Category:
Debt Relief

How to Remove Negative Items From Your Credit Report

By Michael Knisley | March 24, 2026

Anything negative that shows up on your credit report — missed payments, big balances, debts turned over to collection agencies, bankruptcies – is … well, undesirable. It can undo the…

Best Companies to Fix and Restore Your Credit

By Maureen Milliken | February 17, 2026

Bad credit has a huge negative impact on so many parts of your financial life. The impact isn’t just on what rates you pay on credit cards and loans, or…

Can I Pay Someone to Fix My Credit?

By Tom Jackson | January 9, 2026

Millions of Americans must deal with wrong information on their credit reports every year. Many of them hire someone to deal with it. That can be a colossal waste of…

Do Credit Repair Companies Work?

By Phil Sheridan | January 8, 2026

Credit repair companies do work, but that may not be the full answer you need. In fact, the real question is whether you need a credit repair company at all?…

Is a Home Equity Loan a Good Idea?

By Pat McManamon | November 6, 2025

A home equity loan is money borrowed against the equity in your home. Your “equity” is the value of your home minus the amount you owe. The loan amount is…

Charge-Off vs. Cancellation of Debt

By Sarah Brady | November 5, 2025

What happens when you can’t afford to pay back your debt? Depending on your circumstances, things can unfold in a few different ways. If you’re facing a financial hardship and…

Are Debt Relief Programs Legit?

By Tom Jackson | August 27, 2025

There are plenty of good debt-relief programs out there. There are also plenty of bad ones. If consumers do their homework and stick to their programs, there is indeed relief…

What Is a Good Interest Rate on a Credit Card?

By Alan Schmadtke | August 22, 2025

When you’re in the market for a new credit card or taking time to assess the card(s) you already have, one of your key points of analysis should be the…

Does Closing a Bank Account Hurt Your Credit?

By Sarah Brady | August 22, 2025

As a credit expert and a former NFCC-certified credit counselor, I know firsthand that many people are confused about what goes into their credit scores. So, I want to break…

Credit Counseling

By Max Fay | July 11, 2025

What Is Credit Counseling? Credit counseling is a free service that provides help with budgeting, solutions for becoming debt-free, and tips for managing your money successfully. Credit counseling is offered…

Sources:

  1. McCauley, M., and Telemaque, T. (2024, April 30) Almost half of participants in Credit Checkup study find errors on credit reports; more than a quarter find serious mistakes. Retrieved from https://advocacy.consumerreports.org/press_release/almost-half-of-participants-in-credit-checkup-study-find-errors-on-credit-reports-more-than-a-quarter-find-serious-mistakes/
  2. N.A. (2025, September 5) Is it possible to remove accurate but negative information from my credit report? Retrieved from https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/is-it-possible-to-remove-accurate-negative-information-from-my-credit-report-en-1249/
  3. N.A. (2025, January 13) Everything you need to know about credit repair scams. Retrieved from https://www.usbank.com/financialiq/manage-your-household/establish-credit/How-spot-credit-repair-scam.html
  4. N.A. (2021, May) Disputing Errors on Your Credit Reports. Retrieved from https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/disputing-errors-your-credit-reports
  5. N.A. (2023, November) Fixing Your Credit FAQs. Retrieved from https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/fixing-your-credit-faqs
  6. N.A. (ND) A Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Retrieved from https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/pdf-0096-fair-credit-reporting-act.pdf
  7. N.A. (2024, December 12) How do I dispute an error on my credit report? Retrieved from https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-do-i-dispute-an-error-on-my-credit-report-en-314/
  8. N.A. (ND) Chapter 7 & 13: How Long Does Negative Info Stay on Credit Report? Retrieved from https://www.myfico.com/credit-education/faq/negative-reasons/how-long-negative-information-remain-on-credit-report
  9. N.A. (2024, November) Understanding Your Credit. Retrieved from https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/understanding-your-credit