Guide to Credit Score
and Credit Reports

Learn more about your credit

score and how to manage it.

FEATURED ARTICLES

What Does FICO Score 8 Mean?

FICO Score 8 is currently the most popular of many FICO scoring model versions that businesses use to size up a borrower’s risk.

Credit Score Ranges: What is an Excellent, Good, or Poor Credit Score?

Learn about the credit score range by FICO or VantageScore and how they are classified as Excellent, Good or Poor credit score.

How to Remove Closed Accounts From a Credit Report

Understand how closed accounts on credit reports may impact your credit score. Find out how to manage and remove a closed account.

WHAT'S NEW

What Is a Rapid Rescore?

Rapid rescoring is a process that allows borrowers to quickly update their credit reports to reflect recent changes. This may help you to improve your credit scores for a mortgage application.

Money Muling: How to Spot and Avoid This Scam

Money muling is where individuals are recruited to transfer illegally obtained funds. Learn how to recognize the signs of money muling and protect yourself from falling victim to this scam.

What Is a Credit Reference?

A credit reference is a document, person, or company that provides information on an individual's credit history. Lenders, landlords, and others can request them.

ALL CREDIT REPORT ARTICLES

Why Do Employers Check Your Credit?

Some employers do credit checks before hiring to help limit their risk. Here’s what they look for, your legal rights, and how to maintain a positive credit profile.

Who’s Got Your Credit Data? The Big 3 Credit Reporting Agencies

Your credit reports are put together by three national agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Learn all about them here.

What Is a Credit Reference?

A credit reference is a document, person, or company that provides information on an individual's credit history. Lenders, landlords, and others can request them.

How Long Do Hard Inquiries Stay On Your Credit Report?

Gain insights into how long hard credit inquiries typically stay on your credit report and discover their potential impact on your credit score.

How to Remove Closed Accounts From a Credit Report

Understand how closed accounts on credit reports may impact your credit score. Find out how to manage and remove a closed account.

How to Dispute Your Credit Report at All 3 Bureaus

If you discover inaccurate details on your credit reports, you can dispute them. See how to dispute credit reports and what to expect after disputing.

Money Muling: How to Spot and Avoid This Scam

Money muling is where individuals are recruited to transfer illegally obtained funds. Learn how to recognize the signs of money muling and protect yourself from falling victim to this scam.

What Is a Tenant Credit Check?

A landlord may run a credit check on a potential tenant to see how well they handle money. Tenant screening may include rental history, income, and background checks.

Can You Remove Collections from Your Credit Report?

Collection accounts may stay on your credit report for up to seven years and might lower your credit score. Learn how you may be able to get them taken off your report.

Line of Credit vs Credit Card: What’s the Difference?

Both a credit card and a personal line of credit can help meet your borrowing needs, but it’s important to understand the nuances that differentiate the two.

How Do I Remove Negative Items From My Credit Report?

Credit reporting errors can sometimes happen and potentially lower your credit score. Learn how you can take action to remove negative items from your credit report.

Which Credit Score Is the Most Accurate?

Which credit score is the most accurate? FICO® and VantageScore® credit scores are equally accurate, based on the specific scoring model that’s being used.

What Does – and Doesn’t – Show up on Your Credit Report

Here’s a guide to what shows up on your credit report. Learn what’s included and not included in your report – and how it factors into your credit score.

Why Do I Have Different Credit Scores?

Your credit score can vary depending on several factors. Find out why your credit scores may be different, depending on the credit scoring model used.

Different Types of Credit Scores

You have different credit scores depending on the credit bureau and specific scoring model used by lenders. Learn more about the different types of credit scores.

How Long Does a Closed Account Stay on Your Credit Report?

Closed accounts remain visible on your credit report for seven to 10 years, depending on whether they were in poor or good standing when closed.

Credit Score Ranges: What is an Excellent, Good, or Poor Credit Score?

Learn about the credit score range by FICO or VantageScore and how they are classified as Excellent, Good or Poor credit score.

What Credit Score Do You Need to Buy a Car?

Applying for a car loan? Lenders will check your credit history and credit score. Read about the score you need to buy a car—before applying.

How to Check Your Credit Score for Free

Know about different source from your bank to credit card providers and others on how you can check your credit score for free.

10 Signs Your Identity May Have Been Stolen

Identity theft is fairly common, but it may take time to spot it. Here are 10 warning signs of identity theft and what to do if your identity is stolen.

How to Remove Late Payments from Your Credit Report

Late payments stay on your credit report for years and can only be deleted if they’re incorrect. Here’s how to remove erroneous late payments from your credit report.

What Is a Rapid Rescore?

Rapid rescoring is a process that allows borrowers to quickly update their credit reports to reflect recent changes. This may help you to improve your credit scores for a mortgage application.

Can You Remove Unauthorized Hard Inquiries from Your Credit Report?

Unauthorized hard inquiries can negatively affect your credit score. Learn steps you can take to remove unauthorized hard inquiries from your credit report.

How to Get a Free Credit Report

Enroll with American Express® MyCredit Guide to track your FICO® Score for free, or you can request a copy of your credit report from 3 credit bureaus once a year.

Setting Up a Fraud Alert on Your Credit Report

Is it helpful to set up a fraud alert on your credit report? Here’s why doing so could prevent or reduce instances of fraud in the future and protect your credit health.

What’s the Minimum Credit Score Needed to Get an FHA Loan?

Technically, FHA loans require a minimum credit score of 500. But many lenders require higher credit scores – especially if you want to qualify for a 3.5% down payment.

What is a Credit Report and Why is it Important?

Understanding what a credit report is could be confusing. Learn what information a credit report contains and how to get your credit report for free.

Difference Between Hard Credit Check and Soft Credit Check

Understand the difference between soft and hard credit pulls before checking your credit report.

How Long Does Bankruptcy Stay on Your Credit Report?

How long a bankruptcy stays on a credit report varies, but it can last for years. Here are tips to manage credit before and after filing for bankruptcy.

What Is a FICO Score? Do FICO Scores Really Matter?

Your FICO score is a three-digit number based on the info in your credit report. Learn what your FICO score is, why it matters, and how it’s calculated.

What Does FICO Score 8 Mean?

FICO Score 8 is currently the most popular of many FICO scoring model versions that businesses use to size up a borrower’s risk.

How Is a Credit Score Calculated?

Understanding factors that affect your credit score can help you improve it. Here’s what you need to know about how credit scores are calculated.

How to Get a Credit Card With No Credit History

Getting a credit card with no credit history is tricky. Learn about the ways to get a credit card without a credit history like authorized user, or secured credit card.

It can take at least six months

to establish credit from scratch.

The material made available for you on this website, Credit Intel, is for informational purposes only and intended for U.S. residents and is not intended to provide legal, tax or financial advice. If you have questions, please consult your own professional legal, tax and financial advisors.