Credit reports, scores, and monitoring, explained
CreditMonitored.com is an independent publisher that turns public consumer-credit sources into plain-language guides. Start with a topic below, or browse the full guide and glossary indexes.
Explore credit topics
Credit Scores
How credit scores are calculated and what the numbers mean
Credit Reports
What is in your credit file and how to keep it accurate
Credit Checks
Who checks your credit, and how hard and soft checks work
Credit Monitoring
How alerts and monitoring services watch your credit
Credit Freezes
Restricting access to your credit file at the nationwide bureaus
Credit Locks
App-based locks and how they compare to a freeze
Credit Profiles
The accounts, history and data that make up your credit profile
Identity Theft
Recognizing, reporting and recovering from identity crime
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Featured guides
How Credit Scores Are Calculated: Factors Explained
Learn how credit scores are calculated: the FICO factor weights, VantageScore's approach, what data feeds a score, and how your credit reports…
Credit Score Ranges Explained: The 300 to 850 Scale
Credit score ranges explained: what the 300 to 850 scale means, how FICO and VantageScore ranges differ, and which factors are considered in a…
FICO vs VantageScore: How the Two Credit Scores Differ
FICO and VantageScore both use a 300 to 850 range, but they weigh credit factors differently. Learn how each model works and why scores can differ…
How Payment History Affects Credit Scores Explained
Payment history is the largest factor in most FICO scores at about 35%. Learn how late payments and reporting timelines appear on your own credit…
Credit Utilization Explained: How the Ratio Is Calculated
Credit utilization is the share of your revolving credit limits in use. Learn what the credit utilization ratio is and how it is calculated by…
How Length of Credit History Affects Your Credit Scores
Length of credit history is about 15% of a FICO score. See how the average age of accounts and the age of your credit history are used in scoring…