There are many misconceptions about credit scores out there. There are customers who believe that they don’t have a credit score and many customers who think that their credit scores just don’t really matter. These sorts of misconceptions can hurt your chances at some jobs, at good interest rates, and even your chances of getting some apartments.

The truth is, of you have a bank account and bills, then you have a credit score, and your credit score matters more than you might think. Your credit score may be called many things, including a credit risk rating, a FICO score, a credit rating, a FICO rating, or a credit risk score. All these terms refer to the same thing: the three-digit number that lets lenders get an idea of how likely you are to repay your bills.

1. Understand where credit scores come from.

If you are going to improve your credit score, then logic has it that you must understand what your credit score is and how it works. Without this information, you won’t be able to very effectively improve your score because you won’t understand how the things you do in daily life affect your score.

In general, your credit score is a number that lets lenders know how much of a credit risk you are. The credit score is a number, usually between 300 and 850, that lets lenders know how well you are paying off your debts and how much of a credit risk you are.

Similarly, credit bureaus and lenders often look at general patterns. Since people with too many debts tend not to have great rates of repayment, your credit score may suffer if you have too many debts.

2. Pay your bills on time.

One of the best ways to improve your credit score is simply to pay your bills on time. This is absurdly simple but it works very well, because nothing shows lenders that you take debts seriously as much as a history of paying promptly. Experts think that up to 35% of your credit score is based on your paying of bills on time, so this simple step is one of the easiest ways to boost your credit score.

3. Avoid excessive credit.

If you have many lines of credit or several huge debts, you make a worse credit risk because you are close to “overextending your credit.” This simply means that you may be taking on more credit than you can comfortably pay off. Even if you are making payments regularly now on existing bills, lenders know that you will have a harder time paying off your bills if your debt load grows too much.



The higher your debts the greater your monthly debt payments and so the higher the risk that you will eventually be able to repay your debts. In order to have a great credit score, avoid taking out excessive credit. You should stick to one or two credit cards and one or two other major debts (car loan, mortgage) in order to have the best credit rating.

4. Pay down Your Debts.

If you have a lot of debt, your credit score will suffer. Paying down your debts to a minimum will help elevate your credit score. If you are serious about improving your credit score, then start with the largest debt you have and start paying it down so that you are using a less large percentage of your credit total.

In general, try to make sure that you use no more than 50% of your credit. If possible, reduce the debt even more. If you can pay off your credit card in full each month; that is even better. What counts here is what percentage of your total credit limit you are using - the lower the better.

5. Have a range of credit types.

The types of credit you have are a factor in calculating your credit score. In general, lenders like to see that you are able to handle a range of credit types well. Having some form of personal credit - such as credit cards - and some larger types of credit - such as a mortgage or auto loan - and paying them off regularly is better than having only one type of credit.

6. Beware of debts and credit you don’t use.

Having credit lines and credit cards you don’t need makes you seem like a worse credit risk because you run the risk of “overextending” your credit. Also, having lots of accounts you don’t use increases the odds that you will forget about an old account and stop making payments on it - resulting in a lowered credit score. Having fewer accounts will make it easier for you to keep track of your debts and will increase the chances of you having a good credit score.

7. Check your credit score regularly

You are more likely to notice problems and inconsistencies if you check your credit score on a regular basis - at least once a year and preferably three times a year. Be sure to check your credit rating with each credit bureau, too. If you notice anything odd or anything you don’t recognize (such as a charge account you did not open) report it immediately.

Sometimes, these errors are caused by mistakes made at the credit bureau, but they could be an indication that someone is using your identity. In either case, such mistakes could hurt your credit score. Fixing such errors improves your credit score.

Annualcreditreport gives you a credit report free once a year, but they don’t give your credit score. I have been a lender for 7 years, and believe me when it comes to getting your loan done everyone looks at credit scores. Your credit score is a bench mark for banks to sell your loan on the secondary market. Typically investors use your middle credit score to determine your creditworthiness. Here is what myFICO® says in regards to how important it is to know your credit score.

How credit scoring helps you

Credit Score gives lenders a faster snapshot of your credit risk. Most lenders are now using FICO® to determine your score. Before the scoring process was implemented there was a biased opinion of your credit. Now there is less none bias opinion of your creditworthiness with credit score automation process with all 3 credit bureaus. When pulling your credit report with all 3 Credit Bureaus you typically get a score. Since annual does not provide this, you have to get your report through other service providers.

Here are some advantages of credit scores.

* You get loans faster Your credit scores can be delivered with a few key strokes with today’s technology. With the speedy process this helps lenders speed up the decisions making process. Even mortgage applications can be made within ours, instead of weeks.

* Credit Decisions are fairer Credit decisions can be made of facts instead of emotions. Factors like your gender, religion, race, marital status and nationality are not considered by credit scoring.

* More Credit is Available

Lenders can approve more loans because the credit scoring process gives them the information on which to base there decision on. It allows lenders to identity individuals that are likely to perform well in the future even though they have had issues in the past. Each lender has its own credit score guidelines, so if one denies you, you may get approved elsewhere. The use of credit scores gives lender the confidence to offer more credit to people since they better understand the risk they are taking.

* Credit mistakes count for less

If you have credit problems in the past, credit scoring does not let that haunt you forever. Past credit problems fad as time passes as long as new good credit patterns show up. Credit scoring weighs all credit in a file, as opposed to focusing primarily on past issues.

* Credit Rates are lower

The cost of loans decreases when more credit is available. The process of automation in the credit process is less because of the efficiency of the process, which is passed on to the consumer. Buy using the scoring process there are less defaults, and in returns saves the consumer in the long run. Credit Scores have revolutionized the lending arena, and has driven down cost for everyone.

Conclusion:

Now you know why you need to know your scores and how important it is. Recent studies show that 1 out of 4 credit reports have incorrect information on them. Plus identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America. You need to check your free credit report with scores every 90 days just to be safe in today’s times. Since your scores are the core in determining whether they will lend you money, shouldn’t you know what they are ? The answer to that is yes.

Why do some people get offers for pre-approved credit cards and others don’t? What do car dealers know about your financial health that you don’t know? The answer is your credit score.

Your credit score is a number generated by a mathematical formula to estimate how likely you are to pay your bills. Based on the information in your credit reports from the three credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, your credit score has been a factor in your ability to qualify for loans and good interest rates for more than twenty years. Lenders compare your credit report with millions of others to determine your score.

While there are a variety of credit scoring methods available to lenders, the most widely used is the FICO score. Based on a scoring system developed by Fair, Isaac & Co., FICO scores range from approximately 300 to 800 points and are provided to lenders by the three credit bureaus. You also have access to your FICO scores but will be charged a fee by each credit agency providing your report.

According to Fair Isaac, the credit scores of the American public are divided as follows:

• 499 and below 1 percent

• 500-549 5 percent

• 550-599 7 percent

• 600-649 11 percent

• 650-699 16 percent

• 700-749 20 percent

• 749-799 29 percent

• 800 and above 11 percent

A score of 720 or higher will probably get you the best interest rates on a home mortgage. Your credit card company looks at your credit score to decide whether or not to raise your credit limit or charge you a higher interest rate. The higher your credit score, the better you look to lenders and the lower your interest rates.

Several factors affect your credit score including your payment history, the length of your credit history, any outstanding debt, how long and how often you’ve had derogatory credit information, such as bankruptcies, charge-offs, or collections, and the amount of credit you are using compared to the amount of credit available to you.

So how do you raise your credit score? Well, the first thing to do is to order a copy of your credit report with the score included from each of the three credit bureaus. Review your reports and note any discrepancies. Correcting blatant errors is the first step to repairing your credit, and changes can take up to three months to be recorded.

Next, remember to pay your bills on time. It may seem like a small thing at the time you’re writing that monthly check, but an accumulation of timely payments says a lot to a potential lender looking for a reliable client. Prompt payments in the last few months can actually make a big difference in your credit score.

While collections, bankruptcies, and late payments have the greatest negative effect on your credit score, your debt is a factor as well. Keeping your account balances between 25% and 50% of your available credit signals a responsible borrower. For example, if you have a credit card with a $2000 limit, keep your debt below $1000. For this reason, consolidating your credit card debt can actually lower your credit score, as it raises the ratio of your debt to your available credit. The best solution is to simply pay off your existing cards as quickly as possible.

Excessive inquiries over a short period of time also damage your score. When lenders, banks, or credit card companies check your credit report, the inquiries are recorded. Several of these “hard inquiries” in the same time period may signal to other lenders that you are opening multiple accounts due to financial difficulty.

If you discover that you have accounts on your report that you didn’t open, or your public records such as tax liens or judgments that are not yours, you may be a victim of identity fraud. It is up to you to deal with the damage that can happen to your credit score because of this criminal activity. Being aware is your first step, but when the items end up on your report, you have no alternative but to clean it up.

Overall, give yourself time to build a good credit score and even more time to correct serious problems. The length of your credit history is another determining factor in a good score. Lenders want to know that you are able to maintain prompt payments and good standing for a period of time. So check your reports yearly, do your due diligence, and your score can improve.

Not all Scores are Equal

There are many credit scores available, but the only one that matters is your FICO score. FICO, by the way, is an acronym for Fair Isaac and Company, the developer of the score. This is the score that virtually all lenders use. Other scores attempt to approximate the FICO score, but frequently vary by a significant margin.

One Score with Three Names

The FICO score may be referred to by three different names. This is because the three bureaus have branded it for their own marketing. Equifax calls it a BEACON score, TransUnion calls it an EMPIRICA score, and Experian calls it the EXPERIAN/Fair Isaac Risk Model. Because of this you will hear of three different scores, although they are all a product of the same formula.

Why Are Your Three Scores Different?

Your three scores are different because each bureau gathers information from a slightly different mix of creditors. If you were to look carefully at your three reports you will notice that some accounts are missing on each bureau. Timing also plays a roll. A recent change in your credit may be picked up sooner at one bureau than another.

What is Included in Your Score?

Are you working on credit repair? Be proactive. But in order to influence your score it is essential to understand how it works. Here is an overview of the contributing factors.

Pay History

Your pay history is the big ingredient. This category includes installment and revolving accounts, as well as public records and collections. The age of a derogatory item diminishes its impact on your score. The first step in the credit repair process is to examine your report for obvious errors in this category which makes up 35% of your score.

Balances

Your account balances make up the next category. The relationship between the balance and the credit limit on your revolving accounts is a major factor. Anyone involved in a credit repair effort should minimize their revolving balances as much as possible. The relationship between the current balance and the original balance on installment loans is also taken into consideration. This category makes up 30% of your score.

The Age of Accounts

New credit will have a negative impact on your score, and those accounts that you have kept alive and healthy for years have a good impact. Closing old accounts is a common credit repair error to be avoided. This category makes up 15% of your score.

New Credit & Inquiries

New credit and recent inquiries are a factor. Many credit repair candidates open new secured credit cards for the long term benefit. But generally, anyone involved in credit repair should limit new credit activity. Either way you will lose a few points on this one. Fair Isaac weighs this at 10% of your score.

Type of Credit

The type of your credit is the final 10% of the calculation. Fair Isaac won’t define the perfect mix of mortgage, installment, revolving, and consumer debt, but in our experience the key to a long term successful credit repair effort is to be a moderate user of credit, make your payments on time, and try to keep those revolving balances down.

False Credit

As you begin your credit repair effort it is important to have reliable information. Amazingly, the same three credit bureaus that sell authentic FICO scores to lenders also sell unreliable estimated scores to consumers. Every day untold numbers of consumers go to TransUnion’s “True Credit” website and pay for what they believe to be their credit scores. What they get are deceptively named “TrueCredit” scores which vary significantly from the FICO scores used by lenders. Here is the (almost impossible to find) small print from the TransUnion website. “TrueCredit is not connected in any way with Fair, Isaac and Company; the credit score provided here is not a so-called FICO score. The credit scores of TransUnion may not be identical in every respect to any consumer credit scores produced by any other company.”

Real Credit Scores

Are you starting the process of credit repair? Do you want to see your real FICO scores? MyFico.com is the only place that consumers can purchase their authentic FICO scores. Want to save some money? It is handy to know that mortgage brokers typically look at all three FICO scores when pre-qualifying you for a mortgage. If you ask, they just might give you a copy of your report along with all three scores. It can’t hurt to save a few dollars!

Copyright © 2007 James W. Kemish. All Content. All Rights Reserved.

If you are thinking about buying a home, condo or any other type of real estate, then you should know how your credits score will impact the home buying process. Most people who buy real estate do not have enough money in the bank to purchase a property outright with cash. Instead, most of us need to get a loan (also referred to as a mortgage) from a bank or through a mortgage broker in order the purchase real estate.

The cost of a loan, is in part, linked to a person’s credit worthiness. In other words, lenders want to know the likelihood that a person will repay the entire loan on time and to completion. In the United States, a person’s credit worthiness is determined by their credit score, which is also known as a FICO score.

Credit scores are designed to measure the credit worthiness of a person and range from a low of 300 to a high of 850. The median FICO score in the U.S. is 723. Lenders use your credit score to estimate how much of a risk exposure they are undertaking by lending money to you. Based on your FICO score, and other factors such as income and debt, lenders determine whether you qualify for a loan or not, and if you do, what your interest rate and credit limit should be. If the loan applicant’s credit score is low, then banks and other lending institutions may refuse credit or charge higher interest rates.

Since borrowers with higher credit scores are less likely to default on a loan, lenders offer loans to them at a lower interest rate. So if you are a potential home buyer, then it would do you good to improve your credit score before buying a home or condo. Read on to learn more about how to get a copy of your credit report and steps you can take to improve your credit score.

Your credit score is determined and maintained by three separate credit reporting agencies. These are:

1.Equifax: http://www.equifax.com or (800) 685-1111

2.Trans Union: http://www.transunion.com or (800) 888-4213

3.Experian: http://www.experian.com or (888) 397-3742.

Not all credit granting institutions (such as credit card companies, mortgage companies, car loan companies) report to all three credit agencies. Therefore, it’s not uncommon for a person’s FICO score to differ from one agency to the next. For this reason, most home loan lenders take the middle score when determining your credit worthiness. Every consumer has a right to obtain a copy of his or her credit report. To do so, simply go to any of the sites noted above and request a credit report that provides data from all the agencies.

The credit agencies determine your FICO score using a complicated formula, where information is collected, weighted and aggregated for each of the five categories below.

1.Payment history - 35 percent

2.Total amount owned - 30 percent

3.Length of credit history - 15 percent

4.Type of credit used - 10 percent

5.New credit - 10 percent

Let’s take a look at how you can improve your status in each of these categories.

PAYMENT HISTORY

To improve your payment history,

1. Always pay your bills on time.

2. Change past-due bills into current and stay that way.

3. If there is a problem in paying on time, contact your creditors and work out a payment plan that will preclude them from reporting a late payment.

4. If in debt, contact a reputable credit counselor, to help you manage your finances responsibly.

TOTAL AMOUNT OWED

1. Keep your debt-to-credit ratio low by paying off debts. Don’t move it around.

2. If the credit card accounts you don’t use reflect a good credit history, keep them open as they build up your credit availability.

LENGTH OF CREDIT HISTORY

1. Your credit history can improve only over time. Avoid opening a lot of new credit accounts rapidly. It is wise to pay off older accounts that you do not use to build up a positive credit rating.

TYPES OF CREDIT USED

1. A mixture of account types such as credit cards, retail accounts, installment loans etc usually improves your credit score.

2. But don’t open new accounts just to have several accounts, apply only when you really need it.

MANAGING NEW CREDIT

1. Keep inquiries on your credit report at a minimum as they affect your credit score. Open as few new accounts as possible and ensure that you make only small purchases and pay on time.

FINAL THOUGHTS

It’s not uncommon for credit reports to have errors. For example, you may notice a charge on your credit report that you never authorized, or a charge that belongs to someone else. For these reasons, it’s a good idea to get a copy of your credit report every year, review it carefully for errors, and if you find mistakes, diligently follow the dispute resolution process.

Buying a home is a big lifetime decision and taking steps to improve your credit score before looking for a home will not only get you a better mortgage rate, but will also make your home buying experience a pleasurable one.

Sure, the economy may be flailing, but learning to preserve and maintain your creditworthiness and improve your credit score is still extremely important. If you’ve spent any time watching or reading the news, you’re aware that bad mortgages obtained with faulty credit lending practices and other flawed methods have sent the economy into a tailspin.

Creditworthiness is defined as being financially established to the point where lending credit is deemed a sound judgment by a bank or financial institution. Your credit score determines many things - if you’re responsible enough to re-pay a loan on time and not default as well as your experience handling lines of credit and interest rates. In the eyes of a financial institution, your creditworthiness will help you acquire a loan for a car, house, or other large asset much easier.

The Dynamics: Maintain and Improve Your Credit Score

Developed as a mortgage tool in the mid 1990s (1), your credit, or FICO (R), score essentially determines what, if any, loans you are eligible for and the amount of interest you’ll be required to pay. As your score decreases, the rate of interest increases. Credit companies often say that timely payments are perhaps the most important factor to foster and continually improve a credit score that is high or within an acceptable range.

Your credit score is broken down into many factors: 35% is your payment history; 30% is the current amount you owe; 15% is the time you’ve had your credit lines open and active; 10% comprises new credit lines; and the remaining 10% is the type of credit you use (2). If you’ve fallen behind on payments and the amount you owe is increasing, your creditworthiness (in the eyes of the lending institutions) may be floundering.

Send Away for Your Credit Report - for Free!

Are you interested in seeing what’s on your credit report and determine your creditworthiness for yourself? It’s easy to get this information. Simply write a letter stating that you wish to receive your credit report from the three following credit reporting agencies, and you’ll be mailed your report free of charge when requests are made once within each year. Please note that there is an additional fee to obtain your credit score from the credit reporting agencies.



Experian, www.experian.com: receive your credit report free of charge by visiting the Experian website; requesting a copy by writing to P.O. Box 2002, Allen, TX 75013; or by calling 1-888-397-3742.

TransUnion, www.transunion.com: request a copy of your credit report by writing to P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022 or view your report online with a free trial subscription. You can also call the credit agency at 1-800-888-4213.

Equifax, www.equifax.com: write a letter of request to P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374 or call 1-800-685-1111 for more information. You can also view your credit report online with a free 30-day trial (3).



Knowing the dynamics of and working proactively to improve your credit score will help you boost your creditworthiness and perhaps even protect you from identity theft or credit fraud. And, if the numbers on your report are less than favorable, there are ways to improve your credit score further.

How Lenders Judge Your Ability to Re-pay a Loan

If you receive your credit report and there a few items on it that you are less than happy with, you do have some recourse in the situation. Most of all, however, do not pay someone to help you out of your mess. A credit counseling agency will offer advice on how to improve your credit score and boost your creditworthiness but will charge you extensively for this information. Basically, working to improve your credit score and fostering creditworthiness is a three step process: 1. Request and review your credit report from multiple agencies; 2. Pay in full your overdue accounts; and 3. Open new lines of credit, starting slowly with either a pre-paid or unsecured credit card.

When lenders or creditors pull up your credit report, they apply the word ‘risk’ to the situation. If someone with a low credit score is looking for a home loan, a lender will likely view this individual as high risk and perhaps deem him unable to re-pay the loan in a timely or even responsible manner. However, lenders will also consider your current income, occupation, and the amount of credit you need.

If you’re reviewing your credit report yourself, the following scale will come in handy:



Below 550 to 599: Your credit problems need to be addressed. Lenders and/or creditors consider these credit scores to be terrible.

600 to 649: Within this range, you will have trouble finding loan approvals and you may receive poor interest rates. Lenders will consider you to be high risk.

650 to 699: While close to 700 is considered healthy, as you get closer to 650, the tables begin to turn. A score of 650 is not great but is considered average. You need to think about a course of action to improve your credit score.

700 to 750: Anything between these two scores is considered financially stable and you will receive the best interest rates.

751 to 850: While 850 is the highest on the FICO scale, the high 700s are ideal and are considered the least risky for lenders. Your creditworthiness is considered quite high.



Creditworthiness Means Heightened Diligence

Poor credit can really come back to haunt you. That’s why diligence in making your payments on time and regularly checking your report to improve your credit score or maintain your creditworthiness are two of the most important things you can do to ensure you remain in balance financially.

Ultimately, your credit determines what loans you are eligible for, and if you have less than spectacular credit, you may have a hard time securing a loan for a car or a home. And if you do receive that loan, the interest rates will kill you in the long run. A little diligence goes a long way - work to improve your credit score and lenders and/or creditors will help you embark on your path to financial health and stability.

Sources

1. http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs6c-CreditScores.htm

2. Ibid.

3. http://www.fightidentitytheft.com/credit_bureaus.html

Don’t get excited guys, this is not that kind of score and its impact lasts much longer than 30 seconds. We are talking about credit scoring and credit score that is also known as FICO (Fair Isaac & Co.) score.

So what is credit scoring? You have heard of personality profile that dating services use to find the best match between people. Well, credit scoring is a mathematically calculated financial profile lenders use to match applicants with loans. Credit scoring is a way for lenders to determine how much risk is involved in lending money to you and based on that risk they may decide not to lend money to you at all or change the terms of the loans to match the risk.

Who uses credit scoring? Credit scoring has been around forever, that is since 1950s, and it was first used for issuing credit cards and auto loans. Now all sort of creditors including home mortgage lenders use it. But they also consider other factors such as your salary, your employment and your assets.

So what’s in a credit score? Pick a number, any number between 300 and 850. That would probably be someone’s credit score also known as FICO (Fair Isaac & Co.) score. In the eyes of potential creditors, scores closer to 850 indicate more credit worthiness, which in turn comforts these skittish creditors that you are more likely to pay your loan than a person with lower credit score.

The following are interpretations of what various FICO score ranges mean.

* Excellent: Over 750

* Very Good: 720 to 750

* Acceptable: 660 to 720

* Uncertain: 620 to 660

* Risky: less than 620

What impacts my FICO Score? This credit score number is a relative number and as much as possible objective. By relative, I mean that it compares your financial habits with others in similar situation. The first step is gathering information about how you treat money, do you pay your bills on time, how many credit accounts you have, what type, do you have any collection action against an account, how much total debt you have, and a bunch of other data.

Then the objective part kicks in by using mathematical calculation that do not care about how you look, what religion you have, etc. The lenders only want to know how likely you are to pay their money back in a timely manner and without hassling them.

The FICO score calculations consider the following factors:

Your payment history 35% : Do you pay your bills on time? Have you ever been delinquent, or are you consistently late? How about collection notices and bankruptcy? The answer to these questions account for about 35% of your credit score.

Total debt : How much do you owe lenders compared to the total amount you can borrow impacts about 30% of your credit score. If your credit cards are close to being maxed out, it may indicate looming financial problems and a possibility of default and it drops your credit score.

Length of credit history: Approximately 15% of your credit score calculation depends on how long you have had your accounts? Three days, six months, ten years? The longer credit history has a positive impact on your credit score.

Taking on more debt: Are you taking on more new debts? Even applying for too many new cards too quickly may be considered as financial difficulty and impacts your credit score in a negative way. This builds about 10% of your credit score.

Types of credit in use: About 10% of your credit score depends on the type of credit mix you have. High ratio of credit cards and installments loans in relationship to mortgages has a negative impact on your credit score.

Why do I need to check my credit report from each major credit bureau?

Despite normalization of credit scoring system that gives credit scores about the same value at all major credit bureaus, the information reported to these bureaus are not identical. So, one credit bureau may receive information that impacts your credit scoring one way and another credit bureau receives another set of information that impacts your credit scoring in another way.

The good news is that as of September 1, 2005, as an American, you can ask for a free credit report from each of the major nationwide consumer reporting companies once every 12 months.

Four simple tips to improve your credit score:

* Pay your bills on time, especially your mortgage and your installment loans.

* Borrow below your credit limits and do not max out your credit cards.

* Carry two or three credit cards only.

* Don’t apply for several credit cards at one time.

* DISCLAIMER: Vishy Dadsetan, http://MyPersonalFinance.com or My Favorite Shop, Inc. do not endorse any product or company. This article and website do not provide legal, insurance, or other professional services. If expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Although Vishy Dadsetan has made every effort to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information contained in this site, he assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or inconsistencies.

© Vishy Dadsetan

When you apply for credit, whether for a mortgage, an auto loan, or a credit card, your credit score will determine whether or not you can secure financing, and what type of interest rate you can get. While you probably have at least some idea of how good or bad your credit is, it is important to understand your credit score and how it is calculated.

A credit score is a three digit number that ranges from 300 to 850. Each of the three major credit bureaus use this rating system that was devised by the Fair Isaac corporation - commonly called a FICO score. Your FICO score is calculated by measuring three distinct aspects of your credit.

1.A third of the score is based on your payment history. If you have defaulted on one or more loans, or been more than thirty days late making payments on your credit accounts, your credit score will be adversely affected.

2.The next portion of your credit score is determined by your credit to debt ratio. If you have a number of credit accounts close to being maxed out, or if your total debt is too great, this part of your score will suffer. Conversely, if you keep your credit balances reasonably low, your score will be higher.

3.The final part of your credit score takes three separate factors into account: the length of your credit history, the amount of credit for which you have recently applied , and the type of debt you have. Of the three, the length of your credit history holds the most weight. If you have established a long history of repaying your debts on time, you will be looked upon as less of a credit risk. Another aspect of your credit score is the number of recent applications you have. The greater the number, the lower the score. Finally, the types of credit you carry will affect your credit score. A credit card from a bank would have a more positive effect on your score than would a store credit card. Applying for credit with a finance company could label you a higher credit risk, and may be seen as a last resort for someone who could not get a bank card.

Once your score has been determined and made available to prospective lenders, it is often the only factor considered in determining your eligibility for credit and the interest rate you will receive. A higher FICO score will translate into savings when you apply for credit. A lower score may increase your interest rate which may cause you to have to borrow more money than you would have otherwise.

Also, information provided by credit reporting companies is not always accurate. You should acquire a copy of your credit report for inconsistencies and inaccurate items. If you find any questionable items on your credit report, you have the right to dispute them and possibly have them removed.

Once you understand the effect that debt and use of credit has on your credit score, you can devise a plan to make any necessary repairs to your credit. As your credit score improves, you will pay less when you borrow money, and you will find more and more lenders eager to do business with you.

The Importance of an Average Credit Score in the US

Current info about “credit score” is not always the easiest thing to locate. Fortunately, this report includes the latest “credit score” info available.

In the United States, more credit scores means higher opportunities. High credit scores are far more desirable than no credit score at all. It is better to have a high credit scores since this shows you are

responsible about handling your finances. Good credit scores also equates to keeping up your integrity. To sum it all, high credit score equals good reputation.

Everybody wants to earn a good reputation. If you apply for any credit program and you wish to see an “approved” mark on your application sheet, then you must avoid the following:

1. No Credit Score.

Having no credit score at all denotes that lending institutions will not have any basis on how you handle your finances even if you are good at it. The credit scores are lending institutions determinant to get

you approved with your credit request since they cannot gauge your financial history through:

1.Race and origin: Lending institutions will not approve your credit request because you are white or black or you are from the United States or from the European countries.

2.Type of employment and salary: Even if you are a janitor and yet incurred high credit scores, then your loan application might be approved over a company manager who has zero credit score.

3.Education: If you have obtained a college degree or not. What matters is a high credit score.

Lending institutions cannot measure your credit standing based on your religion, age and marital status.

This is due to its being subjective. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act sees that the most objective determinant is through looking at credit scores.

Through credit scores, lending institutions will get familiar with your financial background. They will find out the previous and present loans you have, the down payments you have doled out, the interest rates you

choose, and most importantly the payment scheme that you have established.

2. Low credit scores.

The average credit score in the US is somewhere between 580 and 650. There are major institutions in the US who determine if you are suitable to be given credit. Equifax, Trans Union and Experian are major institutions who compute your borrower’s credit score. All three have their own distinct computing system, yet still adheres with the national average credit score.

If your credit score falls below the standard credit score, then you are highly prone to seeing your credit applications with “disapproved” marks.

Having credit is not bad after all; it will look appalling if you have been immature on handling such matters. A credit card may be handy for most of the time especially when cash is not readily available. Additionally, others find credit cards safer to bring than stocking cash in your wallet.

Loans, on the other hand are equally as important as credit cards especially for those individuals who aspire to have properties which they cannot immediately pay.

With the significance of having cash substitute in the form of credits, it is helpful to get good if not high credit scores. There is nothing wrong with getting high credit scores; all you need to do is be responsible in handling your finances. By doing so, credit will not be a nuisance but will serve as a great aid to you.

This article’s coverage of the information is as complete as it can be today. But you should always leave open the possibility that future research could uncover new facts.

Your credit score is a numerical gauge of your ability to payback loans. Anytime you want to borrow money or get credit, the lender will look up this score to determine the risk involved in lending to you. The higher the score the better, so if you get a credit report and see a high score that means your credit is good, right?

Not necessarily so. The fact is there are several different credit scoring methods. Credit scores calculated from the same credit reports can differ substantially from credit scoring method to credit scoring method. So how can you ever know what your credit score really is? Well, luckily, 75% percent of lenders use FICO scores exclusively and you can purchase FICO scores yourself–you just have to know where to go.

FICO credit scoring was developed by Fair Isaac and Company as a numerical method of determining your credit worthiness. The scores range between 300 and 850 and are basically based on your past bill paying performance.

It would be easy if everyone used this scoring system, but the three major credit bureaus each have their own version of the FICO score: Equifax uses the Beacon system, TransUnion uses the Empirica system, and Experian uses the Experian/Fair Isaac system.

Althought they all use slightly different systems, all systems are based on the original FICO scoring method so generally your score should be equivalent from each. Of course, some lenders may also use their own scoring methods as well.

There is only one place where you can get your FICO score from all three bureaus and that is at www.myfico.com. If you order your credit score from anywhere else, again be aware that these scores are “FAKOs” (or “fake”) and can differ considerably from your FICO credit scores.

Adding to the confusion is the credit bureaus themselves. Recently, Experian revealed that the national average credit score of its consumers is 678. This is very misleading to the average consumer. When you buy your credit report and score directly from Experians website, you are getting what they call the “PLUS Score,” which is NOT a FICO score, and is NOT used by lenders anywhere. (Equifax is the exception–you can buy your FICO score directly from them at their website; however, the only place to get all three scores together is at www.myfico.com.) The 678 PLUS Score reported by Experian is actually the average of consumers’ PLUS Scores, not their FICO Scores.

Clearly, the PLUS Score (and all Non-FICO scores) are useless. Not only that, but such hype misleads consumers into purchasing their PLUS Score thinking that they are getting the same credit score that their lender will use. Non-FICO scores are worthless not matter what the credit bureaus or any website selling non-FICO scores claim. Even a few points difference in your credit score can mean confronting the reality of the loss of thousands of dollars out of your pocket–a loss that you probably didn’t plan for. The next time you want the most accurate credit score available, do yourself a favor and get the industry standard: the FICO credit score.