The Complete Idiot's Guide to Improving your Credit Score (Paperback)

~ MBA, Lita Epstein (Author) "Your credit score, which is just a three-digit number, wields incredible power over your financial life..." (more)
Key Phrases: expansion score, debt utilization ratio, universal default clause, The Least You Need, Fair Isaac, Social Security (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Get more with a lower score.

Credit history can make or break your chances of getting a house, an apartment, or a loan. Now you can stay abreast of your credit score, and your future, by thoroughly understanding the publicly released FICO number, once reserved for lenders and businesses only. This invaluable guide busts the credit myths and explains key ways to use credit, pay bills, pay off debt, deal with crisis, and avoid scams in order to make the credit score work for you.
—Includes a glossary, resource section, and sample letters

About the Author

Lita Epstein, M.B.A., a former Congressional press secretary and newspaper reporter, is a seasoned financial writer who’s written over 15 books, including The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Social Security and Medicare, The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Accounting, and The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Foreign Currency Trading. She also designs and teaches online courses on such topics as investing for retirement, getting ready for tax time, and finance and investing for women. Lita was the content director for a financial services website, MostChoice.com, and managed the website Investing for Women.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Alpha (December 4, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592576907
• ISBN-13: 978-1592576906
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #177,737 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Some different advice than the usual, April 18, 2008

By	Christine Bell "Jeepfreak" (PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I purchased this book because I educate people on credit scores (mortgage broker) and as looked through this book at the checkout line, there was a lot of information that I had not come across on improving credit. I am reading it so that I can learn some new tips to help people qualify for a lower mortgage rate. It's easy to read and very helpful.
Christine, Sr Loan Officer[...]

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars No special information or secrets revealed, February 28, 2009

By	Peter (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

Because there is no way to know the secret credit scoring algorithm, this gives very general suggestions which can be read on any Googled credit info site summed up as follows: Your score is based on your balances, length of credit history, payment history, recent inquiries and diversity of credit like auto, home, cards. So keep each cards balance to limit percentage low, Keep percentage of all balances to all credit limits low, Pay on time, keep old cards active, Don't apply for new credit unless necessary and if it is a car apply for all possible vehicles within 10 days so only counts as one inquiry. That's about it! Save your money.