Monitor your credit for free

I take some time every year to pull a free credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com to make sure my finances are in order and there aren't any delinquent accounts in my file that shouldn't be there.

Debts can linger beyond removal from credit report

Q. How do I find out the timeline on my debt? I know after six or seven years the debt is taken off. I would like to know if there is a way to see if it is gone.

Free Tax Help is Available

  Internal Revenue Service (Photo credit: functoruser) You can probably guess that I tend to recommend finding a competent, reliable tax professional to help you out come tax time. I'm not too proud to say that I don't do my own taxes anymore, not because I enjoy paying someone else to do [...]

When does old debt fall off your credit report?

Dear Debt Adviser,How do I find out the timeline on my debt? I know after six or seven years the debt is taken off. I would like to know if there is a way to see if it is gone.-- Mark Dear Mark,Now you ...

How Settled Card Accounts Impact Your Credit Report

The good news is you settled your debt, but what happens to your credit report?

Cosigning For Your Child's Credit Card Can Cost You

In the early 1990s, I cosigned for a credit card for my son, who was then a college student. The credit card had a limit of $500. Recently, my credit report showed a substantial balance on the

Parental guidance: Babies and identity theft

Can your baby's identity be stolen? Yes, says Ken Chaplin, senior vice president of Experian Consumer Direct, part of the Experian credit report agency.

When does old debt fall off credit report?

Dear Debt Adviser, How do I find out the timeline on my debt? I know after six or seven years the debt is taken off. I would like to know if there is a way to see if it is gone.

Lobbyists fight Congress for free credit score

You're entitled to a free credit report each year -- but why don't you get your free credit score too? Lobbyists are pushing Congress to make that happen.

Can wages be garnished for old debt?

Editor's note: This column is a continuation of the column that ran Feb. 2, "Young mother with old debt fears collectors." Dear Debt Adviser,Your article, "Old debts won't hurt new loan," ...