by Judy Jones All lenders are requiring any disputed account on a borrower’s credit report to be resolved or the dispute removed before the loan can be approved. The reason for this is that unscrupulous “credit repair” or “credit fixer” companies have told consumers how to use (abuse) the Fair Credit Reporting Act to falsely inflate the consumer’s credit scores. The Fair Credit Reporting Act allows for any consumer to dispute any credit account...

It’s a three-digit number that carries a lot of influence over your future. It can dictate whether or not you’ll qualify for a home, car, or business loan. It can also be the deciding factor in whether or not you qualify for a low interest rate. What exactly is a credit score and what factors contribute to its number? A credit score is a number from 200 to 800 that reflects your payment and borrowing history. Are you a big spender?...