Several news outlets have been reporting recently that some lending companies operating overseas are looking at people's connections on Facebook and other social media sites to determine their creditworthiness. The theory is that if you're friends are delinquent on loans, you could be, too. However, credit expert John Ulzheimer writes in a recent post on the Mint Life blog that American consumers don't need to worry about how their social media activity will affect their credit scores. Lenders in the U.S. can't use a scoring system based on assumptions. See Can Your Social Media Activity Lower Your Credit Score? for his explanation about why your tweets, friends and connections aren't being used by U.S. lenders to determine your risk. And for more advice on credit scores, here's what personal finance bloggers are writing:
How Much Does Your Credit Score Cost You? [Credit.com]
"Let’s take a look at some of the ways your credit score can directly impact your pocketbook."
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Are These 5 Non-Credit Items Ruining Your Credit Score? [Bargaineering]
"Before you think that your utility payments or your parking tickets don’t matter to your credit rating, think again."
How Do Car Loans Affect Your Credit Score? [ReadyForZero]
"For some people, the progression of using credit to build a solid history for making large purchases such as buying a home begins with an auto loan."
Can You Really Build Credit Without Credit Cards? [Bargaineering]
"While it’s a nice thought -- the idea that you can build a good financial reputation without high-interest consumer debt -- it’s not exactly reality yet."
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