What Do Credit Scores Mean and Why Are They Important?

What is a credit score?
A credit score is a three-digit set of numbers ranging between 300 and 850 derived from information in your credit report. The higher the number is, the better the score. Lenders such as banks, credit card companies and finance companies use this information to determine loan eligibility, interest rates and credit limits.

Credit scoring is not limited to lending institutions. Other organizations, including mobile phone companies, utility companies, insurance companies, landlords and government agencies use credit scores to determine leasing eligibility, hiring or deposit amounts when providing services.

Exceptional credit score range between 800 and 850. Very good credit ranges between 740 and 799. Good credit is 670 to 739 and fair from 580 to 669. Any score below 580 is considered very poor credit.

What is a credit report?
A credit report is a compilation of credit history and how you handle your financial obligations. The information is collected by the three major credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax and TransUnion – and compiled into one report.

It details all credit accounts, the amount of accumulated debt and how you pay your bills. It also tells your address and place of occupation, as well as whether you’ve filed bankruptcy, had a lawsuit filed against you, home foreclosed, tax liens or vehicle repossessed.

Credit reports also include a list of businesses that have recently checked your credit, pulled your credit or made inquiries into your credit.

Why are credit scores and credit reports important?
Many institutions use credit to make decisions about an individual. Credit means the difference between not only qualifying for certain loans but also paying hundreds to thousands in interest. Poor or bad credit yields much higher interest rates than someone with high credit.

Insurance companies use credit to determine payments. Lending institutions use this information to determine whether or not you’ll be approved for credit cards, loans, financing and mortgages. Landlords use credit to decide whether to rent to you. And some employers check credit before making hiring decisions. That small, three-digit number that makes up a credit report is a huge determining factor in our lives.

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7 Simple Strategies to Build and Rebuild Credit

Sadly, there is no quick fix to establishing and building positive credit. Because healthy credit practices aren’t normally discussed in homes or taught in public schools, many Americans don’t understand how credit works and struggle to establish and maintain positive credit scores and credit history.

Poor credit scores can cause hugely inflated interest rates when purchasing cars and homes, denials on personal and business loans and even determine eligibility in leasing and renting homes. Positive credit, however, offers a myriad of unimaginable financial freedoms.

So whether you are burdened by negative items on your credit report or just starting out and attempting to build positive credit from scratch, here is a breakdown of seven simple steps to establish and reestablish positive credit.

Review Your Credit Reports and Credit Scores
Three major credit reporting agencies– Equifax, Experian and TransUnion– issue credit reports, and federal law requires them to issue one free copy of your credit report annually upon request. Also, many banks, credit unions, reputable websites and card issuers give them to customers for free.

Examine every line of your credit report to ensure everything is correct and accurate. If there is an error, the credit reporting agency must correct it at no charge, which could in turn result in positive credit.

Additionally, look for negative items on your credit report older than seven years. By law, negative items must be removed from your credit report after seven years or after 10 years with some liens and bankruptcies.

Monitor Your Credit Closely
No one has the time to watch their credit score 24/7. But identity theft, financial fraud

and credit-report errors can be murder on your credit score. So it would be wise to regularly check your credit. Many services, such as WalletHub, offer free 24/7 credit monitoring and will alert you of any changes to your TransUnion credit report.

If you notice any inaccuracies, fix the problem immediately. The longer it takes to address the issue, the worse it will become.

Protect Your Existing Accounts
Do not close out existing credit card accounts. Older, active accounts can boost credit scores. But be sure to not max them out.

If the cards are burdensome, however, simply stop using those cards until they are completely paid off. During months when you may have become financially strapped, pay the required minimum and pay it on time.

If you have cards that require usage, charge small, inexpensive items then pay the bill in full the following month. Some credit card companies will close your account after long periods of inactivity. If you make a credit card payment that is less than 30 days late and you do not have a history of late payments, your credit will not be damaged.

After Positive Credit Has Been Established, Apply For New Credit

Most times, poor credit is a result of credit cards. But just like bad credit card habits can impair credit scores, using credit cards wisely can boost your score. So after credit has been repaired a bit, consider getting one or two new unsecured secured cards with no annual fee. If you are turned down for an unsecured card, consider a secured card. With this card, there is an upfront deposit used as collateral. Then, it works like any other credit card.

Before applying, make sure that the card reports monthly to the credit bureaus. Otherwise, it will not help improve your credit score. Also, look for a secured card that would eventually convert to an unsecured card after a specific period of good payment history.

Be Cautious When Applying For Lines Of Credit
Simply having a credit card, making payments on time and paying off the full balance monthly will help build credit. Card companies report account information to the major credit bureaus each month.

When selecting a credit card, however, choose wisely. Each credit card application causes a “hard inquiry” into your credit history. So apply only once. Repeated inquiries, especially denials, lead to temporary damage to the credit score.

So try to apply only once for a card that has no annual fee. If you don’t get approved, pay a deposit for a no-annual-fee secured credit card and each month, pay off the full balance of what was spent in the previous month.

Practice Good Credit Habits
Human beings are creatures of habit. From eating to exercising, buying to spending, we all have a tendency to follow many of the same patterns in our daily lives. Establishing and keeping positive credit is no different.

So make payments on time. A large portion of your credit score is based on on-time payments. A great way to do this is setting up automatic monthly payments from a bank account scheduled just after payday. Also, pay off the full credit card balance each month. If the balance is not paid in full, interest will accrue.

Be Consistent
Consistency is the key to building and maintaining positive credit. So only spend and borrow within your means, and keep all accounts open and in good standing. Simply having an open line of credit that is in good standing helps to build upon positive credit.

Also, remember to budget and save. It takes less than an hour each month to plan how monies will be spent and saved. And make sure to set aside room for an emergency fund. This will give you a financial safety net in the event of unexpected expenses or loss of employment. Your goal should be to save two months of pay per year and increase your savings until you have put away a year’s worth of pay.

Building and rebuilding credit is a slow process but it is well worth it. The rewards are better rates and thousands of dollars in interest savings. But it won’t happen overnight. It can take 60 to 90 days or longer before seeing significant improvements in your credit score.

Depending on the severity of credit scores, it can take years to achieve first-rate credit. However, the sooner you devise a plan to better your credit situation, the better. So be patient; be diligent, and you’ll

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How to Dispute Errors on Your Credit Report

Let’s face it. Nobody is perfect, and even your credit report can fall victim to imperfections. Your credit report could be a deciding factor in obtaining a credit card, landing that new job, buying a house or having utilities turned on. Many businesses use your credit report to make determinations about your credit worthiness. So it is important that your credit report is accurate. Any deficiencies on your credit report could cause higher fees, deposits and interest rates, as well as possibly being declined.

According to a 2012 study by the Federal Trade Commission, about 25% of consumers found errors on their credit reports. The same study concluded that one in five consumers had errors that a credit bureau corrected after a dispute had been made. Anything from inaccurate late payments, a falsely reported car repossession or unpaid balances that are not yours could damage your credit report. See below for steps in having the credit bureaus to remove incorrect items from your credit.

Online
The quickest, easiest and most convenient way to correct an inaccuracy on your credit report is via the online Credit Report Dispute process at https://dispute.transunion.com. A drawback to disputing items online is that you can only get the results and check the status online. If documents are needed as proof, you will still have to mail them in to the credit-reporting agencies.

Should you decide to dispute an item online, use these links to the major credit bureaus for submitting an online credit report dispute:

  • Equifax
  • Experian
  • TransUnion

By Mail
Snail mail may not be the speediest method to disputing inaccuracies on your credit report, but it does give a paper trail between you and the three major credit-reporting agencies. Credit bureaus have 30 days to investigate and make a decision regarding your credit report dispute or 45 days if additional information is needed as proof during the investigation process. If they don’t respond within the allotted time, you can sue them in Federal court for up to $1,000.

When disputing a credit report error by mail, write a letter to each agency explaining what should be removed and what makes the information inaccurate. Include any proof of the error, and send via certified mail to show when the creditor receives it and prove that you made the dispute. See below for dispute addresses for the three major credit bureaus:

Equifax
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374

Experian
P.O. Box 4500
Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion LLC
Consumer Dispute Center
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016

Over the Phone
When calling credit bureaus to dispute items on your credit report, be sure to keep a record of when you called, with who you spoke and any information given to you regarding your dispute. You may want to record the conversation as well. Just be sure to tell the other party that the call is being recorded. See below for telephone numbers of the three credit bureaus.

Equifax: 1-866-349-5191
Experian: 1-888-397-3742
Transunion: 1-800-916-8800

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