Your Credit Report: Understanding and improving your credit score -- Bankrate.com

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CREDIT SCORING CATEGORIES

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CREDIT REPORTS, SCORES and MORE

The power of credit scores -- They're important to your everyday life, but do you know the five factors that can improve your score?
Plus: 25 terms to know

Free! FICO® Score Estimator -- Bankrate has partnered with Fair Isaac, the inventor of the credit score, to offer this quick and accurate way to estimate your credit score range.

Checking your credit report -- Knowing what your reports say about you is the first step in assessing your credit worthiness. Get started by contacting the three credit bureaus.

Why you should read your report -- Never underestimate the power of knowlege.

Credit scores explained -- Your score is a three-digit number distilled from the information on your credit reports.

TIPS

5 ways to improve your credit -- So you've made mistakes. These steps will help you restore the luster to your credit rating.

Loan surfing hurts credit -- Comparison-shopping for a good rate online could actually hurt your chances of getting one.

Rejuvenate credit by 're-aging' -- This little-known trick is way to give yourself a fresh start, but you have to work at it.

Removing charge-offs from a credit report -- If you're willing to pay, some creditors will to negotiate how the debt will appear on your report.

Credit repair FAQ -- Expert advice on managing and improving your credit

How to read and understand your credit report -- The abbreviations on the reports can be confusing.

BASICS

Guide to Managing Credit -- Whether your credit is stellar or in the cellar, our guide will make it better.

13 myths about credit reports -- Avoid these common misconceptions.

Credit domino effect -- Late with one creditor? All will punish you.

The right way to cancel a credit card -- Be careful when closing an account or it may come back to haunt your credit later.

Credit repair: Go it alone or get help? -- Pros and cons of credit repair services
PLUS: Tips for choosing a credit counselor

Debt negotiators can sink your credit -- Be cautious. Sometimes your credit can get worse.
PLUS: Debt-repayment terms

7 steps to fixing your credit report -- Found a mistake on your credit report? Here's how to fix it.

Auto insurers use credit to set rates -- Insurance companies want to use your credit rating to decide how great a driver you are.

Fallacy of fraud alerts -- Unfortunately, a fraud alert doesn't offer much protection against identity theft.

Canceling a store card affects your credit -- Might seem like a minor detail, but store cards are part of your credit mix.

Credit Q&A
My FICO score is 624. Is that bad?, What goes into my credit score?, Unemployment trashed my credit, Sorry, that's not my debt, Separate vs. joint credit in marriage, Applying too often for credit

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