Many consumers don’t understand the basics of credit reporting and scoring or how this information is used by lenders and service providers today. This book was written to remedy that. A no-nonsense guide, it teaches readers about credit reports and scores, shows them how to obtain and read their credit reports, and outlines ways to remove negative and inaccurate items. Readers will also learn about the latest consumer protection legislation concerning credit and lending and about changes in lending practices that can impact their financial well-being.

The book details credit’s impact on nearly every aspect of life, including employment; insurance; love relationships; services such as mobile phones and utilities; apartment leases; and auto, business, and home mortgage loans. It walks readers through the process of disputing negative items on credit reports and includes letter templates that can be used for that purpose. Finally, it provides readers with credit- and debt-management tips and describes state-of-the-art tools that can be used to foster better money- and credit-management habits. With this book in hand, a consumer should be able to achieve the higher credit score that is a person’s greatest financial asset.

Features

• Includes the latest information on banking and lending requirements in the post-credit-crisis environment
• Explains how new regulations and guidelines, such the Dodd-Frank Act, are impacting banks, credit, and lending
• Shows readers what will improve a consumer's credit score and what will damage it
• Spells out debt management strategies and debt solutions and shares tips on technologies that help with credit and money management
• Exposes common credit reporting and lending myths and secrets