Staff writer

Marcus Thorne

Writes mostly about credit reporting & consumer rights.

Articles by Marcus Thorne

Credit Reporting & Consumer Rights
How to Spot and Report Scams, Based on FTC Consumer Alerts
The FTC's consumer alerts describe fake sweepstakes, tax-debt relief pitches and jury duty threats. Here is what to watch for and where to report.
Marcus ThorneNov 3, 2026
Credit Reporting & Consumer Rights
Where to Request Free Credit Reports From All Three Bureaus, and Avoiding Look-Alike Sites
AnnualCreditReport.com is the one federally authorized site, and it currently offers free weekly online access to reports from all three bureaus.
Marcus ThorneNov 2, 2026
Credit Reporting & Consumer Rights
Checking Your Credit Reports at No Cost: Frequency and Official Sources
You can check all three nationwide credit reports for free once a week, but only through the official channels. Here is how to ask, what to look for and what to avoid.
Marcus ThorneOct 25, 2026
Credit Reporting & Consumer Rights
What a Credit Report Dispute Letter Needs, and Who Should Receive It
A good dispute letter names each error, explains why it is wrong, attaches copies of your proof, and goes to both the credit bureau and the company that supplied the information.
Marcus ThorneOct 11, 2026
Credit Reporting & Consumer Rights
Next Steps After a Denied Credit Report or Billing Dispute
A rejected credit report or billing dispute is not always the end. Written records, a sharper follow-up and attention to deadlines can keep your options open.
Marcus ThorneSep 26, 2026
Credit Reporting & Consumer Rights
Fixing a Credit Report Mistake: Why You Should Contact Both the Bureau and the Lender
Contacting both the credit bureau and the company that supplied the data, with clear documentation and a provable mailing record, gives a dispute its best chance of correction.
Marcus ThorneSep 19, 2026
Credit Reporting & Consumer Rights
Seven Years, Usually: The Federal Clock on Negative Credit Entries
Federal law sets general time limits for most negative entries, but accurate records and errors follow different rules, so it helps to know which applies to your file.
Marcus ThorneSep 12, 2026
Credit Reporting & Consumer Rights
Who Holds Legal Access to Your Credit File
Federal law limits access to your credit file to parties with a permissible purpose, and knowing who holds that access helps you spot unauthorized inquiries early.
Marcus ThorneSep 4, 2026
Credit Reporting & Consumer Rights
What to Do After a Credit Denial: Your Rights to Explanations and Disputes
Federal law requires lenders and landlords to explain adverse decisions, and it gives consumers a 60-day window to request reasons and a free report.
Marcus ThorneAug 21, 2026
Credit Reporting & Consumer Rights
What a Fraud Alert Does, and What Else to Do After Identity Theft
A fraud alert is one step in recovery. Official guidance pairs it with closing accounts, reporting the theft, and, for tax fraud, IRS Form 14039.
Marcus ThorneAug 6, 2026
Credit Reporting & Consumer Rights
How to Freeze and Unfreeze Your Credit
A free security freeze can block most new lenders from opening accounts in your name. Place it with all three bureaus, and lift it before you apply for credit.
Marcus ThorneJul 23, 2026
Credit Reporting & Consumer Rights
How to Freeze a Child's Credit: Check First, Then Choose Your Tool
Most children have no credit file, so confirm whether one exists before any freeze, and use each bureau's own official process.
Marcus ThorneJul 15, 2026

Marcus Thorne

Articles by Marcus Thorne

How to Spot and Report Scams, Based on FTC Consumer Alerts

Where to Request Free Credit Reports From All Three Bureaus, and Avoiding Look-Alike Sites

Checking Your Credit Reports at No Cost: Frequency and Official Sources

What a Credit Report Dispute Letter Needs, and Who Should Receive It

Next Steps After a Denied Credit Report or Billing Dispute

Fixing a Credit Report Mistake: Why You Should Contact Both the Bureau and the Lender

Seven Years, Usually: The Federal Clock on Negative Credit Entries

Who Holds Legal Access to Your Credit File

What to Do After a Credit Denial: Your Rights to Explanations and Disputes

What a Fraud Alert Does, and What Else to Do After Identity Theft

How to Freeze and Unfreeze Your Credit

How to Freeze a Child's Credit: Check First, Then Choose Your Tool