Start with the change

What happened?

Choose the closest match for the score change, notice, unfamiliar account, collector contact, or court papers in front of you.

Choose what happened

Use this page if: you know what happened but do not yet know which credit term, guide, or tool applies.

Choose the closest match

Start with the event, not the credit term.

Choose a card to open the relevant guide, tool, template, or company directory.

A deadline may apply

I received debt collection court papers

A summons, complaint, citation, or hearing notice may require a response to the court. Contacting the collector may not protect the deadline.

Protect the deadline

Credit score change

My credit score dropped

Start with the reports and accounts behind the score. Check for new balances, missed payments, inquiries, closed accounts, or information you do not recognize.

Find what changed

Credit report problem

Something on my credit report is wrong

An account, balance, status, date, or personal detail does not match your records.

Choose the right correction path

Credit decision

I was denied credit

Use the adverse-action notice to identify the decision reason, score factors, and reporting company involved.

Decode the notice

Collector contact

A debt collector contacted me

You received a call, letter, or text from a collector, found a collection entry on your report, or are not sure the contact is legitimate.

Verify the collector and debt

Cash shortfall

I cannot pay every bill

Cash on hand will not cover every bill and basic need before your next income.

Prioritize urgent bills

Identity theft

My information was exposed or used

Your identity, account information, or Social Security number may have been stolen, exposed, or used without permission.

Protect my credit files

Suspicious contact

I think this may be a scam

The caller is pressuring you, requests an unusual payment method, or names an account you do not recognize.

Verify before paying

Bureau response

The credit bureau answered my dispute

The result says corrected, deleted, verified, unchanged, frivolous, or reinserted and you need to understand what follows.

Decode the result

Card statement

I do not recognize a card charge

A merchant descriptor or billing name on your statement does not look familiar.

Look up the charge