What Counts as a Good Credit Score? Ranges and What They Mean
The FICO and VantageScore ranges explained: what poor, fair, good, very good and exceptional mean, and how your score can affect the rates you’re offered.
Credit Basics
Improving Credit
Late Payments on Your Credit Report: How Long They Last and How to Recover
When a late payment is reported, how long it stays on your credit report, why its effect fades and the steps that help your score recover.
Credit Basics
Hard vs. Soft Credit Inquiries: Which Ones Affect Your Score
The difference between hard and soft credit inquiries, how long hard inquiries stay on your report, how rate shopping is treated and how to limit the impact.
Credit Basics
FICO vs. VantageScore: Why You Have More Than One Credit Score
Why your credit score differs from app to app: how FICO and VantageScore models work, which versions lenders use and why the bureau behind a score matters.
Managing Debt
Debt-to-Income Ratio: How Lenders Measure Your Debt Load
How to calculate your debt-to-income ratio, the difference between front-end and back-end DTI, how lenders use it and practical ways to bring it down.
Managing Debt
Debt Management Plans: How Nonprofit Credit Counseling Works
How a debt management plan from a nonprofit credit counseling agency works, what it costs, how it affects your credit and how it differs from debt settlement.