Staff writer · Credit Reporting & Consumer Rights

Lena Whitcomb

21 articles, newest first.

Credit Reporting & Consumer Rights
Freezing and Unfreezing Your Credit File: Separate Requests for Each Bureau
A freeze protects only the credit file it is placed on, so you need a separate request with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, and each one has its own steps and deadlines.
Lena WhitcombAug 13, 2026
Credit Reporting & Consumer Rights
A Freeze Keeps Lenders Out; a Fraud Alert Asks Them to Check Twice
A freeze restricts access to your credit file, while a fraud alert asks businesses to verify your identity, and the right choice depends on how much friction you want when credit applications come in.
Lena WhitcombAug 6, 2026
Credit Reporting & Consumer Rights
Unfreezing One Bureau for a Loan Check, Keeping the Others Locked
Lifting a freeze only at the bureau a lender will check, for the dates it needs, keeps your other reports protected while your application moves forward.
Lena WhitcombJul 30, 2026
Credit Reporting & Consumer Rights
Your Right to Challenge a Debt You Don't Recognize, Step by Step
A written dispute, sent to both the credit bureau and the business that reported the account, is the most reliable way to get an error corrected.
Lena WhitcombJul 23, 2026
Credit Reporting & Consumer Rights
Using an Identity Theft Report With Credit Bureaus: Steps, Freezes and Records
An Identity Theft Report is a useful starting point, but each credit bureau has its own process, so check its instructions and keep a record of every contact.
Lena WhitcombJul 15, 2026
Credit Reporting & Consumer Rights
Checking a Collector's Claim: Which Details in a Validation Notice Matter Most
A validation notice gives you the details needed to check whether a debt, amount and deadline are accurate before you respond.
Lena WhitcombJul 8, 2026
Credit Reporting & Consumer Rights
What a Debt Collection Notice Must Include and How to Check It
Federal rules set out the timing and contents of a collector's validation notice, and comparing it with your own records can show whether it holds up.
Lena WhitcombJul 1, 2026
Credit Reporting & Consumer Rights
How to Stop Debt Collector Calls in Writing
A written stop-contact request can end most calls and letters from a covered debt collector. It does not cancel the debt or block every lawful collection step.
Lena WhitcombJun 23, 2026
Credit Reporting & Consumer Rights
Settled Debt Still Wrong on Your Report? Check It Against Your Paperwork First
Compare the report with your settlement records, then send a specific dispute to both the credit reporting company and the company that supplied the account information.
Lena WhitcombJun 9, 2026

Lena Whitcomb

Freezing and Unfreezing Your Credit File: Separate Requests for Each Bureau

A Freeze Keeps Lenders Out; a Fraud Alert Asks Them to Check Twice

Unfreezing One Bureau for a Loan Check, Keeping the Others Locked

Your Right to Challenge a Debt You Don't Recognize, Step by Step

Using an Identity Theft Report With Credit Bureaus: Steps, Freezes and Records

Checking a Collector's Claim: Which Details in a Validation Notice Matter Most

What a Debt Collection Notice Must Include and How to Check It

How to Stop Debt Collector Calls in Writing

Settled Debt Still Wrong on Your Report? Check It Against Your Paperwork First