Applying for Credit
When I apply for credit, may a credit grantor ask my age?
Yes, but if you are old enough to sign and be liable for a contract (usually 18 to 21, depending on state law), a credit grantor may not:
- refuse to give you credit or decrease the amount of credit just because of your age;
- refuse to consider your retirement income in rating your credit application if the creditor considers income in evaluating creditworthiness;
- cancel your credit account or require you to reapply for credit just because you are a certain age or have retired;
- refuse you credit or cancel your account because you cannot get credit life (or related) insurance due to your age.
The law does allow a credit grantor to consider certain age-related facts. These include how long your income will continue or how long it will be until you reach retirement age. Consider, for example, a loan that will take a long time to pay back. If an older applicant does not provide adequate security, he or she may not be a good credit risk.
>>What is the Truth in Lending Act?
>>How does knowing the Annual Percentage Rate help?
>>What other laws protect consumers?
>>When I apply for credit, may a credit grantor ask my age?
>>Does my gender or marital status affect whether I am worthy of credit?
>>May married people open credit accounts that are not also in their spouses' names?
>>If my marital status changes, may a credit grantor force me to reapply for credit?
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*Applying for Credit*
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