Credit Basics & Scores
Explore our comprehensive guides and articles about Credit Basics & Scores.
July 27, 2026
When Mortgage Underwriters Use Alternative Scores: What Matters and How to Prepare
How mortgage underwriters use alternative credit scores (rent, BNPL, bank data), how lenders weight them, and clear steps to optimize before you apply.
July 15, 2026
Student‑Loan Reporting Is Back: A Practical Recovery Plan for Borrowers
90-day recovery plan for borrowers facing renewed student‑loan reporting: triage, dispute scripts, monitoring, and negotiation steps to protect credit.
June 28, 2026
BNPL vs Revolving Debt — What‑If Scenarios That Show How BNPL‑Aware Scores Could Move Your FICO in 2026
Scenario tests that show how BNPL reporting and revolving balances can raise or lower your FICO score in 2026. Practical, FICO‑aware guidance.
June 25, 2026
Spotting AI‑Driven Errors on Your Credit Report: A Practical Checklist
Detect and fix AI-driven credit-report errors with a practical checklist, evidence templates, and priority dispute steps to protect your score and identity.
June 1, 2026
Counterfactual Explanations and Your Credit: What 'What‑If' Answers Lenders Should Provide — and How to Use Them to Improve Approval Odds
Learn how counterfactual ('what‑if') explanations work, what lenders must disclose under CFPB guidance, and step‑by‑step actions to raise your approval chances.
May 30, 2026
Decoding Adverse Action After an Automated Decision: How to Read Reason Codes, Collect Evidence, and Demand a Useful Explanation
Learn to interpret machine‑readable adverse‑action reason codes, preserve evidence, request model explanations under ECOA/FCRA, and escalate to regulators when needed.
May 12, 2026
Set Up Credit Monitoring to Catch Algorithmic Errors and Alternative‑Data Misreports
Learn how to configure credit monitoring, what evidence to save for disputes, and fast escalation steps to fix AI or alternative‑data errors on your reports.
May 11, 2026
Public Records, Evictions and Automated Flags: What Modern Scoring Models Really Use
How do evictions and public records affect credit? Learn how modern scores treat collections and rent, plus steps to fix errors and protect your score.
April 9, 2026
Adverse Action When AI Is Involved: Demand a Meaningful Explanation, Request Model Evidence, and Appeal
Challenge AI-driven credit denials: demand a specific adverse-action explanation, request model evidence and credit-file disclosures, and learn to appeal.
April 5, 2026
Which Score Did Your Lender Use? A Plain‑English Guide to FICO, VantageScore, BNPL‑Enhanced Models and How to Find the Exact Version
Learn how lenders choose FICO, VantageScore or BNPL‑enhanced models, how to find the exact version used, and steps to challenge or verify it quickly now.
March 3, 2026
FICO 10 BNPL Explained: What Weighting Changes Mean for Your Score
Learn how FICO Score 10 BNPL incorporates buy‑now‑pay‑later data, what weighting changes mean for payments and utilization, and see practical score examples.
February 27, 2026
Where BNPL, Rent and Utility Payments Appear on Your Credit Report — And How to Monitor Them
Learn where BNPL, rent and utility payments show on credit reports, who reports them, and practical steps to monitor, verify and dispute entries.