Today the Bureau is releasing “Want credit to work for you?” the newest addition to the Your Money, Your Goals suite of financial empowerment tools. The third in a series released by the Bureau, this booklet provides eight tools to help consumers through the various stages of building credit, maintaining good credit, and fixing credit if it is bad. Tools include:
- Should I use credit to buy this?
- What steps can I take to build good credit?
- How do I get a free copy of my credit report?
- How do I make sure my credit report is accurate?
- How do I get errors in my credit report fixed?
- How can I improve my credit scores?
- What do I do if I’ve been a victim of identity theft?
- Who else can I turn to for help?
Over the past three years, the Bureau has responded to the issue of credit invisibility, defined as having a lack of credit or a limited credit history. This effort includes talking to stakeholders, convening leaders in the field, conducting research, developing resources such as city and state credit profiles, and tools to equip communities in their efforts to help more consumers manage their credit and achieve their financial goals. The Bureau has released a number of resources to highlight credit invisibility and the range of barriers consumers face in accessing credit, and are now offering this new booklet to the suite of tools to help consumers manage their financial lives.
Your credit reports and scores have a major impact on your financial opportunities. Bureau resources can help you better understand your credit reports and scores, learn how to correct inaccuracies, and improve your credit record over time.
Having a positive credit record can help you reach your goals by potentially lowering the costs of borrowing money and can also reduce barriers to housing and employment. Our new booklet, Want Credit to Work for You? will set you up for success by providing information and tools to begin your credit journey on the right foot. But if you run into obstacles along the way, the booklet provides straightforward guidance, tools, and resources to get back on track.
To learn how to train staff and volunteers to use this booklet, join us for a free webinar on April 25, at 1 p.m. EST. Join the webinar here: https://icfconsulting.adobeconnect.com/bureau/ or by calling 877-423-6338, passcode 464775#.
Order your free booklets here today so you have a copy in time for the webinar. They should arrive in three to four weeks.