Troubleshooting
Bureau connections, frozen reports, sign-in issues.
- What is a charge-off and how does it affect your credit?
A charge-off is an accounting designation that a creditor uses when it considers a debt unlikely to be collected — typically after 180 days of non-payment. The debt doesn't disappear when charged off; the creditor either continues collecting, sells the debt to a collector, or writes it off. Charge-offs are major negative items and stay on your report for 7 years from the date of first delinquency.
3 min read - What is identity theft and how does it affect your credit?
Identity theft happens when someone uses your personal information to open accounts or make purchases in your name. Signs on your report include unfamiliar accounts, hard inquiries you don't recognize, addresses you've never lived at, and collections for debts that aren't yours. Active theft requires filing an FTC report at IdentityTheft.gov, freezing your credit, and disputing fraudulent items.
4 min read - What is a credit freeze and how does it work?
A credit freeze blocks most new credit applications by preventing lenders from pulling your credit reports. It's free, federally protected, and the strongest single tool against identity-theft-driven new accounts. A freeze affects bureau pulls — including services like CreditRefresh — so frozen reports need to be temporarily thawed for scans and disputes.
3 min read