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How Does Settling a Debt Affect My Credit Score?

Outstanding unpaid debts can do big damage to your credit score, so it's a good idea to try to resolve them as quickly as possible.

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All Credit Score 2 posts

How Does Settling a Debt Affect My Credit Score?

How Does Settling a Debt Affect My Credit Score?

Outstanding unpaid debts can do big damage to your credit score, so it's a good idea to try to resolve them as quickly as possible.

Jeanine Skowronski

Will Getting Married Hurt My Credit Score?

Will Getting Married Hurt My Credit Score?

If your spouse has bad credit, you may want to get ready to address the situation together.

Constance Brinkley-Badgett

How Many Americans Find Problems on Their Credit Reports?

How Many Americans Find Problems on Their Credit Reports?

Many American haven't checked for errors on their annual credit reports.

Constance Brinkley-Badgett

How Many Americans Have Bad Credit?

How Many Americans Have Bad Credit?

While 30% of Americans have poor or bad credit, plenty of people have no credit at all, which has similar disadvantages to having low scores.

Christine DiGangi

Why Your Credit Score Could Drop When You Pay Off a Loan

Why Your Credit Score Could Drop When You Pay Off a Loan

There are a couple of reasons your credit score might dip when you pay off a loan.

Christine DiGangi

I Accidentally Applied for Credit I Didn't Want. Now What?

I Accidentally Applied for Credit I Didn't Want. Now What?

Applying for credit can hurt your credit score, but if you didn't do it on purpose, can you undo the damage?

Christine DiGangi

China's Big Credit Score Idea: Should You Be Scared?

China's Big Credit Score Idea: Should You Be Scared?

What if a citizen credit score evaluated your purchases and other data to decide how trustworthy you are in general — and made the information public?

Bob Sullivan

Can a Debt Collector Check My Credit?

Can a Debt Collector Check My Credit?

How do debt collectors know so much about you? And can debt collectors check your credit without your permission?

Gerri Detweiler

How Long Does It Really Take to Improve Your Credit?

How Long Does It Really Take to Improve Your Credit?

If you've had financial problems, you may feel like you’ll never had good credit again. Fortunately, time can heal your credit.

Gerri Detweiler

How to Stop a Typo From Wrecking Your Credit

How to Stop a Typo From Wrecking Your Credit

Can a typo on a credit card turn into a credit report mistake? A reader wonders what to do when she receives a credit card with a misspelling.

Karin Price Mueller

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