Credit Scores & Reports
11 articles in Credit Scores & Reports
How to Raise Your Credit Score Fast: Proven Strategies That Work
Proven strategies to raise your credit score fast in 30-90 days. Covers utilization, authorized users, rapid rescores, and realistic timelines.
How to Read Your Credit Report: What's on It and How to Get It Free
Learn how to read your credit report, understand every section, and get all three bureau reports free weekly at AnnualCreditReport.com.
FICO Score: How It's Calculated and Why Lenders Use It
Learn how your FICO score is calculated across five weighted factors, why 90% of lenders use it, and how different FICO versions affect your rate.
VantageScore vs. FICO: Which Credit Score Do Lenders Actually Use?
VantageScore and FICO both range from 300-850 but differ in how they calculate your number. Learn which score lenders actually use and why yours differ.
Credit Score: What It Is, How It Works, and Why It Matters So Much
Your credit score is a three-digit number that controls loan rates, rental approvals, and more. Learn how it's calculated and what it costs you.
How to Dispute a Credit Report Error and Win: Step-by-Step Guide
Step-by-step guide to disputing credit report errors by mail, online, and with furnishers. Includes timelines, addresses, and what to send.
8 min read
Credit Utilization: What It Is, Why It Matters, and the Ideal Ratio
Credit utilization ratio measures how much of your credit limit you're using. Learn the ideal ratio, per-card vs. total, and when balances get reported.
Credit Score Ranges: What's Good, Fair, and Excellent?
Credit score ranges from 300-850 determine your loan rates and approvals. See what good, fair, and excellent mean in real dollars for mortgages and auto loans.
Late Payments on Your Credit Report: How Long They Stay and What to Do
Late payments stay on your credit report for 7 years. Learn severity tiers, point impacts, goodwill letters, and how to recover your score over time.
How to Remove Collections from Your Credit Report
Learn how to remove collections from your credit report using validation, pay-for-delete, disputes, and goodwill letters. Includes 2025 medical debt rules.
15 min read
Credit Score Ranges: What's Good, Very Good, and Excellent?
Credit score ranges from 300-850 determine what you pay for mortgages, cars, and credit cards. See what each tier means and how to move up fast.