By Eric Shapiro and the Flatiron Hot! News Editorial Staff

On Tuesday, October 23rd, Capital One hosted a trivia night to promote Credit Tracker, a free online interactive tool that assists Capital One customers in managing their credit information. To spread the word about this useful and innovative service, Capital One invited members of the press to a trivia night at Lightbox, located at 339 West 38th Street. Attendees joined two teams, one headed by Sabrina Soto, host of HGTV’s “The High Low Project” and the other by David Tutera, host of WE tv’s “My Fair Wedding With David Tutera.” The competition, hosted by personal finance expert and New York Times best-selling author Lynette Khalfani-Cox, was spirited, friendly and above all, educational. The contest, divided into several rounds, provided useful information about credit ratings, a sensitive topic often avoided at one’s own peril. Capital One chose to keep the details of its credit tracker in the background, focusing primarily on dispelling common misconceptions about credit ratings and hammering home just how important it is to keep track of one’s credit score. Credit ratings can have profound effects on buying homes, raising families, employment and making financial investments. Keeping on top of your credit rating is, by itself, an investment in your future.

Here are some highligths and helpful tips from the event:

• An unpaid account sent to a collection agency can stay on your record for 7 years.
• 66% of men would be concerned if they discovered their fiance had a bad credit rating.
• Nearly half (46%) of younger consumers under the age of 30 incorrectly think that knowing their credit score is only important for purchasing a home.
• Less than 1 in 3 Americans have checked their credit report in the past 12 months.
• Your income has nothing to do with your credit score.
• Checking, savings and investment accounts do not impact your credit score
• There are 3 major credit bureaus: Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. Their reports may not be identical, but they are all valid assessment of your credit rating.