Although there are several scoring methods, most lenders use the FICO method from Fair Isaac Corporation. Each of t­he three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) worked with Fair Isaac in the early 1980s to come up with the scoring method. A credit score is determined much like a grade in school. Consider how a teacher calculates grades by takin...

You probably wouldn’t be satisfied to see only 1/3 of a medical report about your health – or even to see 1/3 of an inspection report on your car. So why should you be content to see only 1/3 of your credit history? Single bureau credit reports paint only 1/3 of a consumer’s credit history picture. To get the most complete view of your credit, a 3-in-1 credit re...

A new credit scoring system that rivals the traditional FICO score is now available to consumers. For $5.95, Internet users now are able to check their VantageScores online through Experian, one of three U.S. credit-reporting bureaus that jointly developed the system. The site also includes a simulation showing how potential actions, such as closing a credit-card acc...

When it comes to applying for a loan, applying for a credit card and applying for certain jobs, you will see that all of these things have one thing in common. All of these actions will require you to have a good credit score in order to qualify. A credit score or a credit rating is what banks base their decisions in approving you for the loan of for a credit card. S...