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Business & Real Estate: Don’t wait for regular credit checks

  Have you checked your credit lately?  No?

Well you should perform this very simple task at least once per year.  However, did you know that the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act was signed into law in December 2003.

The FACT Act, a revision of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, allows consumers, as of  December 1, 2005, consumers were eligible to request one free comprehensive statutory disclosure of all of the information in their credit file from each of the three national credit reporting companies, Experian.Com (Experian will provide a free report every 30 days and won’t impact your annual report!), TransUnion.Com and Equifax.Com once every 12 months through a Central Source by going to the website: www.AnnualCreditReport.com or by requesting the reports by phone by calling 877 FACTACT (1-877-322-8228) and complete the Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, Ga.  30348-5281 (zip + 4 will have it arrive, sometimes the next day, if you mail it first thing in the morning!)

Your credit profile will contain all reported information as to your credit history, showing your on time and late payment history going back as much as 10 years or more.

It will also show bankruptcies, foreclosure actions and mortgage issues, and all your credit card, installment loans, and lines of credit or refinances of your properties as well as personal and government & I.R.S. tax liens, etc.

However, you will be required to pay an additional fee to receive your credit scores.

But, you can go to creditkarma.com and receive for free with no strings attached or obligation your approximate credit score, which might not be totally accurate but will provide you some idea as to how great or poor your credit is.

FICO (Fair Isaac Corporation) scores are what the lending institutions, car dealerships or any installment loan companies use to judge your borrowing capabilities and repayment stats.

Scores can range from a low of 350 (Oh Boy!) to a high of 850 (very hard to get that perfect score).

These scores determine quite a lot about you and will have a critical effect on your borrowing, interest rates, insurance costs, and is a powerful measure of your creditworthiness as a lender might see it.

FICO Scores are used in 90 percent of credit decisions, so they’re a very good barometer of how your credit can look to potential lenders.

Scoring ranges are just one of the tools lenders can use to link ranges of values with associated characteristics and metrics at-a-glance, allowing them to make more informed lending decisions quickly and fairly.

The following is a guide that explains credit scores and what a consumer can expect when applying for any type of loan, even your utilities, cell phones and all types of insurance can be effected by your credit scores.

Credit Score Range Definitions

• 800 +: Indicates an exceptional FICO Score and is well above the average credit score. Consumers in this range may experience an easy approval process when applying for new credit. Approximately 1 percent of consumers with a credit score of 800+ are likely to become seriously delinquent in the future.

• 740 to 799: Indicates a very good FICO Score and is above the average credit score. Consumers in this range may qualify for better interest rates from lenders. Approximately 2 percent of consumers with a credit score between 740 to 799 are likely to become seriously delinquent in the future.

• 670 to 739: Indicates a good FICO Score and is in the median credit score range. Consumers in this range are considered an “acceptable” borrower. Approximately 8 percent of consumers with a credit score between 670 to 739 are likely to become seriously delinquent in the future.

• 580 to 669: Indicates a fair FICO Score and is below the average credit score. Consumers in this range are considered subprime borrowers and getting credit may be difficult with interest rates that are likely to be much higher. Approximately 28 percent of consumers with a credit score between 580 to 669 are likely to become seriously delinquent in the future.

• 579 and lower: Indicates a poor FICO Score and is considered to be poor credit. Consumers may be rejected for credit. Credit card applicants in this range may require a fee or a deposit. Utilities may also require a deposit. A credit score this low could be a result from bankruptcy or other major credit problems. Approximately 61 percent of consumers with a credit score under 579 are likely to become seriously delinquent in the future.

So the bottom line is if you are seriously looking to purchase a primary residence, investment property or even a rental to live or run your business out of, be sure of your credit history and scores before your search.

If necessary, and you need to fix your credit, there are legitimate crediting fixing firms (we have one that is phenomenal!), make sure of what the costs are per derogatory remark to be removed and what you can expect over the 1-6 month period that many companies will say they need to increase your credit scores and lastly what their guarantee, if any, is as part of their contract.  Also, very important, check out the Better Business Bureau and your local Consumer Affairs office, to verify their reliability and violations or you can also call your Attorney General’s office to see if they have had any infractions or violations against them.

This will provide you a clear profile on the company that you will be using to fix your credit.

Business & Real Estate: Don’t wait for regular credit checks Credit ReStart

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Financial literacy class at the Tulare Public Library

The Tulare Public Library offers a financial literacy class for Money Smart week.(Photo: Eric Woomer)

The Tulare Public Library is teaming up with Union Bank for Money Smart Week.  Together, they are providing a financial workshop for anyone interested in boosting their credit score.

The workshop will start at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, in the Olympic Room at the Tulare Public Library.

Jennie Hernandez, a banker at Union Bank in Tulare said the bank often hosts financial literacy workshops.  Tulare Public Library Card and Technology Librarian Heidi Clark said this is the second year the library is providing a financial workshop focusing on credit.

“This is our way to reach out to the community to provide resources that some people might not have access to,” Clark said.

Money Smart Week is a program offered through the American Library Association and the Federal Bank of Chicago to help consumers of all demographics and income levels better manage their personal finances.

“Financial literacy and literacy, in general, is part of what libraries do,” Clark said.

She hopes the class will raise awareness of the importance of being financially smart. The class will go over credit scores, reports and how to build or rebuild credit. A representative from the Union Bank Hanford branch will lead the class.

In case you can’t make the course, Union Bank and WalletHub has provided the basics of credit.

What is a credit score?

A credit score is a person’s credit history expressed in number form. According to VantageScore 3.0 and FICO Score 8 – the two most popular types of scores – a credit score ranges from a low of 300 to a high of 850.

Each score is graded on five key components including payment history, amounts owed, the length of credit history, types of credit used and new accounts or recent inquiries.

Here’s a breakdown of the classification of a credit score:

38.12 percent of people have an “excellent” score between 720 and 850. On average these people are 52 years old with an average income of $64,269

17.33 percent of people have a “good” score between 660 and 719. On average these people are 46 years old with an average income of $58,740.

13.47 percent of people have a “fair or limited” score between 620 and 659. On average these people are 44 years old with and average income of $53,947

31.08 percent of people have a “bad” score between 300 and 619. On average these people are 41 years old with an average income of $45,797.

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WalletHub’s current picks for the overall best credit cards available for people in each category of scores include several from Capitol One, Citi, OpenSky, Discover and Barclaycard.

Tips for climbing the credit ladder

WalletHub, an online financial advisor is geared to keep your wallet full. It suggests the “Island Approach” for credit card users trying to get out of debt and users who make monthly payments in full.

The idea to compartmentalize your expenses with several forms of payments, keeping travel expenses, business expenses and everyday expenses on separate cards. By doing so, “consumers can address them in the most cost-effective, strategic manner possible.”

For those with scores not worthy of bragging about, Hernandez suggested a few tips for getting back on the credit companies good side.

In order to start rebuilding bad credit, people need to establish a relationship with their bank, she said.

First, figure out what your score is with a credit report. Pay off the remaining debt and try to establish a settlement with the credit card companies and collectors. Finally, make a down payment on a secured credit card.

If you can’t get approved for a credit card don’t try for more, unless it’s a secured credit line.

According to WalletHub, “Repeatedly getting rejected will result in multiple hard inquiries on your credit report and only make rebuilding harder.”

Establish three credit trade lines. This could be having three credit cards or a credit card, a car payment and a monthly rent.

“Always maintain a balance of 30 percent or lower on your card,” Hernandez said. “If you have a higher balance it will affect your score.”

To check your credit score for or for the reports listed visit www.wallethub.com

Read or Share this story: http://vtd-tar.co/2q7YNZP

Financial literacy class at the Tulare Public Library Credit ReStart

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Get Pre-Approved - Lowell Sun Online

While purchasing a new vehicle can be an exciting time, you might face frustration if you are unable to get the loan for your dream car. Getting pre-approved is a good way to plan a budget and set your expectations for the type of vehicle you might purchase.

Medical bills, drowning in credit-card debt and unforeseen emergencies can all get in the way of your credit score, and potentially gaining a loan. Sit down with your financial institution or dealership before you begin searching for a vehicle.

Obtain Your Credit Report

Your credit score is a huge determining factor in being approved for a loan. Obtain a free annual credit report by contacting the Federal Trade Commission. Once you have your report, analyze it for any negative marks or errors for debts that have been resolved. According to the FTC, about 50 percent of Americans whose report contained errors were able to increase their score once the corrections were made.

Negative marks on one’s credit report may take some time to resolve. Once you know what is causing a negative impact on your score, you can begin improving it. The FTC recommends several different ways to help improve your score:

Pay bills on time.

Keep balances on any credit cards low. Begin aggressively paying on your highest balances first.

Consider the amount and types of credit you have.

Under some scoring models, the type of financial companies you do business with can have a negative impact on your score.

Getting the Loan

Now that you are confident in your credit score, you should start inquiring from lenders in your area about their interest rates and loan terms. It is a good idea to begin your search with a financial institution with which you are already affiliated. With their terms in mind, compare them to other local lenders.

Most lenders require you to meet a minimum monthly pre-tax income and have a certain debt-to-income ratio (DTI.) You can quickly improve your DTI by paying off credit cards or other small debts.

Once the amount of your pre-approved loan has been established, it’s time to begin visiting dealers and choosing a vehicle within your budget. Your local dealership likely will offer to provide financing from its wide network of lenders. Even if you’re pre-approved, take note. Their terms might surprise you.

Get Pre-Approved – Lowell Sun Online Credit ReStart

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Trump can help forgotten Americans with a change to the tax code that would help relieve debt

President Trump campaigned on a promise to help the forgotten men and women of America, the millions of Americans who have lost good jobs, have seen their wages stagnate, and who are drowning in debt. His proposals for tax reform and tax cuts, infrastructure investments, and regulatory relief will help restore economic growth in the long run. But the best short-term solution is to help people get out of debt and back on their feet.

Americans now owe $1 trillion in credit card debt, more than at any time since the Great Recession. Half of American families are living paycheck to paycheck, with little set aside for financial emergencies. Millions of Americans are mired in debt, besieged by abusive debt collectors.

Congress could take one small step to relieve the financial distress of millions of Americans and help them become active participants again in our economy. This one step would free people from the clutches of predatory debt collectors, and help millions of Americans struggling with debt achieve financial stability.

This proposal would provide a tax credit to encourage banks to stop selling their delinquent debt to debt collectors, and instead to donate the debt to qualified non-profit organizations set up to work with consumers to resolve their debt. Under current law, major banks sell their delinquent debt to debt-buying companies, who abuse, harass, and sue consumers and never help them resolve their debt and get back on their feet. This is bad for banks, and bad for consumers.

This one small step would change the way consumer debt is collected, and help relieve the financial distress of millions of Americans. It would help stop debt collection abuses, reduce foreclosures and bankruptcies, and help consumers improve FICO scores. By improving access to consumer credit, it would reduce predatory lending, payday loans, and pawn companies. And by easing financial distress, it would reduce family discord, substance abuse, and other social problems.

Seventy-seven million Americans have at least one delinquent debt on their credit report. An incredible $668 billion of consumer debt is delinquent, and $471 billion is seriously delinquent (at least 90 days late). Nearly half of American families say their biggest financial problems are too much debt, healthcare costs, and low wages, in that order. According to one national survey, six in 10 Americans say they lose sleep at night worrying about money matters, including how to get out of debt.

A major cause of consumer financial distress is the daily abuse millions of Americans face from debt collectors. The CFPB reports that the number one source of consumer complaints they receive is abusive debt collectors. The agency estimates that one in three Americans has been contacted by a creditor or debt collector in the past year. Ten million lawsuits for the collection of debt are filed each year against consumers by debt collectors.

This tax credit proposal would encourage the establishment of non-profit organizations specifically designed to help consumers resolve their debts, honorably without bankruptcies or lawsuits. These non-profits would be required to offer free services to help consumers restructure and resolve their debts, including negotiating with creditors for repayment plans and settlements. They would provide assistance in finding new or better jobs, help identify private and public social services agencies, and provide educational resources and money management tools to help consumers improve their financial futures.

The problem of abusive debt collection is chilling consumer spending and economic growth. It has shut millions of Americans out of our economy. Most of the consumer debt comes from spending on daily necessities, such as food, clothing, housing, and prescriptions, and not from luxury items. Helping people get out of debt will enable them to get back on their feet, and help get our economy moving again.

Bruce Thompson is a former assistant secretary of the Treasury Department during the Reagan administration and a member of the board of the Center for Consumer Recovery.

If you would like to write an op-ed for the Washington Examiner, please read our guidelines on submissions here.

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How to Build Credit in (Exactly) 250 Words

You can trust that we maintain strict editorial integrity in our writing and assessments; however, we receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners and get approved. Here’s how we make money.

What credit is: Your credit reports are records of how you have repaid debt in the past. Credit scores are three-digit numbers that estimate how likely you are to repay a lender or card issuer as agreed in the future. A “credit check” may look at either or both.

Why it matters: Good credit gives you a better shot at borrowing money at a favorable interest rate. It can also mean lower car insurance bills and lower or no utility deposits.

How to begin: Start using credit, which is easier said than done. See if you can get a credit card, perhaps a secured credit card to start. Becoming an authorized user on someone else’s card may help. Student loans, car loans and credit-builder loans also build credit history.

Do I have to go into debt? No. One of the best ways to build credit is using a credit card lightly and paying the balance in full every month.

Understand your score: Most credit scores are on a scale from 300 to 850. It’s smart to monitor your score; you can get a free credit score from some credit card issuers or personal finance websites, like NerdWallet.

Know what affects your score: The biggest things you can do to boost your credit are:

Pay bills on time, without exception

Use little of your credit limit (under 30%, and under 10% is better)

Other things help, too:

Have both credit cards and loans

Keep older accounts open

Limit applications for credit

Bev O’Shea is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: boshea@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @BeverlyOShea.

How to Build Credit in (Exactly) 250 Words Credit ReStart

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Attorney General Patrick Morrisey Announces Free Credit Report Event During Money Smart Week In The Mid-Ohio Valley

CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey announced a free credit report event in the Mid-Ohio Valley to celebrate Money Smart Week 2017. The events are designed to remind consumers about financial literacy and educate them on ways to protect personal information.

  “It’s important that we provide West Virginians the necessary tools to make smart and informed financial decisions so that they are protected from scammers as much as possible,” Attorney General Morrisey said. “These events also provide an educational opportunity that will help consumers spot scams before they become a victim.”

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, April 25, at WesBanco, located at 415 Market Street in Parkersburg.   Consumers interested in participating will have to sign terms of use to ensure each person only accesses his or her credit report. The Attorney General’s staff will not have access to the reports or any personal, private information. Additionally, office employees will not be able to discuss the reports or provide advice about details contained within.   Consumers with complaints can call the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 800-368-8808 or the Eastern Panhandle Consumer Protection Office in Martinsburg at 304-267-0239. To file a report online, go to www.wvago.gov.   

Attorney General Patrick Morrisey Announces Free Credit Report Event During Money Smart Week In The Mid-Ohio Valley Credit ReStart

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Costly Car Insurance? Your Credit Score Might Be to Blame

Do you have a great driving record, but you’re paying through the nose for auto insurance? There is a good chance factors that have nothing to do with driving safety — like your credit score — might be to blame.

A recent car insurance analysis from Consumer Reports reveals that on average, a two-car couple with dismal credit will pay a whopping $2,090 more for car insurance than a similar couple with excellent credit. According to Consumer Reports:

That’s more than what it usually costs to add a teen driver or even the penalty for having two DWIs.

How to lower your car insurance costs

As we’ve reported before, your insurance rate could also take a hit based on your income or whether you rent or own your home.

But you might be able to save yourself some cash on your auto insurance premium. The best place to start is by shopping around with different companies and comparing their prices. To find the right car insurance company, check out our Solutions Center.

Get more tips on slashing your car insurance premiums in “9 Ways to Drive Down Your Auto Insurance Rates.”

If your mediocre credit score is indeed the culprit behind your costly car insurance, we can help. For starters, find out what your credit score is. For more information, check out “Ask Stacy: Where Can I Get a Free Credit Score?”

After you get your hands on a free copy of your credit score and you know where you stand, it’s time to start working on improving your score.

One of the first things you should do is to begin paying down your balances, since up to 30 percent of your score is based on the amount of money you owe. As Money Talks News contributor Maryalene LaPonsie writes in “Boost Your Credit Score Fast With These 7 Moves” :

Live lean for a few months, hold a garage sale or pick up a temporary second job to find the cash needed to drop your credit card balances.

Are you surprised by what insurers consider when determining your car insurance rate? Share your thoughts below or on Facebook.

This article was originally published on MoneyTalksNews.com as ‘Costly Car Insurance? Your Credit Score Might Be to Blame’.

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Your credit score is about to become more forgiving

(BernardaSv/iStock)

New changes are coming in the fall to how one major credit score is calculated, and the shift could make the key number more forgiving for people who have debt.

The VantageScore, a credit scoring model developed by the three major credit reporting bureaus TransUnion, Equifax and Experian, will soon put more weight on the trends in a person’s credit report. That includes whether they have been paying off their credit cards or have been racking up more debt, says Jeff Richardson, a spokesman for VantageScore Solutions, the company that offers the score.

The new data is meant to provide more context to a consumer’s debt load and help lenders get a more holistic view of a person’s credit behavior and risk level, Richardson says.

Take two people who both are using 50 percent of the spending limit on their credit cards. Under current scoring models, both borrowers would be hurt by that high card utilization, since lenders typically like to see that consumers are using less than 30 percent of the credit they have available.

But under the new VantageScore model, one person might look better if his report shows that he has been paying down debt and using less of his total credit, Richardson says. On the flip side, someone who has been piling on more debt would be viewed as risky, he says.

The changes also address an issue that sometimes hurts people who have generally good credit scores but may temporarily have more debt because of a major purchase. Some consumers may see their credit score take a hit during that time, say after booking an expensive flight, even if they were planning to pay the card off in full and on time, Richardson says. The new model, however, would factor in that this consumer has a history of keeping card balances low, and therefore the score wouldn’t be affected as much.

People buying homes won’t see a change to their chances of being approved for a mortgage since most mortgage lenders rely on the FICO score, Richardson says. However, some people pulling credit scores for other reasons, such as when they are applying for an apartment, opening a credit card or applying for an auto loan, may be able to use the new score, he adds. About 8 billion VantageScore credit scores were used between July 2015 and June 2016, up 40 percent from the year before, the company says.

The new scoring model may not dramatically change what consumers should do to boost their credit score, says Matt Schulz, CreditCards.com’s senior industry analyst. It’s still important to pay your bills on time every month, Schulz says. And if you have debt — especially credit card debt — you should be working to pay it off, he adds. If anything, it may become more important to show that you’re making progress over time, he says.

Trying to clean up your act immediately before applying for a loan may not cut it, Richardson says, since the score would factor in that you tend to carry debt over from month to month.

Read more:

The biggest regrets people have after buying a home

What Lin-Manuel Miranda wished he knew about money in his 20s

The right way to use your credit cards if you need to boost your credit score soon

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Can I get bankruptcy off my credit report? | Biz Brain

Q. I filed a bankruptcy about 6 years ago in South Florida. During the process of filing the bankruptcy, I decided to discharge the case a few months later. However, somehow, the discharged bankruptcy report was filed to my credit report. Can I get the bankruptcy off my credit file? — Worried

A. We don’t have enough about the details to give you a thorough answer here, but here are some points to set you in the right direction.

First, a bankruptcy discharge releases the debtor from the obligation to pay certain types of debt. Once the process is started, it’s difficult to “undo” it when it comes to the credit bureaus, said Beverly Harzog, a consumer credit expert and bestselling author.

“The credit bureaus still report that you filed bankruptcy at one point in your life,” Harzog said.

She said a Chapter 13 bankruptcy will fall off your report seven years from the filing date. If that’s the type of bankruptcy you filed, then you’ll be free of this in one more year.

But if it’s a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, it will take 10 years before it’s removed from your credit reports, she said.

Harzog recommends you hire an experienced bankruptcy attorney to sift through the legal paper trail to see if it can be removed sooner. But, this route can get very expensive and it might not even work.

“One thing you can do at this point is to focus on paying your bills on time and keeping low balances on your credit cards,” she said. “This will help boost your score while you wait for the negative line item to fall off your credit reports.”

And the good news is that a bankruptcy has less impact on your credit score after the first two years, she said.

If you plan to apply for credit, Harzog said, you should give a heads-up to a potential lender.

“Let them know you tried to cancel the bankruptcy and your attorney filed papers on your behalf,” she said. “This could make a difference in the way they view your creditworthiness.”

Email your questions to Ask@NJMoneyHelp.com.

Karin Price Mueller writes the Bamboozled column for NJ Advance Media and is the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com. Follow NJMoneyHelp on Twitter @NJMoneyHelp. Find NJMoneyHelp on Facebook. Sign up for NJMoneyHelp.com’s weekly e-newsletter.

Can I get bankruptcy off my credit report? | Biz Brain Credit ReStart

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Why your credit score may matter more to auto insurers than your driving record

Not paying your bills on time can affect your auto insurance premiums more than having two DUIs.

A recent Consumer Reports analysis found that a two-car couple with poor credit would pay an extra $2,090 per year in premiums on average compared with a similar couple with excellent credit. That is more than the extra $1,750 annually a two-car couple would pay if they had two violations for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. (California and Massachusetts prohibit auto insurers from using credit scores when setting rates.)

“Besides improving your credit score, it pays to shop around because the underwriting rules for every insurer are different,” said Tobie Stanger, a senior editor at Consumer Reports.

Even if you like your insurer, you can save money by checking rates every two to three years. “The more quotes you get, the better,” Stanger said.

Premiums are based on three basic questions, said Neil Richardson, lead consumer advisor at auto insurance comparison website The Zebra: Who are you? Where do you live? What do you drive?

Some of those factors you can change, others not so much. For example, that two-car couple in Consumer Reports’ analysis lowered their annual premiums by an average of $535 by getting married. Owning a home helps, too, lowering rates for the average two-car couple by $110 each year.

“Car insurance is not a sexy topic and people don’t like to spend a lot of time on it ,” Richardson said. “But if you do your research, you can save a lot of money.”

Here are five hassle-free ways you can save on your auto insurance:

Improve your credit score. Pay your bills on time, slash your credit card balances and keep your unused credit accounts open to raise your score quickly. You can keep tabs on your score, which ranges from 300 to 850, for free from several card issuers and websites . (The average American has a credit score of 699.)

Choose the right deductible. Consumer Reports found that a two-car couple could save $140 each year by raising their deductible from $500 to $1,000. Be careful, said Jennifer Fitzgerald, CEO of online insurance broker PolicyGenius. “You can look at the deductible in isolation.”

“Make sure you can afford a high deductible in the worst-case scenario where you have to pay both auto and health insurance deductibles,” she added.

Consider bundling your insurance. Linking your auto coverage with your renter’s or homeowner’s insurance can produce an average of $235 per year in savings, according to Consumer Reports.

Try usage-based auto insurance. More than 30 percent of new policyholders now are opting for insurance where premiums are partially determined by how much you drive, according to data from financial services research firm Aite Group. Usage-based insurance can be more affordable for people who work close to home and those who don’t drive much, Richardson said.

Drive a vehicle that is cheaper to insure. Premiums vary widely based on the car you drive. You can review data on collision, bodily injury and property damage liability by make and model at Highway Loss Data Institute.

“On the Money” airs on CNBC Saturdays at 5:30 a.m. ET, or check listings for air times in local markets.

More From CNBC

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How a short sale can short-circuit your credit score

Dear Liz: In 2010 I was laid off from my construction management position. I was unable to find work for 28 months. The bank tried to foreclose but I was able to arrange a short sale of my home in March 2012. Shortly after that, my unemployment benefits ran out and I was unable to pay my obligations (two credit cards totaling around $9,500).

I did get a good job in June and in July worked out payment plans to get the back debt caught up. I have since paid this debt off (November 2016) and pay any credit card balances in full every month. I also pay my car loan on time using automatic debits.

My credit scores remain stuck in the 675 to 690 range and none of the steps that I take seem to help. I know that after seven years the negative information regarding the mortgage and the credit card past dues will drop off. Since I did the short sale and not a foreclosure, though, why are my credit scores treating me as if I did a foreclosure or chose bankruptcy?

Answer: A bankruptcy theoretically slices more points off credit scores than either a foreclosure or a short sale. The hit you take from a short sale, though, depends in part on how your lender reported the transaction to the credit bureaus.

If the lender reported a deficiency balance — which is essentially the balance of your mortgage that wasn’t repaid after the sale — the impact will be similar to a foreclosure. If the lender opts not to report the balance, the credit score impact will be somewhat less. After the foreclosure crisis started, some lenders opted not to report those balances as an incentive for homeowners to arrange short sales rather than let their homes go into foreclosure.

You’re already doing most of what you need to do to repair your credit, including having different types of credit (credit cards are revolving accounts while car loans are installment accounts) and paying those debts on time.

One tweak you can try is reducing your credit utilization on those cards. If you regularly charge 30% or more of your credit limits, try reducing your charges to 10% of those limits or less. It’s good that you pay in full, but the balance that’s used in most credit scoring formulas is the one the credit card issuer decides to report. It’s often, but not always, the amount that shows as your balance due on the statement closing day. Reducing the amount of credit you use may boost your scores a few more points. Other than that, you simply have to wait for time to pass and for your responsible credit use to undo the damage of the past.

Social Security survivor benefits

Dear Liz: I have been with my significant other for over 30 years. We have an adult son. My significant other has a much larger Social Security benefit than I will have when it’s time for me to retire. I understand that if we were to marry and something happened to him, I would receive his benefit. But the law on Social Security is confusing. It says you have to be married several years to collect your spouse’s benefit unless you have a child. If we were married soon, would I be eligible for his benefits if something happened to him or would we have to be married for many years?

Answer: Social Security benefits can be confusing, but you don’t have to be married for many years to receive benefits.

To qualify for survivor benefits, you typically must have been married for at least nine months. To qualify for spousal benefits, you generally have to be married a year. If you have a natural child together and that child is a minor, the one-year requirement for spousal benefits is waived.

Survivor benefits are what you get when a higher-earning spouse dies. The benefit is 100% of what the deceased spouse received (or earned, if he hasn’t started benefits), but the amount is reduced if you as the surviving spouse begin benefits before your own full retirement age. The current full retirement age is 66 and will rise to 67 for people born in 1960 and later.

Spousal benefits are what you can receive while a spouse is still alive. This benefit is typically equal to half that spouse’s benefit and is reduced to reflect early starts.

You’ll need a longer marriage to get benefits should you divorce. The marriage must have lasted 10 years, and you must not be currently remarried to receive divorced spousal benefits based on your ex’s work record. For divorced survivor benefits, the marriage also must have lasted 10 years but you’re allowed to remarry at age 60 or later.

Liz Weston, certified financial planner, is a personal finance columnist for NerdWallet. Questions may be sent to her at 3940 Laurel Canyon, No. 238, Studio City, CA 91604, or by using the “Contact” form at asklizweston.com. Distributed by No More Red Inc.

How a short sale can short-circuit your credit score Credit ReStart

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15 tips to manage your finances, debt - News - The Daily News

Amanda Humphrey AmandaWrites

A dozen women gathered at Jacksonville City Hall Saturday morning with a similar goal in mind: to learn how to manage their finances.

The four-hour class presented by Rachel R. Gause, a financial consultant and owner of Personal Financial Change, LLC., covered a variety of topics including getting out of debt and how to prevent credit report surprises.

Here are just a few things the retired Marine, who straightened out her own finances and now aims to help others, suggested:

Check your credit report at least annually. She suggested using annualcreditreport.com or creditkarma.com. “What you don’t know can definitely hurt you.” Dispute errors. Gause suggested disputing errors found on your credit report, but to do so politely since attitude is typically met with attitude. To do so, visit experian.com or dispute.transunion.com. Freeze access to your credit report which makes identity theft more difficult. To do so, visit freeze.equifax.com, experian.com/freeze or freeze.transunion.com. Just be sure to unfreeze it if you know a company is trying to check your credit. Change your withholdings so you don’t receive a large tax refund and you don’t owe the government money come tax time. Visit irs.gov/individuals.com/IRS-Withholding-Calculator to see what your withholdings would need to be. Avoid financial distractions. If you’re looking to buy a car, purchase what you can afford to maintain and keep it. Don’t use credit cards or, in the words of Dora the Explorer, “Swiper no swiping.” “Budget” may start with a “B” but it’s not a curse word. Gause suggests budgeting as often as you are paid: monthly, biweekly or weekly. Reconcile your checking account and record every single transaction. The budget, she says, will make sure you know where your money is going and shows where you’re overspending. For many, the grocery budget ends up being over simply because they’re tired after doing the grocery shopping. “You’re eating away your savings.” An ideal budget includes the following:

Charity, 10-15 percent

Savings, 10-15 percent

Housing, 25-35 percent

Utilities, 5-10 percent,

Food, 5-15 percent

Clothing, 2-7 percent

Transportation, 10-15 percent

Medical / Health, 5-10 percent

Insurance, 10-25 percent

Recreation, 5-10 percent

Personal, 5-10 percent

Debts, 5-10 percent

To do a quick budget, which shows how much you’re spending on basic necessities, write down what you’re spending for the month in each category, add up the eight boxes and total it. Do a monthly cash flow plan. Write down your monthly take-home pay, write out your budget and add up each category. Subtract take-home pay from category totals. At the end, you should get zero (what isn’t spent on tangible items or utilities can go to savings or paying off a debt item to make that happen). Pay off your debt starting with the item with the smallest balance. For example, if you have three credit cards, a personal loan, a car loan and a student loan, pay off the item with the smallest balance first. Then pay the next item’s monthly payment plus what you were paying on the first bill. By the end of the snowball, you’re taking all of those monthly payments and paying it toward the biggest bill. Why not use a consolidation plan? Because then you’re doing the same thing, but paying someone else to get it done. Have an emergency fund for when Murphy’s Law hits. Gause recommends having $500 to $1,000 in savings to start. Have a sinking fund, or separate savings account, for things you know are coming such as a roof repair, replacing appliances, a vacation or wedding so you can save up over time for what would be a big cost to absorb at once. Once out of debt other than your mortgage, build a three to six month emergency fund in case you ever lose your job. From there, you can create a college fund for your kids and pay off your mortgage early with all the money you’re saving from being out of debt. Build your wealth.

Part of Gause’s goal now that she’s down to just her mortgage is to teach others, including her own four children, how to give, save and spend. For more information, contact Gause at 910-787-8609, personalfc.com, personalfinancialchange@gmail.com or on Facebook at Facebook.com/personalfinancialchange/

  Online Editor Amanda Humphrey can be reached at 910-219-8439 or amanda.humphrey@gatehousemedia.com.

15 tips to manage your finances, debt – News – The Daily News Credit ReStart

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You can stop selling of your credit data

By Peter Boutell

Lending a Hand

The national credit bureaus (Equifax, Transunion and Experian) keep track of how much you owe, what your payments are, your maximum borrowing limits and when and how often you are late on your payments. In addition, they report any matters of public record that you may have, such as bankruptcies, short sales, foreclosures, judgments, etc.

This information is summarized, analyzed and given a score from a low of 350 to a high of 850 and is called a credit score. It should also be noted that credit bureaus do not have access to consumers’ income or asset information.

Independent credit reporting companies gather this information from the national bureaus and sell the data to leads-gathering companies without customers’ express permission or consent when consumers authorize a lender or other creditor to obtain their credit report. These are called ‘Trigger Leads.’

When a consumer selects a mortgage lender and starts the loan approval process, the lender will request authorization from the consumer and order a credit report. Within 24 hours of providing a credit report to the lender, credit reporting companies are likely to have sold the consumers’ name, address, credit scores, revolving credit balances, mortgage balances, etc. to a third party who in turn sells it to leads companies. These ‘trigger leads’ are sold to the customer’s current lenders, direct mail and email-spamming mortgage lenders who promptly contact the consumer to offer their mortgage options.

Theoretically, your social security number and account numbers are not compromised but your name, address, contact information, credit scores and details on your credit report are all up for sale.

Before loaning money or extending credit, your lender will need a credit report and must ask you for written authorization to obtain your credit report. It is against the law to obtain a credit report without the consumer’s permission. Lenders pay credit reporting companies for these credit reports and use this information to decide whether or not to extend credit to you and, if so, at what rates.

Consumers who have not been responsible about paying back their debts on time have lower credit scores (less than, say, 680), represent higher risks to creditors and, therefore, will pay higher interest rates and/or fees when borrowing money.

These credit bureaus play an important role in our economy and considering the massive amounts of data that must be digested, organized and tabulated for virtually every adult in our country who has ever had credit, they do a very good job. However, there needs to be a more concerted effort in congress to put a stop to the release of a consumer’s confidential information without express consent.

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In the meantime, consumers can ‘opt-out’ of the selling of their data by going to optoutprescreen.com. If time allows, consumers should stop the selling of their data before their lender runs a credit report. It can take up to five days from the time you ‘opt out’ until the credit reporting companies stop selling your personal information.

Local mortgage consultant Peter Boutell has been writing this weekly column for the Sentinel since 1995. Send questions to Peter@SantaCruzHomeFinance.com. Archived columns are available at www.PeterBoutell.com or at www.santacruzsentinel.com/topic/Peter Boutell.

You can stop selling of your credit data Credit ReStart

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Get to know your credit score

Jason Athas, YourNews contributor 1:02 p.m. ET April 21, 2017

Jason Athas(Photo: CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

STUART — Your credit score tells a story about how you manage your money, pay your bills and utilize credit, which you currently have.

Fair, Issac and Company (FICO), the folks that developed the model used to create your credit score, use five factors to convert your credit report, which could be multiple pages long, into a number. The number range goes from 300  to 850, with the higher number indicating the best rating. The national average number hovers around 675.

Credit history, paying your bills on time counts 35 percent to your score. Outstanding debt, how much debt you have, how much debt on your credit cards, counts 30 percent to your score. Length of credit history, maintaining the same credit for a long period of time, counts 15 percent. Maintaining a credit mix of secured and unsecured debt will count 10 percent. And lastly, searching for new credit, applying for new credit, will count for the final 10 percent.

Paying your bills on time, not overextending yourself with debt while not opening and closing accounts are a few of the key factors to maintain a great credit score.

Employers will want to take a look at your credit score before extending a job offer, insurance companies will monitor your score monthly, and creditors from credit card companies to banks will review your score before granting you a line of credit. The higher your score, the more favorable you are viewed by these creditors and you would reap the benefit of a low interest rate on that credit.

Many credit card companies offer your credit score as a free benefit and free credit score calculators can be found on the internet. Your score is derived from the information displayed on your credit report. Consequently, you must take an active role in managing and reviewing the information on your credit report. A mistake on your report will have an adverse effect on your score.

You can call 877-322-8228, or go to www.annualcreditreport.com, where you are entitled to one free copy of your credit report from the three credit reporting agencies every 12 months.

Jason Athas is with Debt Management Credit Counseling Corp, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to educating consumers on financial issues and providing personal assistance to consumers overextended with debt. They provide free budget counseling, educational materials and programs and can be reached at 866-724-3328 or www.dmcconline.org. 

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Get to know your credit score Credit ReStart

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10 Credit Tips From Someone With a Perfect Credit Score -- The Motley Fool

It’s the Holy Grail of all credit scores: 850. On the widely used FICO credit score scale, approximately one in every 200 people achieves perfection, at least as of a 2010 estimate by the Fair Isaac Corporation, the company behind the aforementioned FICO score.

The perks of having a perfect or even excellent credit score (think 750 or higher) are undeniable. It puts the ball completely in the corner of the consumer rather than the lender. You’ll often have lenders fighting for your business, and in nearly all instances, you’ll be offered the best interest rate by lenders, meaning you’ll have the lowest possible long-term mortgage and loan costs of any consumer.

Image source: Getty Images.

So, what does it take to achieve this Holy Grail of credit scores? As one of the lucky 1-in-200 with a perfect credit score, I’d opine not all that much. Yes, it takes some dedication, but there’s no secret club or shortcuts to achieving credit score perfection.

Here are 10 credit tips I’ll share with you that should help in your pursuit of an 850 credit score.

1. Pay your bills on time (and don’t be afraid to request a waiver if you’re late)

This probably goes without saying, but the most important factor of your FICO credit score is your payment history. Though FICO keeps its precise scoring formula a closely guarded secret, CreditCards.com has reported via FICO that about 35% of your score is derived from your payment history. If you have a number of late payments and/or collections, your credit score will take it on the chin.

Yet, even if you have an occasional late payment, it’s often worthwhile to request that your lender forgive a late payment (assuming you’ve made your payment and are now current on your account).

Most people aren’t perfect and we miss payments from time to time. Many years back, I was a day late with a credit card payment, but I had at least five years of consecutive on-time payments with the lender in question. I asked that the late fee and adverse credit ding be forgiven and the lender obliged. For lenders, it’s often cheaper to bend a bit with customers they’d like to hang onto than spend a lot trying to acquire new ones.

Image source: Getty Images.

2. Set up as many automatic payments as possible

One of the best ways to reduce the possibility of a late payment and eliminate the “I forgot” excuse that proliferates throughout the industry is to set up as many automatic payments as possible for your credit accounts. Having your bills automatically deducted from your bank account on a specific date or charged to a credit card (assuming you pay it off monthly) ensures that you’re never late on your bills.

I’ve also found that paying bills through your bank online can be a particularly smart way to reduce your chances of being late with your payments. Not only do you avoid running the risk of your payment arriving and processing after the due date if you mail your bills in, but online banking is exceptionally quick and it makes recordkeeping very easy.

3. Don’t carry a balance if you don’t have to

If you can, pay your credit cards off each and every month. One of the greatest misconceptions is that you need to carry a balance on your credit cards to improve your credit score, which just isn’t true. As long as you’re paying your bill on time each month, even if that bill is paid off in its entirety every month, then you’re going to see a long-term positive benefit in your credit score.

I’ve been paying my credit cards off in full for the past 12 years, which has helped reduce the overall cost of the goods and services I’ve bought since there’s no interest to be paid. It also helps keep your aggregate credit utilization down, which comprises about 30% of your FICO credit score.

Image source: Getty Images.

4. Don’t check your credit score each month

Another somewhat common misconception is that you need to stay on top of your credit score like a hawk. Your credit history is akin to a roadmap that lenders use to decide whether to loan you money, and if so, what interest rates you’ll qualify for. It takes a lot of data points to paint an accurate picture for lenders. This means that your credit score can take a long time to adjust upward, especially given that your length of credit history contributes to about 15% of your FICO credit score.

It took me 17 years to achieve an 850 credit score. While it’s certainly possible you could do so in fewer years, watching your credit score each month is probably going to drive you mad. Limit your credit score checks to between two and four times annually. This will give you a bigger-picture look at your progress.

5. Don’t be afraid to increase your credit limit

It’s sometimes puzzling to me why consumers resist when lenders offer a credit limit increase, or why they fear asking for a higher credit limit. If you’re a compulsive spender, this fear would be justified. In all other cases, I’d suggest cardholders embrace the idea of higher credit limits.

The idea here is simple: The higher your credit limits, the less likely you are to use more than 30% of your aggregate credit, which is the line-in-the-sand point where your credit score could be dinged. Yes, increasing your credit limit will likely involve your lender taking a hard look at your credit report, and it may result in a temporary loss of a few points on your credit score. But over the long term it could help lower your credit utilization rate, which will have a considerably more positive impact on your credit score as long as you remain responsible with your spending.

Image source: Getty Images.

6. Ask your lender to lower your interest rate

Though this idea might sound insane, asking your lender for a lower interest rate tends to work more often than not. The thing is most cardholders don’t make this request because they are either afraid to do so or believe they’ll be told “no.”

As noted above, lenders spend far more money to bring in new customers than they do by caving in to a few concessions from those with excellent credit score. If you ask for an interest rate reduction, you just might get it, which means lower costs for you and possibly the ability to pay down your debt faster if you’re carrying a balance. Worst-case scenario, you’re told “no” — and there are far worse things on this planet than that.

7. Keep good-standing accounts open and use them from time to time

One of the bigger errors consumers make is closing good-standing credit accounts because they believe credit card companies will view the action as “responsible.” In other words, consumers believe that by having fewer accounts, they’ll be demonstrating to lenders that they can responsibly manage their credit.

Unfortunately, that’s not how things work. The length of time your credit accounts are open comprises about 15% of your credit score. If your accounts are in good standing, leaving them open for an extended period of time will help your credit score. I’d suggest making an attempt to use your rarely used, good-standing accounts once or twice a year to ensure they stay open and aren’t closed by your lender.

Image source: Getty Images.

8. Only open accounts when it makes financial sense

An important factor in your march toward an 850 FICO credit score is to ensure that you only open new credit accounts when it makes the financial sense to do so.

In a given year, I’m offered somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 to 60 credit cards, and I haven’t opened a new account in at least four years. Opening a credit account makes sense when it’s an exceptionally large purchase, such as a house or car, or when it’s a large purchase that would strain your checking or savings account. In other words, avoid opening multiple new credit accounts just to save 10% on that $29 shirt you want.

9. Focus on your revolving debts first

If you happen to carry a balance on your credit cards, it’s important for consumers to focus on paying off their revolving debts first.

Whether you realize it or not, FICO actually takes the types of debt you pay into account when calculating your score. These two types of debt are revolving and installment. Revolving debts typically have higher interest rates and your minimum payment is based on the amount you owe. Department store credit cards are a good example. Installment loans are fixed loans of a lengthy time period, such as a mortgage or car loan. Paying down your revolving debts first often means paying less in interest.

10. Check your credit report annually

Last but certainly not least, make use of the fact that you can check your credit report once annually for free from each of the three credit bureaus. Far too many consumers fail to check their credit reports annually, and it’s more likely than you probably realize that one or more of the three credit-reporting bureaus has an error on your report. Head to AnnualCreditReport.com right now if you haven’t done so yet this year and ensure that your credit report is accurate.

10 Credit Tips From Someone With a Perfect Credit Score — The Motley Fool Credit ReStart

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Prepare For Credit Score Changes

Big changes are coming to how your credit score is calculated. The most notable change involves what’s known as trended data, meaning scores will take into account the direction of a borrower’s debts on a monthly basis. Someone who is paying down debt is more likely to be scored better than someone who is making minimum monthly payments, but is slowly accumulating credit card debt. The goal is to identify warning signs long before borrowers get into major trouble.

Published at 9:15 AM PDT on Apr 20, 2017 | Updated at 10:32 AM PDT on Apr 20, 2017

Prepare For Credit Score Changes Credit ReStart

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5 ways your credit score will be affected by new rating system

NEW YORK —

The math behind your credit score is getting an overhaul, with changes big enough that they might alter the behavior of both cautious spenders as well as riskier borrowers.

Beyond determining whether someone gets approved for a credit card, a credit score can affect what interest rate and what spending limit are offered.

The new method is being implemented later this year by VantageScore, a company created by the credit bureaus Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. It’s not as well-known as Fair Isaac Corp., whose FICO score is used for the vast majority of mortgages. But VantageScore handled 8 billion account applications last year, so if you applied for a credit card, that score was likely used to approve or deny you.

Here’s what you need to know:

Paying down debt will help your score

Using what’s known as trended data is the biggest change. The phrase means credit scores will take into account the trajectory of a borrower’s debts on a month-to-month basis. So a person who is paying down debt is now likely to be scored better than a person who is making minimum monthly payments but has been slowly accumulating credit card debt.

People with high credit scores may be affected the most, since the goal of trended data is to see warning signs long before a borrower actually gets into serious trouble.

“When it comes to prime borrowers, you may not have bad behavior on your credit file, but a trajectory provides very powerful information,” said Sarah Davies, senior vice president for research, analytics and product development at VantageScore.

The change also shakes up the maxim that had people keeping open accounts they’d opened long ago. An important metric in calculating credit scores has been the portion of their available credit people are actually using. A person with $5,000 in credit card debt with a $50,000 limit across several cards could score better than someone with $2,000 in debt on a $10,000 limit because of that ratio.

Excessive credit card limits will hurt your score

VantageScore will now mark a borrower negatively for having excessively large credit card limits, on the theory that the person could run up a high credit card debt quickly. Those who have prime credit scores may be hurt the most, since they are most likely to have multiple cards open. But those who like to play the credit card rewards program points game could be affected as well.

Civil judgments, medical debt and tax liens will no longer affect your score

Taking those items out of the equation comes after a 2015 agreement between the three credit bureaus and 31 state attorneys general. The argument was that civil judgments and tax liens —which can significantly hurt a person’s credit score — were often full of errors. Medical debt was being reported on a person’s credit report before there was time for insurance to reimburse.

People with those items on their credit reports now could see a bump of as much as 20 points. But it won’t help much if they also have negative marks like delinquencies and debts that have gone to collection.

Mortgages won’t be affected

The government-owned mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac require a FICO score for eligibility. Because of their outsized influence on the market, few mortgage lenders use VantageScore.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

WEBVTT AUBRY: KNOWING YOUR CREDIT SCOREIS SO IMPORTANT.BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANT ISHAVING AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOWTO BOOST IT.ACCORDING TO EXPERTS NEARLY A, THIRD OF AMERICANS HAVE ACREDIT SCORE OF LESS THAN 601.SO IF YOU FALL UNDER THATNUMBER, HERE ARE A FEW WAYS TOBOOST YOUR CREDIT SCORJOINING US LIVE TO TALK ABOUTIT, FINANCE EXPERT KEMBERLEY, WASHINGTON TO GIVE US THE BESTTIPS AS YOU ALWAYS DO.TELL US, IS THERE HOPE FOR THOSEWITH NOT THE BEST CREDIT?>> THERE IS HOPE.I REMEMBER MY TIME IN COLLEGE, IHAD A LOT OF CREDIT CARDS ITURNED MYSELF AROUND.I DID NOT HIRE ANYBODY.YOU CAN DO IT.AUBRY: WHAT CAN WE DO?>> A COUPLE OF THINGS.YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT COMPRISESYOUR CREDIT SCORE?FIVE DIFFERENT FACTORS BUT THEMAIN AS THE PAYMENT HISTORY ANDPAYMENT UTILIZATION.THAT MEANS HOW MUCH OF YOURCREDIT YOU ARE USING.YOU DO NOT WANT TO USE TOO MUCHOF IT.AUBRY: LET’S TALK TO SOMEBODYWITH A CREDIT CARD SPRINT BACKWHEN YOU WERE IN COLLEGE, TELLUS THE STORY.>> WHEN I WRITE IN COLLEGE, ALLOF THESE DIFFERENT CREDIT CARDCOMPANIES AND I SIGNED MY NAMEON THE DOTTED LINE FOR FREETRINKETS.AFTER COLLEGE, I KNEW I HAD TODO SOMETHING.I PAID ATTENTION TO MY CREDITSCORE.THE FIRST THING IS ORDER YOURCREDIT REPORT.REVIEW IT.YOU WANT TO DISPUTE ANYINACCURACIES, ANYTHING YOUBELIEVE SHOULD COME OFF AS ADISPUTE IT.YOU CAN DO IT ONLINE.THAT’S THE FIRST OF THING.AUBRY: WHAT ARE OTHER TIPS?A LOT OF PEOPLE GET THE CREDITCARDS IN COLLEGE, DO YOU WANT TOCLOSE OF THEM OR WHAT IS THEBEST?>> YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.IF YOU EVER CREDIT CARD LIGHTAND JUST CLOSE IT, IT WILL BE ADENTIST TO YOUR CREDIT SCORE.YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.– A DENT TO YOUR CREDIT SCORE.YOU MAY WANT TO PAY IT AND KEEPIT OPEN.YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.IT COMES TO DEBT RATIOS.IF YOU HAVE A CREDIT CARD AT$1000 IT WILL PUT A DENT INYOUR CREDIT SCORE.YOU WANT TO PAY THE AMOUNTS ITDOWN.AUBRY: ANYBODY GETTING READY TOMAKE A MAJOR PURCHASE LIKE AHOME OR CAR, ANYTHING THEYSHOULD THINK ABOUT OR BE DOINGTO GET THE CREDIT SCORE HIGHER?>> PAYMENT HISTORY I KEY.AS YOU PAY YOUR BILLS EACHMONTH, MAKE CERTAIN YOU PAY ONTIME BECAUSE OF THAT WILL BILLYOUR CREDIT SCORE.IT CAN TOTALLY HAPPEN.YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL WHENIT COMES TO YOUR CREDIT SCORES.AUBRY: ANY ADVICE TO PEOPLEWATCHING, SOME PEOPLE GETSTRESSED OUT AND NERVOUS WHENTHEY SEE THEIR CREDIT SCORENUMBER, ANY ADVICE YOU CAN GIVETO HOLD IT TOGETHER?>> NOTE THAT IT CAN CHANGE.FOLLOW THE DIFFERENT PRINCIPLES.THE BIGGEST IS REDUCED THE

5 ways your credit score will be affected by new rating system Credit ReStart