Credit scores 101: What they are — and aren’t

If American consumers feel like they are back in school again, angling for a few more points and good grade, that’s no accident. The aggressive marketing of three-digit credit scores has practically turned a high figure into a status symbol – but it’s so much more than that. Unlike that English 101 quiz, this grade can have a direct and severe impact on your everyday life. Credit scores now affect everything from car loans and mortgages to credit cards to auto insurance. With the current cr