Guide to Credit Score and Credit Reports
Learn more about your credit score and how to manage it.
FICO Score 8 is currently the most popular of many FICO scoring model versions that businesses use to size up a borrower’s risk.
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.
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.
What people are reading
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.
What Is a FICO Score? Do FICO Scores Really Matter?
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.
How to Prevent Identity Theft Online – And Off
Identity theft can be a costly hassle that affects up to 1 in 3 Americans. Here are 7 common identity theft techniques and related tips to help protect you from each.
What Are UltraFICO and the Other New Credit Scores?
FICO has three new credit scoring methods that change how your score is calculated: UltraFICO, FICO 10 & FICO 10 T. Here’s what’s changing and what it may mean for you.
What Affects Your Credit Score?
There are many factors that can influence your credit score. Find out how late payments, debt and credit history can impact your score.
What is a Credit Report and Why is it Important?
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.
How Often Does a Credit Score Update?
Find out how often a credit score updates – is it a day, or does it take a month to see changes in your credit report?
How to Improve Your Credit Score
Earning a top credit score takes time. Learn the different factors that affect your score and four strategies that may help to improve it.
Understanding how ‘credit score’ is defined, how credit scores work, and how they’re calculated can help you establish a positive financial future.
How to Check Your Credit Score for Free
Here is how to check your credit score for free and get the most accurate picture of your credit.
How Can I Simulate My Credit Score?
Learn how credit score simulators can help you estimate the ways various financial decisions can boost or burden your credit score.
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.
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.
Who’s Got Your Credit Data? The Big 3 Credit Reporting Agencies
Your credit reports are put together by three national agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Learn all about them here.
How to Check Your Credit Score for Free
Here is how to check your credit score for free and get the most accurate picture of your credit.
How Can I Simulate My Credit Score?
Learn how credit score simulators can help you estimate the ways various financial decisions can boost or burden your credit score.
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.
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.
Who’s Got Your Credit Data? The Big 3 Credit Reporting Agencies
Your credit reports are put together by three national agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Learn all about them here.
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.
What's New
“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.
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.
What Credit Score Do You Need to Rent an Apartment?
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.
Why Do Employers Check Your Credit?
Some employers do credit checks before hiring to help limit their risk. Here’s what they look for, your legal rights, and how to be maintain a positive credit profile.
Different Types of Credit Scores
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.
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Learn about credit score ranges from FICO and VantageScore, and how they classify Excellent, Good, or Poor credit scores.
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.
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.
10 Things You Should Know About Identity Theft
Identity theft may be more common than you think. Here are 10 important things to know about identity theft, including how to prevent it and what to do if it happens.
5 Ways to Help Your Child Establish Credit
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.
How Often Does a Credit Score Update?
Find out how often a credit score updates – is it a day, or does it take a month to see changes in your credit report?
Credit Score Simulator from MyCredit Guide: How It Works
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.
What Credit Score Do You Need to Buy a Car?
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.
Credit Score Simulator from MyCredit Guide: How It Works
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.
What Credit Score Do You Need to Buy a Car?
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.
Ways to Protect Your Credit Score During Economic Shifts
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.
4 Different Types of Credit Protection You May Need
The unexpected happens every day. Learn about different types of credit protection services to safeguard you from unforeseen events and fraudsters.
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 drop.
How Credit Utilization Ratio Impacts Your Credit Score
Credit utilization ratio is simply the percentage of your total credit limit you’re using. Find out how it affects your overall credit score.
What Is a Credit Freeze? Should I Freeze My Credit?
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.
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.
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.
10 Things You Should Know About Identity Theft
Identity theft may be more common than you think. Here are 10 important things to know about identity theft, including how to prevent it and what to do if it happens.
5 Ways to Help Your Child Establish Credit
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.
How Often Does a Credit Score Update?
Find out how often a credit score updates – is it a day, or does it take a month to see changes in your credit report?
Credit Score Simulator from MyCredit Guide: How It Works
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.
What Credit Score Do You Need to Buy a Car?
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.
Credit Score Simulator from MyCredit Guide: How It Works
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.
What Credit Score Do You Need to Buy a Car?
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.
Ways to Protect Your Credit Score During Economic Shifts
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.
4 Different Types of Credit Protection You May Need
The unexpected happens every day. Learn about different types of credit protection services to safeguard you from unforeseen events and fraudsters.
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 drop.
How Credit Utilization Ratio Impacts Your Credit Score
Credit utilization ratio is simply the percentage of your total credit limit you’re using. Find out how it affects your overall credit score.
What Is a Credit Freeze? Should I Freeze My Credit?
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.
Credit reports, credit scores, and credit limits are very different things. But they work together to help lenders assess your creditworthiness.
What People Are Reading
How to Self-Report Good Information to Credit Bureaus
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.
How Long Does a Closed Account Stay on a Credit Report?
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.
What is a Credit Report and Why is it Important?
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.
Who’s Got Your Credit Data? The Big 3 Credit Reporting Agencies
Your credit reports are put together by three national agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Learn all about them here.
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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.
What Does – and Doesn’t – Show up on 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.
How to Dispute Your Credit Report at All 3 Bureaus
Your credit report has valuable personal information. See something amiss? Here’s how to dispute your credit report online, by phone, or even by U.S. mail.
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.
How to Get a Free Credit Report
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.
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.
How Do I Get Something Off My 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.
How to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft?
Identity theft happens more than you may realize. Know what identity theft is, how it works, and help protect yourself from it with these guidelines.
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 is Credit Monitoring and is it Effective?
Monitoring your credit can prevent fraud and identity theft. Free credit monitoring services can foil thieves and help keep your credit score healthy.
Soft vs Hard Credit Inquiries: What’s the Difference?
When anyone – including you – checks your credit report, that inquiry may get noted as part of your credit history. It can be either a ‘hard’ or ‘soft’ inquiry.
What Does – and Doesn’t – Show up on 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.
How to Dispute Your Credit Report at All 3 Bureaus
Your credit report has valuable personal information. See something amiss? Here’s how to dispute your credit report online, by phone, or even by U.S. mail.
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.
How to Get a Free Credit Report
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.
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.
How Do I Get Something Off My 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.
How to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft?
Identity theft happens more than you may realize. Know what identity theft is, how it works, and help protect yourself from it with these guidelines.
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 is Credit Monitoring and is it Effective?
Monitoring your credit can prevent fraud and identity theft. Free credit monitoring services can foil thieves and help keep your credit score healthy.
Soft vs Hard Credit Inquiries: What’s the Difference?
When anyone – including you – checks your credit report, that inquiry may get noted as part of your credit history. It can be either a ‘hard’ or ‘soft’ inquiry.
Paying a rent or phone bill late usually won’t affect credit scores, but if your debt goes into collections, scores may nosedive.
Applying for loans can cause a drop in your credit score, but rate-shopping for multiple loans in a short time span may prevent additional credit dips.
Interest rates are usually based on your credit score. Typically, the higher the score, the lower the interest rate – and the less it can cost to borrow money.
What People Are Reading
How to Improve Your Credit Score
Earning a top credit score takes time. Learn the different factors that affect your score and four strategies that may help to improve it.
How to Check Your Credit Score for Free
Here is how to check your credit score for free and get the most accurate picture of your credit.
How Often Should You Check Your Credit Report & Score?
Experts suggest you check your credit score and report at least once a year – and sometimes more often – to spot errors or fraud and to get a sense of your credit health.
Can You Remove Unauthorized Hard Inquiries from Your Credit Report?
It’s good to know how to remove hard inquiries from your credit report because they can ding your credit score – or be an early warning of identity theft.
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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.
Do Late Student Loan Payments Hurt Your Score?
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.
7 Common Actions that Can Hurt Your Credit Score
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.
Understanding the different types of revolving credit and how they work can help you manage personal finances, especially cash flow, with more flexibility.
Does Refinancing Affect My Credit Score?
When you’re refinancing a loan you might see some changes in your credit score, but most are minor and temporary.
Does My Credit Score Affect Car Insurance Cost?
Insurance companies use their own insurance credit score to assess risk and help determine your premium – and it’s based on your credit score and credit.
Is It Possible to Get a Perfect Credit Score?
Getting a perfect credit score is a notable financial goal. Learn what you can do to improve your credit score – and what it takes to get a perfect 850 FICO score.
7 Best Ways to Help Build Your Credit
Learn about the credit-building benefits of reviewing and cleaning errors on your credit report, managing credit utilization, and removing late payments.
How to Increase Your Credit Limit
Learn how you can increase your credit limit and boost your credit score. Explore the different pros and cons of credit limit increases.
How to Build Credit: A Guide for College Students and Graduates
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.
Should I Freeze My Credit? Survey Says …
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.
How to Unfreeze Credit for Free
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.
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.
How to Build Your Credit from Scratch - Credit Cards Can Help
So, you have no credit history? Find the best credit card to help build your credit by following these expert tips.
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.
8 Ways Credit Cards Can Help You Rebuild Your Credit
Credit cards can help you build your credit, but can also lower your score if not used responsibly. Learn how you can rebuild your credit, starting today.
How to Build Credit: A Guide for College Students and Recent Graduates
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.
Using Your Credit Card Responsibly to Build Credit
Here are a few tips on how to use your credit card responsibly and how to use a credit card to build credit.
Do Late Student Loan Payments Hurt Your Score?
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.
7 Common Actions that Can Hurt Your Credit Score
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.
Understanding the different types of revolving credit and how they work can help you manage personal finances, especially cash flow, with more flexibility.
Does Refinancing Affect My Credit Score?
When you’re refinancing a loan you might see some changes in your credit score, but most are minor and temporary.
Does My Credit Score Affect Car Insurance Cost?
Insurance companies use their own insurance credit score to assess risk and help determine your premium – and it’s based on your credit score and credit.
Is It Possible to Get a Perfect Credit Score?
Getting a perfect credit score is a notable financial goal. Learn what you can do to improve your credit score – and what it takes to get a perfect 850 FICO score.
7 Best Ways to Help Build Your Credit
Learn about the credit-building benefits of reviewing and cleaning errors on your credit report, managing credit utilization, and removing late payments.
How to Increase Your Credit Limit
Learn how you can increase your credit limit and boost your credit score. Explore the different pros and cons of credit limit increases.
How to Build Credit: A Guide for College Students and Graduates
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.
Should I Freeze My Credit? Survey Says …
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.
How to Unfreeze Credit for Free
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.
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.
How to Build Your Credit from Scratch - Credit Cards Can Help
So, you have no credit history? Find the best credit card to help build your credit by following these expert tips.
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.
8 Ways Credit Cards Can Help You Rebuild Your Credit
Credit cards can help you build your credit, but can also lower your score if not used responsibly. Learn how you can rebuild your credit, starting today.
How to Build Credit: A Guide for College Students and Recent Graduates
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.
Using Your Credit Card Responsibly to Build Credit
Here are a few tips on how to use your credit card responsibly and how to use a credit card to build credit.
The material made available for you on this website, Credit Intel, is for informational purposes only 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.
