With lenders tightening standards, credit reports need to be clean (Reno Gazette-Journal)

Worse are those who have private loans, which now account for 20% of student loan volume and charge rates of up to 20%.

With lenders tightening standards, credit reports need to be clean (Reno Gazette-Journal)

Living in ignorance of your credit score can lead to disappointment when it comes time to apply for a home loan.

Easy Steps to Improve Your Credit Score (The Bradford Era)

(ARA) - Your credit score affects what type of interest rates you get on credit cards or for buying a house or car, as well as your approvals for employment or apartment rental. It's important that you understand not only what your score means, but how to repair it.

Check Your Credit Score Before You Buy a Car (Benton Evening News)

(ARA) - Most people acknowledge that maintenance and repair costs are a necessary compromise for the independence they gain from owning a car. But there is one important maintenance task everyone should undertake before buying a car -- repairing their credit report.

Buying A House? Check Your Credit Report (The Tampa Tribune)

NEW YORK - With the mortgage market in upheaval, fewer borrowers are qualifying for loans - and those who do need all-but-pristine documentation and credit histories.

Want a mortgage? Have clean credit and documentation (Orange County Register)

Mortgage adviser says that a credit score of 680 is the minimum recommended.

Know your credit score (The Plain Dealer)

Federal law entitles you to a free credit report every year, but if you want to know your score -- a number lenders and insurers use to determine what you'll pay -- it's going to cost you anywhere from $6 to $10.

Want a Mortgage? Start by Settling Your Score (Benton Evening News)

(ARA) - Anyone who's been denied credit may feel the old adage "you can't fight city hall" should be replaced by a new axiom: "You can't fight the credit bureaus."

How can students protect their credit score (Guardian Unlimited)

Coursework and exams are not all you'll be marked on at university. Laura Howard looks at how students can protect their credit score for life after graduation.

Give Your Credit Score A Boost (CBS News)

Financial adviser Ray Martin explains what it is, why it matters, how to see it for free, and how to improve it, on The Early Show .

Lenders and Your Credit Score (KiplingerForecasts.com)

Credit scores come in several versions, so it's important to check all of them before applying for a loan.