The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Out of Debt

Chapter 20

Salvaging Your Credit Score

In This Chapter

◆ What is a credit score, really?

◆ Understanding the credit score formula

◆ The biggest credit score mistakes

◆ How long does something stay on a credit report?

◆ Tips to raise your score

 

There are very few times as a grown man, with children of my own, that I feel busted, caught red handed, and scolded. But when someone pulls my credit report, it takes me right back to seventh grade and my parents opening my report card right in front of me. Back then, my social life hung in the balance. Good grades meant a summer of frolicking in the sun. Bad grades meant a summer confined to the house watching game shows and babysitting my sisters.

Now as an adult, a good credit score means that I get ...