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Credit & money: guides
How loans affect your score, rebuilding after a rough patch, and the difference between soft and hard inquiries.
Credit & money
3 guides in this topic
Credit & money
→What happens if you can't repay a payday, title or installment loan on time
The honest answer is: it depends on the loan, the state, and whether you call before the due date. Here is what actually happens, step by step, and wh…
8 min read · Updated Jun 26, 2026Credit & money
→How to rebuild credit with an installment loan: a 12-month plan
Payment history is 35% of a FICO score, and a reported loan paid on time for a year adds twelve positive entries. Here's what that does, month by mont…
7 min read · Updated May 21, 2026Credit & money
→Soft vs. hard credit check: what each one does to your score
Every loan application touches your credit file in one of two ways — or not at all. Here's what "soft" and "hard" mean, what they cost you, and which …
4 min read · Updated Apr 28, 2026