Credit is more than just a plastic card you stuff in your wallet. It’s your financial trustworthiness. When you have good credit, your history of payments, employment, and salary make you a good candidate for a loan, and creditors (people or businesses
who lend money or services, like the bank) will be more willing to work with you.
Good credit usually lowers your payments and makes it easier for you to borrow
money. On the other hand, bad credit can be a burden. It generally comes from
making late payments or borrowing excessive amounts of money. Bad credit can
make it difficult to get a car loan, credit card, house … and sometimes a job.

What is Credit? – Getting Credit Glossary – FTC http://www.ftc.gov/gettingcredit/glossary.htm#credit

Credit & Loans – FTC
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/credit.shtm

Credit and your Consumer Rights – FTC http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre01.shtm

Equal Credit Opportunity – FTC
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre15.shtm

Ready, Set … Credit – FTC
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1996/11/credit.shtm

Credit and Divorce – FTC
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre08.shtm

Fair Credit Billing – FTC
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre16.shtm

Prescreened offers of Credit and Insurance – FTC http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre17.shtm

Getting Credit – FTC Mini-Site
http://www.ftc.gov/gettingcredit

Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act – FDIC http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/alerts/facta.html

Consumer Information – Fed. Reserve Board
http://www.federalreserve.gov/consumers.htm

Credit Insurance - MD Attorney General
http://www.oag.state.md.us/consumer/tip12.htm

Major Credit Problem – MD Attorney General http://www.oag.state.md.us/consumer/tip62.htm

E-Z Loans, Danger Zones – MD Attorney General http://www.oag.state.md.us/consumer/edge93.htm

Mortgages/Real Estate – FTC http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/credit/mortgage.shtm

Investment/Savings Scams – MD Attorney General http://www.oag.state.md.us/consumer/tip32.htm

Building and Keeping Good Credit – Consumer Action
http://www.consumer-action.org/english/articles/building_and_keeping_good_credit_english

Give Yourself some Credit – Consumer Action
http://www.consumer-action.org/english/articles/giving_yourself_some_credit_english

How to Avoid Bad Loans – Consumer Action
http://www.consumer-action.org/english/articles/poor_credit_means_higher_interest_rates_how_to_avoid_bad_lo/

Where Can I get Credit? – Consumer Action
http://www.consumer-action.org/english/articles/where_can_i_get_credit