Guide to Credit Score
and Credit Reports
Learn more about your credit
score and how to manage it.
FEATURED ARTICLES
Removing Closed Accounts from Your Credit Report
Closed accounts on your credit report may be bad or good for your credit score, depending on the details. Explore your options if a closed account has a negative impact.
FICO Score 8 is currently the most popular of many FICO scoring model versions that businesses use to size up a borrower’s risk.
Credit Score Ranges: What is an Excellent, Good, or Poor Credit Score?
Learn about credit score ranges from FICO and VantageScore, and how they classify Excellent, Good, or Poor credit scores.
WHAT'S NEW
Rapid rescoring is a process that allows borrowers to quickly update their credit reports to reflect recent changes. This may help you to improve your credit scores for a mortgage application.
Money Muling: How to Spot and Avoid This Scam
Money muling is where individuals are recruited to transfer illegally obtained funds. Learn how to recognize the signs of money muling and protect yourself from falling victim to this scam.
A credit reference is a document, person, or company that provides information on an individual's credit history. Lenders, landlords, and others can request them.
ALL CREDIT REPORT ARTICLES
Rapid rescoring is a process that allows borrowers to quickly update their credit reports to reflect recent changes. This may help you to improve your credit scores for a mortgage application.
Money muling is where individuals are recruited to transfer illegally obtained funds. Learn how to recognize the signs of money muling and protect yourself from falling victim to this scam.
A credit reference is a document, person, or company that provides information on an individual's credit history. Lenders, landlords, and others can request them.
How long a bankruptcy stays on a credit report varies, but most last years. Here are tips to manage credit before and after filing for bankruptcy.
Getting a credit card with no credit history is tricky. Learn about the ways to get a credit card without a credit history like authorized user, or secured credit card.
Unauthorized hard inquiries can negatively affect your credit score. Learn steps you can take to remove unauthorized hard inquiries from your credit report.
Gain insights into how long hard credit inquiries typically stay on your credit report and discover their potential impact on your credit score.
Collection accounts may stay on your credit report for up to seven years and can lower your credit score. Learn how you may be able to get them taken off your report.
Identity theft is fairly common, but it may take time to spot it. Here are 10 warning signs of identity theft and what to do if your identity is stolen.
Understand the difference between soft and hard credit pulls before checking your credit report.
Credit reporting errors can sometimes happen, potentially lowering your credit score. Learn how you can take action to remove incorrect items from your credit report.
Understanding what a credit report is could be confusing. Learn what information a credit report contains and how to get your credit report for free.
Some employers do credit checks before hiring to help limit their risk. Here’s what they look for, your legal rights, and how to maintain a positive credit profile.
Technically, FHA loans require a minimum credit score of 500. But many lenders require higher credit scores – especially if you want to qualify for a 3.5% down payment.
Applying for a car loan? Lenders will check your credit history and credit score. Read about the score you need to buy a car—before applying.
Enroll with MyCredit Guide to get a free monthly credit report that you can access at any time or you can request a copy of your credit report from 3 credit bureaus once a year.
Your credit reports are put together by three national agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Learn all about them here.
Your FICO score is a three-digit number based on the info in your credit report. Learn what your FICO score is, why it matters, and how it’s calculated.
If your credit scores are different depending on where you look, don’t worry. There are many reasons why your credit score can differ – and most of them are normal.
FICO Score 8 is currently the most popular of many FICO scoring model versions that businesses use to size up a borrower’s risk.
Learn about the credit score range by FICO or VantageScore and how they are classified as Excellent, Good or Poor credit score.
Is it helpful to set up a fraud alert on your credit report? Here’s why doing so could prevent or reduce instances of fraud in the future and protect your credit health.
You have different credit scores depending on the credit bureau and specific scoring model used by lenders. Learn more about the different types of credit scores.
Closed accounts on your credit report may be bad or good for your credit score, depending on the details. Explore your options if a closed account has a negative impact.
Know about different source from your bank to credit card providers and others on how you can check your credit score for free.
Your credit report has valuable personal information. See something amiss? Dispute credit report to get mistakes or irrelevant information off your credit history, which can help your score.
Closed accounts remain visible on your credit report for seven to 10 years, depending on whether they were in poor or good standing when closed.
Understanding the factors that affect your credit score can help you improve your score over time. Here’s what you need to know about how credit scores are calculated.
Late payments stay on your credit report for years and can only be deleted if they’re incorrect. Here’s how to remove erroneous late payments from your credit report.
Here’s a guide to what shows up on your credit report. Learn what’s included and not included in your report – and how it factors into your credit score.
A landlord may run a credit check on a potential tenant to see how well they handle money. Tenant screening may include rental history, income, and background checks.
FEATURED ARTICLES
Average Credit Scores by Age, State, and Income
Average credit scores tend to change based on age, state, and income. But none of these are actually used to calculate your score. Good credit habits matter most.
Is It Possible to Get a Perfect Credit Score?
Getting a perfect credit score is a notable financial goal. See what impacts your credit score – and what it takes to get a perfect 850 FICO score.
How Long Does It Take to Establish Good Credit?
Establishing credit from scratch takes at least six months, but using that time wisely can help you build a strong foundation for your credit future.
WHAT'S NEW
Can You Build Credit With a Debit Card?
Using a debit card typically can’t help you establish or improve your credit score. Learn strategies you can use to help build credit instead.
How to Maintain a Good Credit Score
Good credit can offer a number of benefits. See strategies that can help you to maintain a good credit score and learn more about managing your credit.
What Is a Cosigner for a Credit Card?
Learn about the role of a cosigner for a credit card. See responsibilities, benefits, and potential risks for both the primary cardholder and the cosigner.
ALL IMPROVING YOUR CREDIT SCORE ARTICLES
Good credit can offer a number of benefits. See strategies that can help you to maintain a good credit score and learn more about managing your credit.
Learn about the role of a cosigner for a credit card. See responsibilities, benefits, and potential risks for both the primary cardholder and the cosigner.
Which credit score is the most accurate? FICO® and VantageScore® credit scores are equally accurate, based on the specific scoring model that’s being used.
Using a debit card typically can’t help you establish or improve your credit score. Learn strategies you can use to help build credit instead.
Learn how making a balance transfer can affect your credit score and what you can do to make sure any negative impact is only temporary.
Establishing credit from scratch takes at least six months, but using that time wisely can help you build a strong foundation for your credit future.
Store credit cards can impact your credit score positively or negatively. As with general-use cards, the effects ultimately depend on your financial habits.
Learn about the credit-building benefits of reviewing and ‘cleaning’ errors on your credit report, managing credit utilization, and removing late payments.
Paying a rent or phone bill late usually won’t affect credit scores, but if your debt goes into collections, scores may nosedive.
Your credit score is composed of five main factors, two of which matter more than others. Knowing how these factors are calculated can help you boost your credit.
Some of the reasons your credit score can go down are obvious, but other times it’s less evident. Learn what could cause your credit score to drop.
Earning a top credit score takes time. Learn the different factors that affect your score and four strategies that may help to improve it.
So, you have no credit history? Find the best credit card to help build your credit by following these expert tips.
Credit cards can help you build your credit, but also lower your score if not used responsibly. Learn how you can rebuild your credit, starting today.
Your credit score can play a key role in whether or not you’ll be approved to rent an apartment, but it’s not the sole determining factor.
Learn how credit score simulators can help you estimate the potential impact of different financial decisions that can boost or burden your credit score.
Online banking is increasingly popular. It has advantages and disadvantages, but the good news is you can opt for the digital banking features that work best for you.
The highest credit score you can get is an 850 – by both FICO and VantageScore standards. Keeping it isn’t easy but aiming for a high credit score is still beneficial.
“Bad” credit scores are more accurately described as below average, but credit scores aren’t permanent. There are plenty of ways to turn a score from bad to good.
Does refinancing impact your credit score? Learn how refinancing can affect your credit score and steps you can take to build healthy credit in the long run.
A credit score in the 800s demonstrates to lenders that you’re a highly dependable borrower. Learn why this can lead to financial benefits like lower interest rates.
A “fair” FICO credit score lands between 580 and 669 and generally means higher interest rates on credit cards and loans. But there are ways to raise that score.
Buy now, pay later arrangements could soon help you build your credit score – but only if you pay on time. Learn how to make these services work in your favor.
Need an apartment but have “bad” credit? Though many landlords require a credit check, there are plenty of ways renters with bad or no credit can get an apartment.
A low 700s credit score is the U.S. average and is considered good by most lenders’ standards. A high 700s score indicates dependability and can lead to better loan terms.
Leasing a car can help build your credit, but it also can hurt your credit score if you default on the loan. Learn more about how leasing a car can affect your credit history.
There’s no minimum credit score needed to lease a car, but your credit history still matters. Having good credit can help you get approved with more favorable lease terms.
Learn how student loans can affect your credit, how a history of on-time payments can help you in the long run, and what you should do if you’re unable to make a payment.
Knowing – and avoiding – financial moves that can make your credit score go down is key to helping you build excellent credit and maintaining it over time.
Interest rates may be based on your credit score, as well as other factors. Typically, the higher your credit score, the less it may cost to borrow money.
Consider these personal finance tips to help you succeed after graduating college: build a credit history, use credit cards positively, and invest to benefit your future self.
Learn about several ways you can help establish credit for your child, from financial education to adding your child to your credit card as an authorized user.
Average credit scores tend to change based on age, state, and income. But none of these are actually used to calculate your score. Good credit habits matter most.
Getting a perfect credit score is a notable financial goal. See what impacts your credit score – and what it takes to get a perfect 850 FICO score.
It’s possible to buy a car when you have bad credit, but it can be harder to qualify for a loan. These tips may help low-credit buyers improve their financing options.
FEATURED ARTICLES
How to Freeze Your Credit at All 3 Bureaus—For Free
If you choose to freeze your credit, you have three options. Learn how to freeze your credit online for free.
A credit tradeline is the credit bureau term for an account on your credit report. Here are the three types of tradelines and what information each includes.
What Credit Score Is Needed for a Credit Card?
There’s no minimum credit score needed for getting a credit card. Whatever your credit score, you’re likely to have multiple options to get a card.
WHAT'S NEW
Does an Overdraft Affect Your Credit Score?
Overdrafts won’t typically impact your credit score, but in some cases, they can. Learn how overdrafts work and the impact they could have on your credit.
Closed-end credit is a set amount of money that you borrow for a specific time period. This differs from open-end credit, which you can draw from repeatedly.
Does Prequalification Affect Your Credit Score?
Learn how prequalification for loans or credit cards can impact your credit score. See situations where it could make sense to get prequalified.
ALL MANAGING CREDIT ARTICLES
A repossession, or repo, happens when a lender seizes property after a debt goes unpaid. Learn more about what a repo is – and how and why to avoid one.
There’s no minimum credit score needed for getting a credit card. Whatever your credit score, you’re likely to have multiple options to get a card.
If you have to break a lease, there are ways to do it without hurting your credit. But if your landlord sends any unpaid debt to collections, it can have negative effects.
Closing a credit card account can negatively affect your credit score, but by how much? Put simply, it depends on the bigger picture of your credit report.
Understanding how "credit score" is defined, how credit scores work, and how they’re calculated can help you establish a positive financial future.
Your starting credit score might surprise you – it’s not zero. Using credit responsibly can help you begin with a good credit score and maintain it long term.
Credit history is the record of how you repay your credit cards, loans, and other debts. Learn what it takes to establish good credit with this intro to credit history.
Millions of Americans lack access to credit. A new DIY credit reporting tool is among the initiatives aiming to give them a new chance.
Myths persist about what a credit score is, how scores can be improved, and who can see them. It pays to separate fact from fiction.
Economic swings typically add to the challenge of protecting your credit score. But there are steps you can take to help maintain your credit – or even improve it.
There are many factors that can influence your credit score. Find out how late payments, debt and credit history can impact your score.
Use American Express' MyCredit Guide to get a free credit score check and a free monthly credit report so you can keep your credit in great health.
Understanding the different types of revolving credit and how they work can help you manage personal finances, especially cash flow, with more flexibility.
Help safeguard your credit. Learn about different types of credit protection including credit insurance, credit monitoring, and identity theft protection.
Credit utilization ratio is simply the percentage of your total credit limit you’re using. Find out how it affects your overall credit score.
The MyCredit Guide score simulator allows you to see how increasing your credit limits, paying down your debt, or opening a new account can change your credit score.
Find out how often your credit score updates—and its impact on your financial health. Learn about the process behind credit score reporting.
While you can’t self-report to credit bureaus, you can typically authorize certain information to be included in your credit report, like on-time rent payments.
Late student loan payments will taint your credit score once they’re reported to the credit bureaus, but deferment or forbearance programs can help mitigate damage.
Identity theft protection services can help you safeguard your identity for a fee. While there are ways to protect yourself, many feel that such services are worth the cost.
Monitoring your credit can prevent fraud and identity theft. Free credit monitoring services can foil thieves and help keep your credit score healthy.
It’s time to unfreeze your credit, but you’re not sure exactly what to do. Here’s how to unfreeze for free at all 3 credit bureaus.
Insights on the definition and determination of credit limits. The consequences of reaching your credit limit and its impact on maintaining a good credit score.
FICO scores are credit scores but not all credit scores are FICO scores. Learn the difference between credit score types to better understand your creditworthiness.
Wondering if you should freeze your credit and whether it’s worth it or not? Here is why you should freeze your credit and its benefits.
It’s a good idea to check your credit score and report at least once a year, and sometimes more, to spot errors or fraud and to get a sense of your credit health.
You can’t have a zero credit score but you can have no credit score. Learn why living without a credit score can make some financial goals harder to achieve.
Medical bills only affect your credit if they’re sent to a collection agency and go unpaid. To safeguard your credit score, save now to make timely payments later.
Applying for loans can cause your credit score to dip slightly, but usually only temporarily. Learn more about how loan applications affect your credit score.
While there’s no such thing as too many hard credit inquiries, each hard inquiry can drop a credit score by a few points – and make the borrower appear riskier to lenders.
If you choose to freeze your credit, you have three options. Learn how to freeze your credit online for free.
A credit tradeline is the credit bureau term for an account on your credit report. Here are the three types of tradelines and what information each includes.
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The material made available for you on this website, Credit Intel, is for informational purposes only and intended for U.S. residents and is not intended to provide legal, tax or financial advice. If you have questions, please consult your own professional legal, tax and financial advisors.
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