How to Raise Your Credit Score Without Getting Ripped Off

In this episode, we're talking about credit repair.

Your credit matters. A lot. Nearly every financial transaction involves your credit: getting an apartment, buying a house, getting cell service…how much you pay for car insurance…sometimes even getting a job. And your credit can determine not just whether you can get various services, but how much you'll pay for them.

So, what happens if you have crappy credit? You might turn to a credit repair company, but this is an area rife with rip-offs. There are more than 40,000 credit repair companies in the United States and it's not easy to tell the good guys from the bad guys. And believe me…there are plenty of bad guys out there.

So today we're going to talk about how to fix your credit yourself, or if you need help, how to find it.

Host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Today's special guest is Michelle Lambright Black, a long-time industry professional.

Remember, our podcasts don't offer financial advice. So make sure to do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

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What you need to know about credit scores

One of the reasons people get worried about credit repair is because they're worried about their credit scores. If you want to learn more about credit scores, we have resources that can help.

• Credit Scores: Everything You Need to Know
• Here's Why Nobody Cares About Your Perfect Credit Score
• 7 Ways to Get Your FICO Credit Score for Free
• A New Way to Get Your Credit Score for Free — Straight From FICO
• 5 Reasons Dave Ramsey Is Wrong About Credit Scores
• How to Protect Your Kids' Credit
• What Employers Really See When They Run a Credit Check

Boost your credit score and get more for your money

If you're hoping to boost your credit score, we can help you improve your history and so you have access to more financial services at better prices.

• 5 Little-Known Tactics To Raise Your Credit Score
• Bad or No Credit Score? CreditStrong Can Help
• 7 Surprising Things That Damage Your Credit Score
• Can Carrying a Small Credit Card Balance Help Your Credit Score?
• This Type of Debt No Longer Can Harm Your Credit Score
• 7 Bonehead-Simple Ways to Turbocharge Your Credit Score
• What Is a Secured Credit Card and How Can It Boost Credit?
• How I Got a Perfect Credit Score in 4 Steps
• No Credit Score? These Banks Might Help You Get Plastic
• Credit Limit Lowered? 4 Things You Can Do Right Now to Fix It

Meet this week's guest, Michelle Lambright Black

Michelle is a credit expert, freelance writer, and founder of CreditWriter.com. She has over 20 years of experience writing and speaking about credit and money, and focuses on helping families and small business owners make smart, informed decisions about their credit, money, and financial products.

Michelle's work has appeared in publications such as Reader's Digest, Parents, Experian, FICO, Forbes, Money, Bankrate, Seattle Times, MarketWatch, BuySide from Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and more. She is a two-time finalist for the best personal finance freelancer award from the Plutus Foundation. When she isn't writing or speaking about credit and money, Michelle loves to travel with her family or read a good book.

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About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

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