Credit Scores and Credit Reports 3rd ed: How The System Really Works, What You Can Do (Credit Scores & Credit Reports: How the System Really Works,)

Credit Scores & Credit Reports provides the first thorough examination of the all-important, but little understood, credit scoring and credit reporting systems. The Third Edition of this highly-acclaimed book enables consumers to understand how both of these systems actually work, and what they can do to improve their FICO scores, and to ensure their credit reports are accurate. Importantly, the book also describes how the system sometimes doesn t work, and how hundreds of thousands if not millions of consumers have been frustrated in their efforts to correct errors in their credit reports. Moreover, it explains: * Link between credit reports and the burgeoning problem of identity theft *How credit card companies use credit scoring to raise your interest rates * The role of credit scores in auto and homeowners insurance *The difference between mortgage rates for consumers with excellent, good, fair, and poor credit scores *The damages to consumers, and their creditworthiness, stemming from credit report inaccuracy and identity theft Credit reports and debt collection * The debate over credit scoring and discrimination The politics of credit reporting