Negative entries like late payments and charge-offs stay on your credit report for seven years - this is what's known as the ...

Having a good credit score is essential for accessing loans, credit cards with better benefits, and even better rental ...

“To rebuild your credit, you first need to get some credit, which is often the hardest part if you have a low credit score ...

Perfect credit, or even really good credit, opens doors for American consumers. Better interest rates on loans. Better odds of renting an apartment or landing a job. Lower insurance premiums. But how ...

More than a third of all Americans have a credit score below 670, according to Experian. And many don’t realize what’s hurting their credit until they’re denied a loan or hit with higher costs. Your ...

Debt consolidation can cut interests costs, but only if your credit score measures up LaToya Irby is a credit expert who has been covering credit and debt management for nearly 20 years. She's been ...

Beverly is a writer, editor, and paralegal specializing in personal finance and tax law. She covers personal financial and legal topics, as well as tax breaks, tax preparation software, and tax law ...

Debt is a double-edged sword. When wielded wisely, it can open doors to opportunities such as homeownership, education and financial flexibility. Mismanaged, it can weigh you down and derail your ...

Learn how to use credit cards to build credit, get rewards and cash back, and stay debt free along the way! Click "Show More" ...

I've seen folks raise their scores by 50+ points in just a few months, without doing anything fancy. They just learned which factors affected their score most, and focused on improving those areas.

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Jack Nick, SVP/Marketing and eCommerce ...

We might earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of the links. The McClatchy Commerce Content team, which is independent from our newsroom, oversees this content. Many people turn to Buy ...