Your Credit

Your credit impacts several aspects of your finances: Interest rates on loans, insurance premiums and even employment. From protecting your information to improving your credit score, Team Clark has the resources you need to live a financially healthy life.

Essentials

Tips & Strategies

Latest Credit

How To Minimize the Damage of Unpaid Bills to Your Credit Score
How To Minimize the Damage of Unpaid Bills to Your Credit Score Credit August 9th, 2022
It can be very upsetting to see a late payment on your credit report especially if the debt has gone…
Credit Karma review
Credit Karma Review: Free Credit Score and More at Your Fingertips Credit August 2nd, 2022
Credit Karma is a resource that money expert Clark Howard often recommends to get free credit monitoring and to see…
medical collection debt
Big Changes Coming to Credit Reports This Summer Credit May 27th, 2022
The major credit reporting agencies are making changes to the way that they consider medical debt. The adjustments, which will…
Discover has discontinued its free FICO program for non-cardholders.
Discover Eliminates Free FICO Score Access for Select Consumers Credit March 16th, 2022
If you use Discover to access your FICO score for free each month, you soon may have to find an…
Credit freeze
Can Freezing Your Credit Hurt Your Credit Score? Credit March 4th, 2022
Anyone who follows money expert Clark Howard knows that his No. 1 suggestion for keeping your finances safe from criminals…
Why Are My Credit Scores Different?
Why Are My Credit Scores Different? Credit February 21st, 2022
Your credit score can be different at each of the major credit burueas: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Though it defies…
Ask Clark money column
My Credit Card Issuer Is Cutting My Credit Line in Half. Will It Hurt My Credit Score? Credit November 15th, 2021
Welcome to Ask Clark, a column designed to answer your financial questions, bymoney expert Clark Howard. Will Losing Half My…
Ask Clark money column
Is It Ever OK To Co-Sign a Loan With a Family Member? Credit August 25th, 2021
Welcome to Ask Clark, a column designed to answer your financial questions, bymoney expert Clark Howard. Is It OK To…
credit lender with credit scores
The Way Companies Use Your Credit Score Is Changing Credit August 12th, 2021
Money expert Clark Howard says the credit industry is undergoing some changes that could affect whether you’re approved for a…
Ask Clark money column
Does a Credit Increase Request Create a Hard Pull on Your Credit Score? Credit June 14th, 2021
Welcome to Ask Clark, a column designed to answer your financial questions, bymoney expert Clark Howard. Does Asking for a…
Ask Clark money column
How Can I Remove Myself From My Parents’ Credit Cards Without Hurting My Credit Limit? Credit May 17th, 2021
Welcome to Ask Clark, a column designed to answer your financial questions, bymoney expert Clark Howard. If I Remove Myself…
Ask Clark money column
My Credit Score Dropped 47 Points Due to a Reporting Mistake by My Lender. How Do I Get the Points Back? Credit May 5th, 2021
Welcome to Ask Clark, a column designed to answer your financial questions, by money expert Clark Howard. My Lender Sank My…
Credit Score Dropping
How to Keep Student Loan Forbearance From Hurting Your Credit Credit January 21st, 2021
The federal CARES Act was passed in March 2020 and extended in January 2021 to help people who have suffered…
Average credit score
The Average Credit Score in America Is … Credit January 12th, 2021
Although the U.S. economy has suffered due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many consumers have been able to improve a major…
Do 'pay for delete' letters work?
Do ‘Pay for Delete’ Letters Work To Clean Up Your Credit Report? Credit January 4th, 2021
Consumers with subpar credit scores and derogatory marks on their credit reports are often encouraged to reach out to their…
Amex Score Goals is a new credit score simulator from American Express.
Amex Score Goals: How the American Express Credit Score Simulator Works Credit August 21st, 2020
Are you looking for a way to improve your credit score? American Express has a new credit score simulator that…
Credit score - adding up the FICO score
7 Ways to Keep Your Credit Score Healthy During a Crisis Credit August 19th, 2020
Maintaining a good credit score can be especially difficult during times of financial uncertainty. But there are steps you can…
Credit score - adding up the FICO score
What Are the 3 Main Credit Bureaus & How Do They Work? Credit August 4th, 2020
The three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — play a key role in your financial life. But…
SageStream credit score
What Is a SageStream Score? 5 Things to Know Credit July 28th, 2020
If you’re applying for a loan, you can expect the lender to check your credit with the three major credit…
Credit Karma homescreen
How to Sign Up for Credit Karma’s Free Monitoring Service Credit June 5th, 2020
Whether you already have excellent credit or are trying to build it, protecting your credit is important. Money expert Clark…
Credit Sesame
Credit Sesame Review: Free Credit Scores and Other Helpful Financial Tools Credit December 23rd, 2019
Credit Sesame is a website and app that promises free access to your credit score any time you want it.…
Credit Karma homescreen
How to Sign Up for Credit Karma’s Free Monitoring Service Credit December 13th, 2019
Whether you already have excellent credit or are trying to build it, protecting your credit is important. Money expert Clark…
Credit score drop
Why Did My Credit Score Drop When I Paid Off a Loan? Credit September 20th, 2019
Someone finally pays off a car loan or even a mortgage and how are they rewarded? By seeing a drop…
Credit score report - Why you need to check your credit report every year
Why You Need to Check Your Credit Report Every Year Credit May 31st, 2019
As a consumer, your credit score should be very important to you. Not only does it determine your borrowing power,…
States with the best and worst credit scores
Report: The states with the best and worst credit scores Credit May 29th, 2019
Ever wonder how your credit score compares to other U.S. consumers? The average Vantage score stands at 680, according to…
Woman with credit card
Secured or traditional: What’s the best kind of credit card to build credit? Credit April 8th, 2019
Whether you're trying to build credit for the first time or climbing your way back after defaulting on a loan,…
Is Credit Karma Safe?
Is Credit Karma Safe? Credit April 2nd, 2019
If you're looking for an easy way to stay on top of your credit, Credit Karma is a valuable resource.…
Warehouse club rewards credit cards: Who is king of the hill?
Warehouse club rewards credit cards: Who is king of the hill? Money & Credit November 13th, 2018
If you're a warehouse club member, you're used to getting great value for every purchase you make in your favorite…
The one and only reason to have a ‘piece of trash’ debit card
The one and only reason to have a ‘piece of trash’ debit card Money & Credit October 16th, 2018
Pushed by the banks for years, debit cards have become a popular way to pay for everything from gas to…
Experian data breach: What we know + how to stay protected
Experian PIN recovery flaw: What we know now Protect Your Rights & Identity October 15th, 2018
Editor's note: An earlier version of this story called this a "data breach," when it is actually more of a…