A credit bureau is an information clearinghouse that compiles information on consumers. The credit grantors, or lenders, report consumer payment history to the credit bureaus. The credit bureaus then compile that information together with information on tax liens, bankruptcies, and court judgments that is available in public records. In return, when consumers apply for credit, lenders can check credit reports to determine the creditworthiness of consumers.

When you move, it’s often important to report your change of address to the United States Postal Service or you risk missing important mailings like credit card and utility bills.

Your FICO Score is a very important indicator of how well you’re doing credit wise. FICO Scores can be retrieved at a small cost but there are some ways to obtain your credit report and sometimes your score for free.

If it has been thirty days since you disputed a debt and you still have not received a response from the creditor and/or the credit bureau, then you should follow-up with the credit bureau as soon as possible. It is common for credit bureaus to become overwhelmed with disputes, and sometimes dispute letters get overlooked.

Part of rebuilding your credit is proving that you can pay your bills on time. If your bad credit episode left you without any credit cards, you’ll have to open new ones.