Staff writer · Credit Score Education

Maya Ortiz

20 articles, newest first.

Credit Score Education
Does Removing a Collection Actually Raise Your Credit Score?
The clearest federal research ties medical collection removals to an average score gain, but that average describes a group, not any single credit report.
Maya OrtizNov 3, 2026
Credit Score Education
Credit Report or Credit Score: Reading the Record Before the Number
A credit report is the detailed file of credit activity, and a credit score is a number calculated from that file, so checking both helps you spot errors and compare scores in context.
Maya OrtizNov 2, 2026
Credit Score Education
Start at the Only Federally Authorized Site for Your Credit Files
The federally authorized site, phone line, and mail form all deliver free reports, so confirming the source before you share personal details is the most important step.
Maya OrtizOct 26, 2026
Credit Score Education
Why You Can Have Several Credit Scores at Once
Different reporting companies, scoring models, versions, and calculation dates can each produce a valid number for the same person.
Maya OrtizOct 19, 2026
Credit Score Education
What a FICO Score Measures, and Why the Model Matters
A credit score is a model-based snapshot of credit-report information on a given date, so the model, the report source, and the timing all shape the number you see.
Maya OrtizOct 12, 2026
Credit Score Education
VantageScore and FICO: What the 2026 Mortgage Shift Means for Borrowers
New FHA rules let some loans use VantageScore 4.0 and FICO Score 10T alongside Classic FICO, so checking your credit reports and asking your lender which model it will use matter more than comparing scores across models.
Maya OrtizOct 4, 2026
Credit Score Education
What a Credit Inquiry Means on Your Report
Hard and soft inquiries look similar on a report but carry different consequences, and checking who made the request is the first step to understanding one.
Maya OrtizSep 20, 2026
Credit Score Education
How Long a Hard Inquiry Stays on Your Credit Report and Score
A hard inquiry can stay on your report for two years, but FICO Scores consider only the past 12 months, and the gap between those two timelines matters.
Maya OrtizSep 12, 2026
Credit Score Education
Why Payment History Carries So Much Weight in a Credit Score
Payment history is the largest factor in many scoring models because it records whether bills were paid as agreed, and it can keep affecting a report long after the payment is made.
Maya OrtizSep 5, 2026
Credit Score Education
Credit Utilization: How the Ratio Works and What It Leaves Out
Credit utilization compares reported revolving balances to credit limits, but that single percentage cannot explain a full credit score on its own.
Maya OrtizAug 29, 2026
Credit Score Education
Closing an Old Card: How Utilization and Account Age Come Into Play
Closing a card can raise your credit utilization and shorten your available credit, but its effect depends on the rest of your credit file and the account's history.
Maya OrtizAug 21, 2026
Credit Score Education
How Credit History Length Fits Into a Credit Report
Account dates shape how scoring models read a file, but age is one factor among many and does not override the rest of the report.
Maya OrtizAug 14, 2026

Maya Ortiz

Does Removing a Collection Actually Raise Your Credit Score?

Credit Report or Credit Score: Reading the Record Before the Number

Start at the Only Federally Authorized Site for Your Credit Files

Why You Can Have Several Credit Scores at Once

What a FICO Score Measures, and Why the Model Matters

VantageScore and FICO: What the 2026 Mortgage Shift Means for Borrowers

What a Credit Inquiry Means on Your Report

How Long a Hard Inquiry Stays on Your Credit Report and Score

Why Payment History Carries So Much Weight in a Credit Score

Credit Utilization: How the Ratio Works and What It Leaves Out

Closing an Old Card: How Utilization and Account Age Come Into Play

How Credit History Length Fits Into a Credit Report