Topic: TransUnion LLC

In Gear
Despite easy credit, a decline in late car payments

Americans are keeping up with their car payments even as credit once again becomes easier to find, Read writes.

Foreclosures hit nine-month high, but starts drop

Foreclosures completed by banks rose to a nine-month high in November, but there's some good news: The number of homes starting on the path to foreclosure fell to the lowest level in six years.

Saving Money
Eight surprising ways to raise your credit score

Boosting your credit score from merely good to great will give you access to the best offers and best rates on nearly everything. Here are the best ways to do it. 

The New Economy
Credit card debt rises to nearly $5,000 per borrower

Borrowing on credit cards is up 4.9 percent from a year ago, TransUnion reports.

In Gear
Car loans: Is is time to refinance?

Little-known fact: refinancing isn't just for mortgages. But how do you decide if refinancing your car loan is the right move for you?

Saving Money
Credit cards: Top 5 cards for grads

Credit cards for high school and college graduates offer cash back and, most importantly, no annual fee. If you're not sure you qualify for regular credit cards, there's an option for you, too.

The Simple Dollar
Know your credit report, and what it means

Forget those goofy commercials. You can get your credit report (really) for free from the federal government. When you get it, it’s important to make sure that the information on your credit report is accurate and represents a good picture of your financial history.

Credit card hacked? Four steps to take.

Credit card hackers can send sophisticated looking e-mails and make small purchases on credit cards to test if you're watching closely. 

New consumer agency targets debt collectors. Who can argue with that?

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which faces stiff GOP opposition, picks what may be politically palatable targets for regulation: debt collectors and the credit-rating industry.

The New Economy
Does Suze Orman’s prepaid card solve anything?

Released with great fanfare, The Approved Card from Suze Orman is supposed to help people who use cash responsibly get a good credit score. But it doesn't – and probably never will.  

The Daily Reckoning
Saving money in a debt-soaked economy

Saving money is nearly impossible in an economy ridden with debt. But for the 70 million baby boomers approaching retirement age, it's the only choice there is.

Credit scores will get more personal

Credit scores will include estimates of annual income. FICO is developing separate credit scores to incorporate any payday loans, evictions, and child support payments.

The Circle Bastiat
Paying to protect credit score, from underwater

Should underwater home owners go down with a sinking home to save a credit score?

Credit cards: delinquencies at 15-year low

Credit cards are being used more wisely, according to a new report. The delinquency rate on credit cards is the lowest since 1996.

Mortgage loans paid up? No, but credit card is.

Mortgage loans vs. credit cards: A bigger share of Americans now prefer to keep current on credit card bills than mortgage loans.

Consumer confidence rises. Sign that recovery is still ahead?

An index of consumer confidence rose to 53.5 in August, up from 51.0 in July, the Conference Board reported. Still, the index remains well below normal.

The Monitor's View: A tough economy toughens up America

The Great Recession forced consumers and states to correct bad habits. But other lessons still need to be learned to strengthen America.

Credit card debt drops, lowest in eight year as cardholders pay off balances

Credit card debt for bank-issued credit cards — like those with a MasterCard or Visa logo — fell to $4,951 on average in the three months ended June 30, down more than 13 percent from $5,719 in the same period a year ago, according to TransUnion.

Mortgage fraud: Bloomberg, nonprofit try to raise awareness

New York Mayor Bloomberg and NeighborWorks rolled out a ‘Loan Modification Scam Alert’ on Thursday. The goal: to prevent yet more homeowners from falling victim to mortgage fraud.

USA

Tired of high gas prices? Ten ways to save.

Properly inflated tires, driving slower, and emptying out the trunk among the best ways to avoid excessive trips to the pump.