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free credit score

Monday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: Jump start your credit with a free credit score. Also in the news: A new episode of the Smart Money podcast on COVID scams and small money goals, why you shouldn’t bank on student loan forgiveness, and how to apply for the second round of PPP loans for small businesses.

Jump-Start Your Credit: Begin With a Free Credit Score

Smart Money Podcast: COVID Scams and Small Goals

Why You Shouldn’t Bank on Student Loan Forgiveness

How to apply for the second round of PPP loans for small businesses
Who qualifies, how much you can get, and which loans will be forgiven

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

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Credit report with score on a desk
Credit report with score on a desk
Today’s top story: Debt collectors continue to defy requests to stop calling. Also in the news: How to map out a year’s worth of shopping, how stuck-in-the-middle parents can afford college, and why your free credit score might not be what you think it is.

3 in 4 Say Debt Collectors Defy Requests to Stop Calling
Consumers are still feeling threatened.

Map Out a Year’s Worth of Shopping Right Now
When to get the best deals.

How Stuck-in-the-Middle Parents Can Afford College
Looking at the options.

Your Free Credit Score Might Not Be What You Think It Is
Understanding the differences.

Q&A: Free credit score? Be careful

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Dear Liz: As a financial planner, I am surprised you pointed someone in the direction of paying for a credit score. Your score can be accessed at several credit sites for free. Why would you want your readers to pay for something they could get free? 

Answer: As a financial planner, you should understand that “free” is a squishy concept.

Some sites do offer free credit scores in return for your private financial information, including your Social Security number. Most of these sites are committed to protecting your information — the credit bureaus they’re working with insist on that — but the sites may use your data to market financial products and services to you. As the saying goes, if something on the Internet is free, then the product being sold is you.

Many people are comfortable with that trade-off. Others aren’t. The other and perhaps more important reason to buy your credit scores from MyFico.com is that you’ll be getting numbers created from the same FICO formulas that most lenders use. The sites handing out free scores typically offer VantageScores, which is a FICO competitor. This particular reader wanted to see the auto FICO scores his lenders would use, and for that the best source is MyFico.com.