Credit Basics & Scores
Explore our comprehensive guides and articles about Credit Basics & Scores.
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.
January 31, 2026
Reading and Disputing Alternative‑Data Entries: Bank Cashflow, Rent & BNPL
Read bank‑cashflow, rent and BNPL entries on your credit file, collect evidence, and craft dispute letters that prompt timely reinvestigations and corrections.
January 2, 2026
VantageScore 4plus and Experian Credit+Cashflow: How Cashflow & Open‑Banking Data Could Change Approvals
How VantageScore 4plus and Experian Credit+Cashflow use permissioned bank cashflow data to change underwriting, who benefits, and how to opt in safely.
December 31, 2025
FICO Score 10 BNPL: What the BNPL Rollout Means for Your Credit
FICO Score 10 BNPL adds BNPL data to scoring. Learn how the rollout affects approvals, credit behavior, lender decisions, and steps to protect your score.
December 14, 2025
Adverse Action 2.0: How to Request Clear Explanations After an Automated Credit Denial
Get clear adverse-action explanations after automated credit denials: learn what ECOA/FCRA require, sample letters, and steps to dispute or escalate.