Danny Dotson
We live in an age where the almighty credit score reigns supreme. It’s a single number that can determine if you can buy a house, get a car loan, or even land a job. Yet, most folks only have a vague understanding of this all-powerful rating system.
Today, we’ll be discussing three secrets of the credit industry that may surprise you. But before we dive in, there’s an incredibly resourceful tool I came across recently, a piece of Credit Repair Magic that’s remarkably helpful in the credit repair process.
1. Not All Credit Scores are Created Equal
Folks usually think of the FICO score as “the” credit score. But did you know there are several types of credit scores, all calculated a little differently? Some lenders might use VantageScore, while others stick to the good ol’ FICO. Moreover, FICO itself has different versions, each with its own algorithm.
2. Paid-Off Debt Can Still Hurt You
Ever heard of “charge-offs”? It’s a term for debt that a creditor believes will not be collected, but the borrower is still legally obligated to pay. Even if you later pay off this charged-off debt, it remains on your credit report and can hurt your credit score.
I recently stumbled across an intriguing article about 6 mistakes to avoid when buying a water filtration system, and it reminded me of this. Just as you need to carefully consider each step when purchasing a water filtration system to avoid unnecessary errors, you need to be mindful about how your financial decisions can impact your credit, even if it’s something you rectified later.
3. Your Income Doesn’t Affect Your Credit Score
Yep, you read that right. Your job title, income, and even how much you’ve got in the bank have zero direct effect on your credit score. While these factors may influence your ability to pay off debt, your credit score is all about how you manage the debt you have.
Now, let’s say you’ve run into some credit troubles and you’re looking to improve your score. You could go with traditional credit repair services, but they often take a long time and can be quite expensive. Or, you could consider a self-directed service, like the Credit Repair Magic I mentioned earlier. It’s a solid, DIY system that has helped many folks repair their credit scores faster and more accurately than other services.
Speaking of self-directed actions and independence, here’s a captivating piece about 4 simple ways to achieve energy independence at home. In the same way we can make our homes more energy-efficient, we can also take charge of our credit situation.
In the grand scheme of things, the credit industry can seem like a massive, impenetrable fortress. But armed with the right knowledge and tools, you can navigate it like a pro. Whether you’re trying to build your credit from scratch or repair a less-than-stellar score, understanding the ins and outs of this industry is crucial. And always remember, knowledge is power!
The Implications of Credit Utilization
A factor you may not realize significantly affects your credit score is your credit utilization rate – how much of your available credit you’re using. Lenders often view borrowers with high utilization rates as riskier, which can adversely impact your score. For instance, if you have a credit card limit of $10,000 and your balance is $5,000, your credit utilization is 50%. Ideally, keeping your utilization under 30% is recommended to maintain a healthy credit score.
Role of Credit Age
The length of your credit history, also known as credit age, is another surprising factor that affects your credit score. Creditors want to see that you have a track record of managing credit responsibly, and the longer your history, the better. This factor takes into account the age of your oldest account, the age of your newest account, and an average age of all your accounts. Keeping older accounts open, even if they are not in use, can positively impact this aspect of your credit score.
Hard Inquiries vs Soft Inquiries
It’s important to understand the difference between a ‘hard inquiry’ and a ‘soft inquiry’ when it comes to your credit. A soft inquiry does not affect your credit score and happens when you check your credit or when a company checks your credit as part of a background check. A hard inquiry, on the other hand, can lower your credit score and usually happens when a lender checks your credit when making a lending decision. Therefore, too many hard inquiries in a short period can signal to lenders that you may be a high-risk customer.
