Money Talk: Alert Credit Bureaus Directly About a Death
Question: How does one get credit reports for someone who is dead? My deceased husband is still on my mortgage and I’d like to review his report to make sure it is correct. The estate went through probate, so I have court documents showing I am the executor. I looked at credit bureau websites and attempted to contact them by phone but have not been able to determine what information they need or where it should be sent. Answer: The...
Money Talk: Don’t Co-Sign for Son’s Car Loan
Question: Our son graduated from college last year and was recently hired as a permanent employee for a company he was contracted with for the past year. He wants to buy a new car but has limited credit history. He has a credit card he has had since starting college. He uses it lightly and pays the balance off every month. If we are asked to co-sign a loan, will paying for the car positively impact his credit scores? Answer: Yes, an...
Money Talk: A Credit ‘Freeze’ Can Protect You From ID Theft
Question: Is there a way to lock my credit history and access to prevent the unscrupulous from opening accounts in my name? Maybe I’m rare, but I have enough existing credit cards, don’t have a mortgage and essentially have no debt, and I want to keep it that way. I suspect businesses that make their living issuing credit reports will resist this ability, but I want to do all I can to make it tough for anyone to steal my identity....
