Millions of Americans are what lenders call “credit invisible.” They don’t have enough history to generate a traditional FICO score, yet they pay rent, utilities, phone bills, and manage bank accounts every month. Until recently, none of that counted. But...
Credit scores in the U.S. are slipping, and fast. The average FICO® Score has dropped to 715 in 2025, down from its pandemic-era highs. For some borrowers, especially younger Americans and those carrying heavy balances, the decline has been much...
Bottom line: The deceased person’s accounts don’t just vanish—they’re typically settled by the estate. Reports will eventually reflect a “deceased” indicator, and you’ll coordinate closures with lenders. Survivors aren’t automatically liable. What Changes on the Credit File Deceased indicator: After...
Credit bureaus allow a spouse or court-appointed personal representative/executor to request the decedent’s credit report by mail with proof (death certificate + proof of authority + your ID). That’s standard practice per the bureaus’ own instructions. See Experian, Equifax, and...
