How your credit score is calculated
The five factors that make up your FICO score — and which ones matter most.
Credit education blog
Clear, honest, jargon-free articles to help you understand and improve your credit.
Latest articles
Start with these guides. New articles are added regularly.
Credit basics
Building credit
What is credit utilization (and why 30% matters)
Learn how your balance-to-limit ratio affects your score, then try our calculator.
Your rights
Your rights under the FCRA, explained simply
Free reports, disputes, error correction, and security freezes — in plain English.
Disputes
What happens when you dispute a credit item
A step-by-step walk through the dispute lifecycle and the bureaus' 30-day timeline.
Building credit
How long do negative items stay on your report?
Timelines for late payments, collections, and bankruptcies — and what to expect.
Coming soon
Money habits
Budgeting basics to protect your credit
Simple budgeting habits that keep payments on time and balances low.
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