Dawnstream

They use different  formulas to derive the credit scores. Credit scores are generated by computer programs that use some pretty complex math. All the companies that write these programs keep them secret to protect their profits, so each company winds up with a different score for the same credit report.

They aren't required to report. It's voluntary. The only requirement by law is that they report truthfully. Most report once a month. Depending on when you paid and when they report, it can take two months for updates to reach your credit report.

The scoring system that Credit Karma uses knocks your score whenever you pay off a balance. That's just one of the quirks of their scores, but it's not how other credit scoring systems, like FICO, work.

Oh, dear. What a mess. I don't know of a solid solution to this problem. If you want to, you can change your Social Security Number or even your name, but those are personal and rightfully yours. If you suspect that she is knowingly using your SSN, you should file a police report. That may also serve as evidence that you are different people to creditors. This problem is unfourtunately something that probably has no solution. You can place a security freeze on your credit reports, dispute her information that's on your report, and place a personal statement in your credit reports informing future creditors of this problem. You will need to be vigilant, though, and monitor your credit. Try to catch and dispute any issues that arise immediately.

Go to the credit bureau's website. If you want to dispute something you found on Credit Karma, go to Transunion's website. Click on "Dispute," and follow the instructions. The three bureaus all have their sites set up a little differently. I think to dispute something on the Experian website, you have to obtain your report from www.annualcreditreport.com first. You can dispute online, by mail or by phone. After you dispute credit information, the bureau is obligated to investigate. They may not have any contact with you while they investigate, but if you haven't heard from them within three weeks, call them and follow up. In my experience, Transunion and Equifax are really good about keeping in touch and solving problems, but talking to Experian is like talking to a brick wall. It takes a little patience. Good luck!

Antoine, begin by pulling your (free, official) credit report from www.annualcreditreport.com.You can get one copy of each of your three reports once a year, either all three at once or spread out as you choose. Look over your official report and make sure there are no errors. If you find any errors, dispute them with all three credit bureaus online, by mail or by phone. Keep in mind that credit reports from different bureaus may have different information and different errors. Pay any past due or collection accounts that are less than two years old first. If you don't have a current credit card, get one. Orchard Bank has secured credit cards that will help you establish good credit without a credit check. You just need to apply and send them a deposit. Use the card every month for a regular purchase, like gas, groceries, your electric bill, etc. Keep your balance under 25% of the limit, and pay it in full every month. If you have any more questions, post them here, but it does help to be specific.

Yes, it probably will have a negative impact, depending on what else is in your report. I wouldn't change them, but if you're concerned, you can close them as long as they aren't your oldest accounts and you have at least three other open lines of credit in your credit report. To mitigate the loss of available credit, raise the limit(s) on another credit card(s) before closing them.

Get your credit report from www.annualcreditreport.com, and dispute any errors that you find. Your credit report will have contact info for the creditor. Call them and ask if they actually have a credit card account in your name. Somebody could have put you on their credit card as an authorized user, or maybe it's the card of someone with a similar name and SSN.

Yes, it's part of your credit history. It should remain on your report and give you good credit for ten years or so. If it's still reporting a balance, contact the lender and ask them if they're reporting correctly.

What's wrong with your credit?

Get your credit report(s) from www.annualcreditreport.com and check it(them) for inaccuracies. Dispute any errors you find.

It depends on what else is in your credit report, and it's different for everybody. Usually, it will lower your score by dropping your available credit, but you can mitigate this by raising the limit on one of your other credit cards. If it's your only card, you really should get another one before closing it.

Yes! If you have a federal student loan, it will cause a low score for the rest of your life. DO NOT DEFAULT. Lenders, especially of federal student loans, are VERY understanding. Talk to them! Tell them you're having problems. You can get a hardship deferment or switch your payment plan. They're will work with you, just keep in touch with them.

I'm not a fan of loan consolidation. When you consolidate, you lose the ability to pay off the highest apr loan first, plus, if you have subsidized student loans, you lose your grace period. I recommend paying as much as possible on your loan with the highest interest rate before you consolidate. That being said, special direct consolidation is available right now through the end of June, so you need to jump now, if it benefits you to do so. More information is available at: http://www.loanconsolidation.ed.gov.

Credit reporting is voluntary, and not all credit card companies participate. Call your credit card companies and ask them about it. They may be reporting inaccurately, too.

Get your free, official credit report(s) from www.annualcreditreport.com, and dispute any inaccuracies with the credit bureaus or the original creditor online, by mail or by phone.

There's direct consolidation and special direct consolidation (only available until the end of June) from the federal government. More info at: http://www.loanconsolidation.ed.gov. You can pay off student loans with a personal loan, credit card or line of credit, too, or a new student loan, if you're still in school. If you're a homeowner, your best bet is a home equity line of credit. If not, there are plenty of other options. Be sure you get something with a fixed apr. If the loan rate is variable, it could double at any time, and your payments will nearly double along with it. Whatever decision you make, do it by the end of June, as student loans are changing.

Credit reporting is voluntary. If they don't report limits, I can't imagine they would change their minds just because you call and ask them to, but if they get enough complaints, they may change. If you're trying to build good credit, yes, you should probably switch cards, as nearly a third of your credit score is based on your utilization. There's lots of great cards available that do report limits. Read reviews professional and personal reviews before applying for a new card to make sure you don't run into the same problem again.

Obtain your free credit report from www.annualcreditreport.com. It will list your derogatory marks with contact information for the creditor/collection agency.

Check through your accounts and your Credit Karma report card to make sure nothing else changed. Also, go to the "MY CREDIT" tab at the top of the screen. Click on "SCORE CENTER" and scroll down until you see a list of your score updates with the dates. Look in there to see if any credit changes were noted.

Call your lender and ask them about that. They may have reported it wrong, and they can fix it pretty quickly.

Stick with reputable banks and credit unions. Using certain financing companies can mark you as high-risk and bring down your score, or at least keep your score from raising as much.

Get your credit reports from www.annualcreditreport.com. They will have all of your accounts listed and contact info for the creditors.

Do you really need the card, or do you just want it? You normally shouldn't make any changes to your credit report within six months of financing a home. If you don't have any credit cards, opening a major credit card is a great way to boost your score quickly. If you keep the balance below 25%, it will help even more. If you have a lot of credit already and a high score, opening a new one now may make you appear desperate to the mortgage lender even if it has little effect on your credit score.

Contact your local law enforcement and file a police report. They may need a copy of your credit report. (www.annualcreditreport.com) Keep a copy for yourself, too, and get a copy of your police report. Contact the credit bureaus (Transunion, Equifax and Experian) and let them know, too. Dispute any false charges on your credit report. Also, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov). You may be able to take legal or civil action against the companies that extended credit to the ID thief, as well as against the ID theif. File that police report as soon as possible.