Credit Information

Credit Report - How Your Credit Score is Determined


Most consumers are aware that they have something known as a credit report that is used to determine whether or not they would qualify for a loan. Fewer are familiar with the FICO score, a creation of the Fair, Isaac, and Co. which distills their entire credit report down to a three-digit numeral. What, exactly, is this score? How is it compiled? Can anything be done to improve it?

The FICO credit score is used by all three major credit bureaus - Experian, Trans Union and Equifax. They are the companies that keep track of the credit and lending transactions of millions of Americans. The score is used to provide, in a nutshell, a figure that represents the credit-worthiness of a consumer. That score, which ranges from a low of 300 to a high of 850, is used in many ways by businesses and employers. The score is used by insurance companies to set rates, landlords to establish security deposits, and even prospective employers to determine whether hiring someone is a good risk. Despite the importance of credit scores in their lives, few Americans understand how it works.

The score is determined by a variety of factors, each of which makes up a portion of the score:

  • Approximately one third of the score represents the individual's payment history. Previous loans, and the ability to pay them are shown in this portion of the score. Both late payments and failure to pay at all affect this portion of the score. Those who have paid all of his or her loans on time will obtain the highest scores.
  • Another third of the score is determined by current debts, and the ratio of debt to the amount of available credit. Keeping all of your credit cards at or near their limits will hurt this portion of the score. This seems obvious; those who are already near their credit limits may have trouble paying back any future loans.
  • The remaining third of the credit score is determined by three factors - length of credit history, recent credit applications, and the types of overall credit in the individual's credit history. The length of the credit history is the most significant item, as lenders are more suspicious of borrowers who have not established a pattern of borrowing and repaying loans. A history of repaid loans goes a long way towards fortifying this portion of the score. Recent credit applications, particularly a lot of them, may suggest that the individual is desperate to borrow more money and may have a financial problem. Similarly, the types of credit demonstrate spending patterns and reliability. A credit report containing all credit cards may be seen as more risky than one with a few credit cards, a repaid auto loan and an ongoing mortgage.
  • By seeing how a credit score is compiled, consumers can take action to keep their scores healthy. A good score helps borrower obtain loans at better interest rates, and that is something that everyone can appreciate.

    ©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a site devoted to debt consolidation and credit counseling, and HomeEquityHelp.com, a site devoted to information regarding mortgages and home equity lending.


    MORE RESOURCES:

    Lear Trying To Amend Credit Pact On Poor Industry Conditions
    CNNMoney.com - 18 hours ago
    (LEA) is seeking an amendment and waiver under its primary credit facility, citing current and longer-term industry conditions, after fully borrowing ...
    Lear Corp. seeks to amend credit agreement Forbes
    Lear seeks to amend credit facility Reuters
    Lear seeks credit facility waiver urethanes-technology-international (subscription)
    PR Newswire (press release) - Automotive World (subscription)
    all 33 news articles


    Credit Scores: What You Need to Know
    New York Times, United States - 18 hours ago
    By JENNIFER BARRETT You may not have checked your credit score lately, but there’sa good chance someone else has. If you have applied for a mortgage or a ...
    Biroul de Credit Brings FICO Credit Score to Romania WELT ONLINE
    Credit Analyst Warns of Trap for Credit Card Customers PR Newswire (press release)
    Local credit scores sliding Cincinnati.com
    Cincinnati.com
    all 17 news articles


    Calgary Herald

    Canada Budget Will Seek to Ease Credit, Flaherty Says
    Bloomberg - Jan 6, 2009
    6 (Bloomberg) -- Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said he may use his budget later this month to help ease tight credit markets and reverse a slowdown ...
    Canada to work with banks to provide credit Reuters
    Credit availability key economic issue: Flaherty CTV.ca
    Flaherty seeks ways to ease credit Toronto Star
    Globe and Mail - Bloomberg
    all 479 news articles


    WSIL TV

    Beshear Urges Workers To Apply For Tax Credit
    MSNBC - Jan 6, 2009
    Steve Beshear has begun a campaign to urge low- and middle-income Kentuckians to apply for a federal earned income tax credit. Beshear said the federal tax ...
    Kentucky Tax Credit WSIL TV
    Beshear touts federal income tax credit Kentucky.com
    Beshear urges earned income credit application WFIE-TV
    Business Lexington - WTVQ
    all 62 news articles


    Toll Brothers' January 14 Presentation At The Credit Suisse ...
    MSNBC - 1 hour ago
    Click on the "Conferences" box and follow the link for the webcast under "Credit Suisse Homebuilder Conference". Participants are encouraged to log on at ...


    Jaunted

    Airport Officials Lose Credit Card Use
    MSNBC - 18 hours ago
    (AP) - Six top officials at the Blue Grass Airport will no longer have credit cards issued by the board after it was revealed that three employees racked up ...
    6 top airport officials won't be issued credit cards after racking ... WHAS 11.com (subscription)
    Auditors 'appalled' by spending Kentucky.com
    Airport Officials Rack Up $4500 Strip Club Bill Jaunted
    WTVQ - Kentucky.com
    all 34 news articles


    TopNews

    India: Credit Suisse Invests in Finance Unit
    New York Times, United States - 15 hours ago
    By DOW JONES Credit Suisse said it had injected 7.94 billion rupees ($164 million) into the operations of its nonbanking financial company in India. ...
    Credit Suisse invests $164m in India unit Times of India
    Credit Suisse infuses Rs 794 crore in NBFC arm Business Standard
    Credit Suisse to infuse capital in Indian arm Hindu
    Markets Media News - Economic Times
    all 28 news articles


    CreditCards.com

    Simpler Credit Card Statements On The Way
    MSNBC - 1 hour ago
    By Brian Curtis If you have a hard time figuring out your monthly credit card statement, help is on the way. New government regulations require credit card ...
    6 new rules of credit card negotiations CreditCards.com
    all 3 news articles


    S&P projects credit losses will rise into 2010
    BusinessWeek - 22 hours ago
    Credit ratings agency Standard & Poor's said Tuesday it expects nonperforming loans to continue to rise through 2009 and into 2010, forcing banks to add to ...
    S&P says US banks face credit quality decline Reuters
    Banks’ Credit Quality Expected to Worsen Wall Street Journal Blogs
    Credit-card delinquencies rising Asbury Park Press
    all 10 news articles


    Homeowners with good credit scores are poised to capitalize on ...
    Baltimore Sun, United States - 5 hours ago
    "It seems that the time is right ... and we have a good credit rating," said Junkin, an engineer who has owned his home since 1992. ...

    Credit - Google News

    Good Credit Loans | home | site map | School Bus Clothing | Florida Pool Heating
    © 2006