Ashley Fricker

Senior Editor
Ashley Fricker

About the Author

Ashley works with a team of finance experts and journalists who develop in-depth industry profiles and advice articles read by more than 15 million Americans. Her years of experience reporting on consumer credit scores and reports positions Ashley to make smart recommendations on ways to improve one’s credit and avoid predatory lending. She often serves as an expert source on financial topics for national media outlets, including CNN Money, MarketWatch, Money Matters, ABC News, Kiplinger, and NBC News. Connect with Ashley on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Latest Posts

Worked On 475 Articles To Date

Blog

182 views

3 min read

Some Equifax Customers Can Claim Up to $600 by Sept. 1

Some Equifax Customers Can Claim Up to $600 by Sept. 1

Duplicate collection accounts can devastate credit scores. Now, roughly 37,000 consumers caught in an alleged Equifax reporting error may be... read more »

By: Lucy Lazarony • 8/10/26

Blog

1,116 views

3 min read

Auto Loan Payments Have Jumped Nearly 40% Since 2019

Auto Loan Payments Have Jumped Nearly 40% Since 2019

The average monthly payment on a new vehicle loan has climbed to $785 a month, up almost 40% since 2019, according to TransUnion’s Q2 2026 Credit... read more »

By: Lucy Lazarony • 8/6/26

Blog

1,188 views

3 min read

OppFi Bank Deal Could Bring 195% APR Loans Nationwide

OppFi Bank Could Bring Triple-Digit Loans Nationwide

OppFi could bring loans with APRs as high as 195% to borrowers nationwide if federal regulators approve its proposed acquisition of BNC National... read more »

By: Lucy Lazarony • 8/5/26

Study

1,600 views

3 min read

51% of Prediction Market Users Borrowed Money to Fund Bets

51% of Prediction Market Users Borrowed Money to Fund Bets

As prediction markets expand across sports, politics, and current events, some Americans are using them for more than entertainment. They are... read more »

By: Lynn Cadet • 8/5/26

Blog

1,458 views

3 min read

Personal Bankruptcies Rise 12% as Financial Pressure Builds

Personal Bankruptcies Rise 12% as Financial Pressure Builds

Americans filed for bankruptcy far more often in 2025 than they did in 2024, continuing a trend in non-business bankruptcy filings that has seen... read more »

By: Andrew Allen • 8/4/26

Guide

924 views

5 min read

4 Reasons Collection Accounts Can Appear Without Notice (And What You Can Do)

4 Reasons Why Collection Accounts Can Appear Without Notice

Collection accounts can quickly tank your credit scores. If one appears on your credit reports unexpectedly, it can also create a moment of... read more »

By: Gerri Detweiler • 8/4/26

Blog

1,248 views

3 min read

New Delaware Law Will Erase Hospital Bills for Some Patients

New Delaware Law Will Erase Hospital Bills for Some Patients

A new Delaware law will eliminate hospital bills for some low-income patients and provide new protections against medical debt collection. Signed... read more »

By: Lucy Lazarony • 8/3/26

Blog

3,600 views

3 min read

Rent-Splitting App Flex Wants to Become an FDIC-Insured Bank

Rent-Splitting App Flex Wants to Become an FDIC-Insured Bank

Flex Rent has helped more than 3 million consumers split their rent payments since it launched in 2020. Now the company behind it wants to become... read more »

By: Lucy Lazarony • 7/30/26

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