What you need to know now about credit scores
You can get free scores, including your VantageScore, based on the data in your TransUnion file, at CreditKarma.com.
Repairing Your Credit Score? Give Customer Service a Try
If old late payments are putting a dent in your score, you may be able to persuade creditors to remove them from your credit history, according to Ken Lin of the personal finance site CreditKarma.com.
Check Your Credit Report Quarterly to Catch Identity Theft Early
We've found that AnnualCreditReport is a truly free option for getting your annual report. For monthly score updates, try CreditKarma.
Prepaid Cards for Teens: Tool or Trap?
"Think of prepaid credit cards as training wheels in the world of credit. They are best for teaching teens to control spending and the conveniences of how and where to use a credit card, without the risk of falling into debt," says Nicole Mustard, senior vice president of strategy at Credit Karma.
Busting 4 credit score myths
Normally, when you check your credit report for free, you don't get your score. You usually have to pay for it, unless you use a service like Credit Karma.
Consumer Credit Scores Drop Two Points Since January 2010
In its report this week, CreditKarma says consumers in six metropolitan statistical areas had a credit score decrease greater than the national average, including Chicago, Houston and Seattle, down three points; New York, down four points; and Los Angeles and Philadelphia, down five points.
More debt may be sign of optimism
Auto, mortgage and student loan balances all increased over the year among Nebraska clients of CreditKarma.com, a nonprofit group that provides credit information and counseling.
Mortgage balances on the rise in Boston
According to Credit Karma Inc., a provider of credit research and related services, Massachusetts' average consumer credit score was 685 in January, versus 686 a month earlier and 688 in January 2010.
Ugly Truths about the Recession and How to Deal with Them
You can also use a site like www.creditkarma.com to get your free credit score and see how various actions like paying down debt or closing an account would affect it.
Banks are promoting credit cards again
Average mortgages, credit card balances and car loans in the District are higher than the national average, according to data compiled by CreditKarma.com.