When people talk about credit, they are referring to their credit history. Credit history describes how they have used money over time, which can significantly impact many aspects of life, including housing, employment, and finances, because ... READ MORE
Category: , Money Matters, Work & Life
Children are highly vulnerable to identity theft, with cases involving youth on the rise. According to the Federal Trade Commission, identity theft of minors increased by 40% over recent years, with about 1 out of 50 kids in the US each year ... READ MORE
Category: Money Matters, Work & Life
The status of credit accounts is shown on credit reports and significantly impacts credit scores. An account that shows a long history of being paid as agreed boosts a score. Dings to a score happen when accounts are delinquent by 30 days or ... READ MORE
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Identity and personal information theft are frequently in the news. Awareness and being proactive can help you protect your personal data and avoid financial loss. The following free protections add a measure of security in a hazardous digital ... READ MORE
Category: Money Matters, Work & Life
The federal law, Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) of 2003 requires the 3 national credit reporting agencies – Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian – to annually provide 1 free credit report from each agency to consumers who ... READ MORE
Category: , Money Matters, Work & Life
Federal law entitles you to one free copy of each of your credit reports every 12 months through the web site www.annualcreditreport.com The reports offer a detailed look at your credit accounts, bill paying history, and debt levels. The reports ... READ MORE
Category: , Money Matters
Ok, so we’ve all heard negative things about so-called ‘deadbeats’. Generally speaking, the term refers to someone who fails to follow through in some way. What if I were to tell you that in the world of credit cards, being a deadbeat ... READ MORE
Category: Money Matters, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Consumers applying for credit are sometimes surprised to find out the credit score they have been monitoring is different from the credit score the lender uses to evaluate their credit application. This happens because there are many different ... READ MORE
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The persistent falsehood – leave a small balance on your credit card every billing cycle to build a credit score – has no basis in fact. The truth - if you leave a balance on your credit card - you accrue interest on both existing and new ... READ MORE
Category: Money Matters
Until recently, the three major credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian & TransUnion- tracked and treated medical debt collection very similar to other types of collections. If a consumer does not pay a debt, the creditor can sell the unpaid ... READ MORE
Category: Money Matters