If you have checked your credit report lately, you may have noticed an "inquiries" section. An inquiry refers to a request to look at your credit file and falls into one of two camps: hard or soft. A ...

The statement balance tells you how much you owe after a single billing cycle. For a more up-to-date account of your credit card debt, check the current balance. Many or all of the products on this ...

Note to readers: Visit our Coronavirus Information Center for more information about how the response to the outbreak affects your student debt, and other forms of financial hardship. Your credit ...

Leah Zitter is a financial writer with a background in international research, marketing, and sales. Erika Rasure is globally-recognized as a leading consumer economics subject matter expert, ...