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Credit

‘Alternative’ Credit: Your Scores Still Matter

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Startup and traditional lenders alike are looking for the new prize: creditworthy people who don’t have good credit scores.

To find them, companies are experimenting with all kinds of alternative data that’s typically not part of credit reports, such as utility bills, social media posts and how often you change your address.

In addition, some online lenders proclaim they don’t use credit scores in their decisions or don’t have a minimum score requirement.

In my latest for NerdWallet, why thinking credit scores no longer matter could be an expensive mistake.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

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Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: Buying credit and identity theft monitoring. Also in the news: Financial aid appeal tactics, why we’re still swiping our credit cards, and how to look at living on a budget as an opportunity.

Should You Buy Credit and Identity Theft Monitoring?
What to look for.

7 Financial Aid Appeal Tactics To Improve Your Child’s College Aid Award
Making the case for more aid.

Why Are We Still Swiping Our Credit Cards?
Where are all the chips?

Why You Should Think of Frugality as an Opportunity, Not a Sacrifice
A different way of looking at living on a budget.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

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Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: What adding 100 points to your credit score means for your finances. Also in the news: How to finance your dream home improvement projects, how your boss can help you reduce your student loan repayment timeline, and why you should be treating your income like you do your investments.

What Adding 100 Points to Your Credit Score Could Mean
Is it a game changer?

6 Ways to Finance Your Dream Home Improvement Project
Without turning your home into a money pit.

Here’s how fast you can pay off your student loan with help from your boss
Your repayment timeline could could get shorter.

Are You Diversifying Your Income? You’d Better Start.
Treating your income just like your investments.

Q&A: Taking out a loan to boost credit scores

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Dear Liz: I have little to no information — good or bad — in my credit reports. I am considering obtaining a secured loan from my credit union to establish better credit. Does it make any difference to my credit score if the credit union reports the loan as “secured”?

Answer: Credit scores don’t treat installment loans differently based on whether they’re unsecured, with just your promise to repay, or secured, which means backed by an asset such as an amount on deposit with the credit union.

What matters is how you pay off the loan (every payment should be on time) and whether the account will be reported to all three credit bureaus, so that you’re building scores at all three. Call and ask, because not all credit unions report to all three bureaus.

You also might want to consider a secured credit card, because having both types of credit accounts — installment and revolving — can boost your scores. Again, it’s important that you pay on time and that the card is reported to all three bureaus. You should use the card lightly but regularly and pay the balance in full each month for best results.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

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Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: The key tax changes for 2015. Also in the news: Costly mistakes that can destroy your credit, smart estate-planning steps to avoid probate, and why combining your finances in a relationship might be a bad idea.

Key 2015 Tax Changes to Know About
Don’t wait until the last second.

5 Smart Estate-Planning Steps to Avoid Probate
Protecting your assets.

4 Costly Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Credit Score
Small mistakes that can cause major damage.

When Combining Your Finances In a Relationship Might Be a Bad Idea
What to consider before taking that big step.