Intuit Credit Karma
CreditKarma CEO Kenneth Lin recommends that consumers open new accounts over the Internet, taking and saving screen-shots of exactly what products they are applying for. Unless a call is recorded, applying over the phone leaves consumers without proof of what happened during the transaction.
The recession and its aftermath, including stubbornly high unemployment, did a number on Americans’ credit scores. The average person’s credit score is 655, according to Credit Karma.
Credit Karma, the online credit monitoring service backed by $3 million from SV Angel, Founders Fund and others, has shot up to become the #1 Financial app in the Apple App Store and #22 overall, only a day after its mobile debut. Like its online counterpart, Credit Karma Mobile brings credit monitoring to your iOS device, and notifies you when certain events are reported on your credit report.
Now iPhone users can monitor their credit activity and check their credit score at will with Credit Karma's new app, Credit Karma Mobile.
A new smartphone app debuted Wednesday from CreditKarma.com. It can be found in the Apple App store for iPhones and iPads. The app is the first and only way to get a free credit score and free credit monitoring on-the-go
Weed out the wallet, says Ken Lin, CEO of consumer website CreditKarma.com in San Francisco. You don't need your Macy's card while hiking in the Sierra. Same for your Social Security card, library card, gym membership or anything with personal information that can "encourage identity theft or access to your life."
Experts say if you're going to take a debit card on vacation, change the red flag alerts to a lower amount to deal with the possibility of fraud. Ken Lin, CEO at CreditKarma.com, said in general it's better to travel with a credit card.
Seeking credit perfection go to CreditKarma.com and use their credit score simulator.
We tapped two of our favorite credit experts, Bethy Hardeman of CreditKarma.com and John Ulzheimer of SmartCredit.com, to weigh in on the pros and cons of carrying plastic.
A similar report by credit card tracking site CreditKarma.com that included data from more than 300,000 consumers of all income levels found that the average credit card balance for 2011 was $6,576, down from $7,404 a year earlier.