These free financial resources about getting, building and using credit are provided by the FTC. Below are the descriptions with links to each item on the FTC site. 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, it’s 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.
