Credit & LoansCredit Reports & Scoring
Microsites
- Getting Credit
Provides tips on shopping for credit cards, using cards carefully, and keeping your credit record clean. Also explains credit reports and credit scores, how to protect your identity, improve your credit record, and what to do if you are a victim of identity theft. A good source of information for people learning about credit.
Facts for Consumers
- Building a Better Credit Report
[PDF]
Learn how to legally improve your credit report, how to deal with debt, how to spot credit-related scams, and more.
- Choosing and Using Credit Cards
[PDF]
Explains credit card terms, how your balance is computed, and how to shop for the best deal. Outlines cardholder protections.
- Credit and Divorce
[PDF]
Encourages recently divorced consumers, and those contemplating divorce, to look closely at issues involving credit. Understanding the different kinds of credit accounts opened during a marriage may help illuminate the potential benefits – and pitfalls – of each.
- Credit Repair: Self-Help May Be Best
[PDF]
[en español]
Explains how you can improve your credit worthiness and lists legitimate resources for low or no-cost help.
- Need Credit or Insurance? Your Credit Score Helps Determine What You’ll Pay
[PDF]
Explains the system creditors and insurance companies use to help determine whether to grant you credit or insurance, and on what terms.
- The Federal Trade Commission Presents Focus on Finances: Preparing For Your Future
[PDF]
A newspaper supplement to help educate young people about credit, identity theft, and buying a car.
- File Segregation: New ID Is a Bad IDea [PDF]
- Getting Credit: What You Need to Know About Your Credit
[PDF]
[en español]
Provides tips on shopping for credit cards, using cards carefully, and keeping your credit record clean. Also explains credit reports and credit scores, how to protect your identity, improve your credit record, and what to do if you are a victim of identity theft. A good source of information for people learning about credit. Includes a dedicated Web page for more information -- www.ftc.gov/gettingcredit.
- Getting Credit When You’re Over 62
[PDF]
Under the federal Equal Credit Opportunity Act, it’s against the law for a creditor to deny you credit or terminate existing credit simply because of your age. Explains your rights and offers tips for applying for and maintaining credit.
- How to Dispute Credit Report Errors
[PDF]
[en español]
Explains how to dispute and correct inaccurate information in your credit report. Includes a sample dispute letter.
- New ID? Bad IDea: File Segregation Exposed
[PDF]
You're promised a chance to hide unfavorable credit information by establishing a new credit identity. The problem: "File segregation" is illegal. If you use it, you could face fines or even a prison sentence.
- Prescreened Offers of Credit and Insurance
[PDF]
Many companies that solicit new credit card accounts and insurance policies use prescreening to identify potential customers for the products they offer.
- Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act [PDF] [en español]
- Remedying the Effects of Identity Theft [PDF] [en español]
- Your Access to Free Credit Reports
[PDF]
[en español]
Learn how to order a free copy of your credit report from each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — once every 12 months.
Consumer Alerts
- Want a Free Annual Credit Report? The Only Official Website is annualcreditreport.com
[PDF]
[en español]
To alert consumers that there is only one website providing free annual credit reports under Federal law: annualcreditreport.com, and to warn consumers about “imposter” sites.
- Bogus July 1 Email Exposed: The Real Deal on Your Credit File Privacy
[PDF]
An anonymous email containing false and misleading information about the use of your personal information has shown up in email in-boxes across the country for the last several years, leaving many consumers concerned and confused. Here's the real deal from the Federal Trade Commission.
- Fake Credit Reports: Cashing in on Your Personal Information
[PDF]
[en español]
Learn how to protect yourself from a high-tech scam known as “phishing.” Some Web sites or unsolicited emails offering credit reports may be using bogus sites as a way to capture your personal information and sell it to others who may use it to commit fraud, including identity theft.
- Negative Credit Can Squeeze a Job Search [PDF]
- Shopping for a Mortgage? Your Application May Trigger Competing Offers
[PDF]
Explains how consumers applying for a mortgage may receive competing offers based on prescreening from information in their credit report. Explains how to opt out of prescreening, if you choose. 8.5"x 11", 2 pages.
Articles You can reprint these articles in your newsletter, magazine or website.
- Consumers Are Eligible For Free Credit Reports [PDF]
Learn how to get a free copy of your credit report from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies once every twelve months.
- Your Credit Score Helps Determine What You’ll Pay For Credit And Insurance [PDF]
Explains the system creditors and insurance companies use to help determine whether to grant you credit or insurance, and on what terms.
