These free financial resources about getting, building and using credit are provided by the FTC. ย Below are the descriptions with links to each item on the FTC site. ย The majority are in PDF format, feel free to download, use and share them.
- Building a Better Credit Report: Learn how to legally improve your credit report, deal with debt, spot credit-related scams and more.
- Credit Repair – How to Help Yourself: Cautions consumers about companies that charge hundreds, even thousands of dollars, but don’t deliver on their claims. Truth is, no one can legally remove accurate negative information from a credit report.
- Credit Rules Bookmark: Bookmark with tips to help you manage credit wisely.
- Choosing a Credit Card – The Deal Is in the Disclosures: Explains credit card terms, how your balance is computed and how to shop for the best deal.
- Getting Credit When You’re Over 62: Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, itโs against the law for a creditor to deny you credit or terminate existing credit simply because of your age. Explains your rights and offers tips for applying for and maintaining credit.
- Getting Credit – What You Need To Know About Your Credit: Provides tips on credit cards, using cards carefully and keeping your credit record clean. Explains credit reports and credit scores, protecting your identity and improving your credit record.
- Credit and Your Consumer Rights: Explains credit laws that protect your right to obtain, use and maintain credit. Offers practical tips to help you solve credit problems.
- Employment Background Checks and Credit Reports: Explains employer responsibilities and consumer rights when using credit reports to evaluate job applications, employee retention or promotion. Advises consumers to check their credit reports before applying for a job.
- Fair Credit Billing: The Fair Credit Billing Act establishes procedures for resolving billing errors on your credit card accounts. Includes sample dispute letter.
- File Segregation – New ID Is a Bad IDea: You’re promised a chance to hide unfavorable credit information by establishing a new credit identity. The problem: “File segregation” is illegal. If you use it, you could face fines or even a prison sentence.
- How to Dispute Credit Report Errors: Explains how to dispute and correct inaccurate information in your credit report. Includes a sample dispute letter.
- Need Credit or Insurance? Your Credit Score Helps Determine What You’ll Pay: Explains the system creditors use to help determine whether to grant you credit.
- Prescreened Offers of Credit and Insurance: Many companies that solicit new credit card accounts and insurance policies use prescreening to identify potential customers for the products they offer.
- Your Access to Free Credit Reports: Learn how to order a free copy of your credit report from each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies? Equifax, Experian and TransUnion once every 12 months.
