YOUR CREDIT

Having good credit and using it wisely is key to the building and preservation of all your assets. We want you to be an informed borrower. You will find this comprehensive guide helpful in understanding your credit, how it is viewed, scored, reported, protected and how to avoid unnecessary risk, cost and anxiety. While we are working hard to make your home financing experience rewarding it most important that you understand the world of credit so that all of your financing decisions will add to your quality of life.

BEFORE YOU APPLY FOR CREDIT HOW LENDERS VIEW YOUR CREDIT CREDIT SCORING/FICO CREDIT REPORTS CREDIT CARDS/REVOLVING CREDIT DEBIT CARDS AND DIRECT PAYMENTS PROTECTING YOUR PRIVACY CREDIT STRATEGIES CREDIT COUNSELORS INTEREST RATES Scroll down for the complete table of contents

BEFORE YOU APPLY FOR CREDIT Before You Apply For Credit HOW LENDERS VIEW YOUR CREDIT Consumer Lenders Credit Card Companies Mortgage Lenders Other Types Of Lenders How Others View Your Credit CREDIT SCORING/FICO What Is Credit Scoring? How Lenders Use Credit Scoring How Credit Score Affects Loan Amounts How Credit Score Affects Interest Rates Who Scores Your Credit? How Your Credit Is Scored Five Factors That Make Up Your Credit Score How To Get Your Credit Score How To Improve Your Credit Score CREDIT REPORTS Credit Reports How Credit Reports Are Created How Credit Reports Are Used Credit Reporting Agencies How To Get Your Credit Reports Identify Your Credit Weaknesses Dressing-Up Your Credit Personal Information Mistakes, Outdated Information & Disputes Derogatory Credit Items Delinquent Accounts Consumer Statement Keeping Your Credit Clean Protecting Your Credit And Good Name Protecting Your Privacy DEBIT CARDS AND DIRECT PAYMENTS Debit Cards And Direct Payments PROTECTING YOUR PRIVACY Privacy Choices For Your Personal Financial Information Id Theft, Privacy, & Security CREDIT STRATEGIES Exercising Your Credit Limit Your Limits Disputing Credit Card Purchases Use Leverage To Your Advantage Digging Out Of a Credit Hole (Credit Counseling) Getting out of debt - Staying out of debt Digging up Old Debts Credit Strategy Don'ts Credit Strategy Do's Credit Rejections Avoiding Bankruptcy Avoiding Foreclosure CREDIT COUNSELORS Fiscal Fitness: Choosing A Credit Counselor INTEREST RATES ABCs Of Figuring Interest Controlling Interest Ceilings