The IRS began issuing Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN’s) in 1996 for individuals who are not eligible for a social security number. Initially, they were issued solely for tax purposes. According to the IRS, “ITIN’s do not provide identity outside the Federal Tax System and should not be offered or accepted as identification for non-tax … Read more
We all start a new year with new goals, new dreams, and new hopes. For some people, those goals involve getting their credit in order so they might buy a new home, possibly their first home. Most people understand the basics of obtaining and keeping a good credit score – Paying bills on time, not … Read more
In this sometimes frustrating and crazy world of credit, we are always asking what we can do to help our credit score. There are a lot of actions that people take thinking it will help their credit score, when, in fact those actions can have just the opposite effect. Let’s look at a few things … Read more
With the stimulus checks that have circulated in the last few years and people staying home more because of the Pandemic, credit card debt shrunk drastically. People were able to pay balances down and even save some money. Unfortunately, it seems that with inflation at the level it is, credit card debt is now at … Read more
The ins and outs of credit are unfortunately not something taught in most schools these days. So, by the time a person graduates from high school and enters college or the work force, they have no idea where to begin to start establishing credit. While credit can be intimidating, it does not need to be … Read more
Payment history is one of the most important categories of your credit report. It makes up 35% of your credit score. With busy lives and so much to keep up with it is, at times, possible for a payment to be missed. For things that do not report on your credit file, i.e., utilities, rent, … Read more
For a lot of people during these uncertain times our new best friends are Amazon Prime, Grub Hub, Door Dash, and all the delivery drivers, etc. They come to our door two to three times a week bringing up groceries and household needs. In some cases, we may even see these people more often than … Read more
Late payments and revolving balances are the two things that can do the most damage to a credit score. Having a late payment show up on your credit report probably makes sense but can revolving balances really have as much of a negative impact as a late payment? Absolutely. Let’s look at late payments first. … Read more
Divorce, in and of itself has no bearing on your credit. However, if you have joint accounts with your ex you could be in for trouble, even if debts are listed in the divorce decree as being the responsibility of your ex spouse. As far as credit is concerned, the divorce decree really has no … Read more
Revolving balances play an important role in your credit score calculation. The total of your revolving debt makes up about 30% of your credit score. Balances on installment loans don’t have any where near the impact on credit scores as revolving balances do. While having a revolving balance or two can help your credit scores, … Read more