Myths and truth about credit score
Credit score is based on the information contained in your credit report files, maintained by the three major credit bureaus. It is not based in any way on person's age, marital status, etc.
Credit score is the key factor determining approval of almost any type of credit. It is based on the information contained in your credit report files. The widely used FICO score was developed by Fair Isaac Corporation, and it is a formula which assesses your potential credit risk.
The information used to calculate credit score can be broken down into five major parts. Your payment history with banks and other lenders will account for 35% of the score, the amount of money you owe for 30%, and the length of your credit history for 15%. New credit and a statistical assessment of how healthy your credit mix is will both account for 10%.
Credit score is not based in any way on the following information:
- references to debt management or credit counseling programs.
- person’s marital status.
- current employment status, including how long with the same employer.
- credit report inquiries made by you, employers, insurance companies, or banks if made without your knowledge.
- what interest rates are charged on your credit cards, etc.
- public assistance received.
- person’s age.
- child or family support received.
You can increase your score by:
- always paying bills on time.
- paying off or reducing credit card and other debt.
- keeping old, unused credit cards, departments store cards and other "revolving" credit accounts open, even if you don’t use them.
- not applying for credit very often.
- correcting mistakes on your credit reports.
Banks decisions are made according to their own standards.
While the majority of lenders use credit score as a key factor in approving credit, other facts play their parts as well, among them: your income, employment status and length of time at present address, to name a few. Each bank has its own standards. What score is acceptable for a particular loan or credit product depends solely on a lender. The person’s credit score might not be high enough to get credit with one bank, and perfectly acceptable with another.
The information used to calculate credit score can be broken down into five major parts. Your payment history with banks and other lenders will account for 35% of the score, the amount of money you owe for 30%, and the length of your credit history for 15%. New credit and a statistical assessment of how healthy your credit mix is will both account for 10%.
Credit score is not based in any way on the following information:
- references to debt management or credit counseling programs.
- person’s marital status.
- current employment status, including how long with the same employer.
- credit report inquiries made by you, employers, insurance companies, or banks if made without your knowledge.
- what interest rates are charged on your credit cards, etc.
- public assistance received.
- person’s age.
- child or family support received.
You can increase your score by:
- always paying bills on time.
- paying off or reducing credit card and other debt.
- keeping old, unused credit cards, departments store cards and other "revolving" credit accounts open, even if you don’t use them.
- not applying for credit very often.
- correcting mistakes on your credit reports.
Banks decisions are made according to their own standards.
While the majority of lenders use credit score as a key factor in approving credit, other facts play their parts as well, among them: your income, employment status and length of time at present address, to name a few. Each bank has its own standards. What score is acceptable for a particular loan or credit product depends solely on a lender. The person’s credit score might not be high enough to get credit with one bank, and perfectly acceptable with another.
Improving Credit Score
Six ways to increase your credit score.
Six ways to increase your credit score.
Use the feedback form below to submit your comments.
Use the form below to email this article to your friends.
- Credit Reports and Credit Scores
- Reason Your Credit Scores Still Goes Down When You Do Everything Right
- Credit scores: the best choice or option for you financial situation
- How to Raise Your Credit Scores
- How to Increase Your Credit Scores with One Short Phone Call
- A Crash Course On Credit Scores
- Viable Options for Poor Credit Scores
- Warning! Revolving Accounts May Be Lowering Your Credit Scores
- Attention Shoppers! Retail Stores Are Destroying Our Credit Scores
- The Best Way to Improve Credit Scores
- FICO Credit Scores Basics – Know the Facts
- Tips On Comprehending Different Credit Scores
- Truth about Paying Collection Accounts and Credit Score
- How Poor Credit Affects You
- Credit Score - How to Improve Yours
- A Bad Credit Rating Can Be A Good Thing
- Know your Credit Score
- What is a Good Credit Score?
- Less Than 500 Credit Score and Refinancing
- How to keep your Credit Free Score healthy?