other factors worth checking.
What Credit Score Do You Need to Lease a Car?
A credit score of 700 or above can get good car lease offers. Lenders also consider income and other factors.
What Minimum Credit Score Do You Need to Buy a Car?
Roughly 68% of cars financed go to borrowers with scores of 661 or higher, but those with lower scores still have options.
What Factors Affect Your Credit Scores?
Your payment history and how much of your credit limits you use are the two biggest credit scoring factors.
Do Authorized Users Build Credit? Know the Pros and Cons
Being added to someone else's credit card as an authorized user can allow you to benefit from their payment history and available credit to elevate your credit score.
Credit Score vs. Credit Report: What’s the Difference?
One is your full history. The other is a single number calculated from it. Think transcript vs. GPA — and once that clicks, the difference between credit scores and credit reports gets a lot easier to follow.
Who Can Access Your Credit Report or Score?
It's not just potential lenders that can check you out. Insurers and employers also may access your report or score.
How to Dispute a Hard Inquiry on Your Credit Report
You can't remove legitimate hard inquiries, but you can check your credit report and dispute inquiries you don't recognize.
What Is a Credit Score and Why Is It Important?
A credit score is a number between 300 and 850 that is calculated using information from your credit reports. Your credit score is used by lenders to determine the kinds of financial products and rates you are eligible for.