Frequently Asked Questions

• Is it possible to check your credit score w♛ithout affectin♑g it?

  Yes, it is often possible to check and moꦜnitor your credit score without having to pull a full credit report. Many credit card issuers now offer free credit scores and even put cardmembers’ credit score on their billing statement each month.

  Learn More: How to Check Your Credit Score Without Hurting It
• Can someone get credit ܫafter declaring bankruptcy?

  It is often possible to get additional credit after declaring bankruptcy but it depends on the lender and their credit underwriti🌠ng policies.  Any credit that is made available will typically be considered subprime, however, and likely carry much higher interest rates due to the enhanced risk to the lender for someone who has defaulted on pre꧋vious credit obligations.

  Learn More: How Bankruptcy Affects Your Ability to S෴ecur⛄e Credit
• Do you have to pay to see your credit score?

  There are options available to see one’s credit score without paying. Ma🥃ny major banks and credit card issuers such as American Express, Barclays, Bank of America and Chase make credit scores available for free to their account holders and even print the current score on their billing statements each month.

  Learn More: Free Credit Score: Is It Really Free?
• What is on my credit report?

  Credit reports contain credit-related 🌳information between the borrower and various lenders such as the lender name, account number, age of the account, late and on-time payment status, credit amount and current balance information.

  Learn More: What do Creditors Have to Report to Credi🌞t Bureaus?
• When should you begin trying to 🥂build your credit?

  Establishing credit and building a positive credit history should begin as soon as the teen years and can take the form of a young person being added to a parent’s credit card account as an authorized user. Then, once a child turns 18 they can be eligible to 🧸get credit in their own name, though this still may require a parent or adult over 21 to serve as a co-signer unless the young person can show sufficient income to service the account.

  Learn More: The🦩 Best Time for Young Peo꧋ple to Get a Credit Card
• What do different credit score ranges mean?

  Lenders consider credit score ranges when assigning credit limits and interest rates on a risk related basis. The highest FICO credit score range, which lenders designate as excellent credit, typically runs between 740 and 850 and the lowest range for bไad credit is usually below 600. Credit score ranges for fair and good credit can be between those extremes at levels set by individual lenders.

  Learn More: Credit Score Ranges: What Do They Mean?