Whenever I do a workshop I am always asked about credit. I have taken some of the most frequently asked questions and compiled them into this issue of my newsletter.
Why did the creditor close my credit card? I didn’t own them anything. Creditor will sometimes close your credit card account if you don’t use it. If you want to have this credit card available to you, then make a purchase a few times a year to keep the account active.
My pay date and my credit card payment don’t coincide, what can I do? You can call your credit card company and ask them to move your credit card due date to another date that works with your finances.
How to I get a copy of my credit report? You have three credit reporting agencies – Experian, EquiFax and Trans Union. You are entitled to one credit report from each of the three reporting agencies once every 365 days. My suggestion is to order one credit report every four months to see your credit report three times in a year. If you sign up for this newsletter, you will receive a credit report reminder to order your credit report three times during the year.
How do I see my credit score? Your credit score if not a part of your credit report. You can get a close approximation of your FICO score at Credit Sesame, Credit Karma or Quizzle (the scoring part of the three credit reporting agencies). If you have a major credit card, most of them offer you your free credit score.
How do I know which credit card is right for me? That’s a hard thing to answer without knowing your circumstances, but I will give you some ideas for you to select which one is right for you. First thing to think about is how you will use this credit card. Will you use it and pay the balance in full each and every month. If so, then you want a credit card without any fees, because you won’t be paying any interest. If you are planning on financing purchases with multiple payments, then you want to lowest interest rate credit card possible, to pay less in interest.
My friend was declined for credit and wants me to co-sign for him / her. Should I? You need to think about this carefully. When you co-sign for someone, you are saying that you will be responsible for the payment, if the borrower doesn’t make the payment. In addition, how they pay their credit back will reflect on your credit report. So if they make a late payment, it will appear on your credit too. Make your choice wisely.
What’s the difference between a joint credit card and an authorized user credit card? Joint credit is exactly what it says, all parties apply for the credit card with their individual information are liable for what is charged (regardless of who made the charge). An authorized user is a person that you give a credit card to for them to use, but they are not responsible for the charges on the account.
What credit questions can I answer for you?
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