TransUnion News Archives

What is a charge-off?

What is a charge-off?

A charge-off on a credit report is a negative item that appears on an account when a creditor writes off an unpaid debt as a loss. When a borrower fails to make payments on a [...]

What is APR?

What is APR?

When it comes to managing your credit health, understanding how credit cards work is important. Credit cards are a popular credit product for consumers. According to TransUnion’s latest Consumer Pulse Study, of those who [...]

Should I save or pay off debt?

Should I save or pay off debt?

If you feel like debt is weighing you down, but you want to build up some savings, too, you’re not alone. Our quarterly Consumer Pulse shows that, despite challenges to household budgets, some people [...]

Fraud alert on credit report

Fraud alert on credit report

If you’re worried about becoming a victim of identity theft, you can place a free fraud alert on your credit report. TransUnion offers three types of fraud alerts, and you can choose the option [...]

Why did my credit score drop for no reason?

Why did my credit score drop for no reason?

Your credit score is calculated based off the information in your credit report. To create your credit score, the information is broken down into different categories or factors. These factors may be weighed differently based [...]

How often do credit scores and reports update?

How often do credit scores and reports update?

If you’re working hard to better your credit health, like paying down credit card balances or loans, you may be wondering when these positive actions will show up on your reports. Truthfully, there is [...]

What credit score is needed to buy a car?

What credit score is needed to buy a car?

A car may be one of the biggest purchases you’ll ever make, so it’s important to feel confident you’re getting a good deal. Your credit can play an important role in how [...]

Common credit score and credit report questions and answers

Common credit score and credit report questions and answers

On the path to building healthy credit, you may find yourself with questions. TransUnion is here with answers to help you build confidence about credit scores and credit reports as you work toward your goals. [...]

How to build credit

How to build credit

You may have some big financial goals, and a healthy credit history is a way to help you achieve them. But how do you build that credit history from scratch? It can feel like you’[...]

How long do collections stay on your credit report?

How long do collections stay on your credit report?

Learning you have an account in collections can be a stressful experience. But don’t ignore it and hope it goes away. If you have an account in collections, it’s important to know how [...]

What is mortgage insurance?

What is mortgage insurance?

Private mortgage insurance (PMI) is insurance for your mortgage holder or lender, not for you, the homebuyer. PMI protects your lender in case you are unable to make payments on your mortgage and default on [...]

What is a credit score?

What is a credit score?

Your credit score is a three-digit number meant to reflect the risk you could pose to a lender when you borrow money. It offers a quick glance at your credit health and history of paying [...]

How to dispute your credit report

How to dispute your credit report

Reviewing and managing your information is an important part of protecting your data identity. So, if you notice something you believe is inaccurate on your TransUnion credit report, we’re here to help. Disputing your [...]