Get Your Credit Score To Soar In The Twinkling of An Eye


Ever wonder how a creditor decides whether to grant you credit? For years, creditors have been using credit scoring systems to determine if you'd be a good risk for credit cards and auto loans. More recently, credit scoring has been used to help creditors evaluate your ability to repay home mortgage loans. Here's how credit scoring works in helping decide who gets credit -- and why.

What is credit scoring?
Credit scoring is a system creditors use to help determine whether to give you credit.

Information about you and your credit experiences, such as your bill-paying history, the number and type of accounts you have, late payments, collection actions, outstanding debt, and the age of your accounts, is collected from your credit application and your credit report. Using a statistical program, creditors compare this information to the credit performance of consumers with similar profiles. A credit scoring system awards points for each factor that helps predict who is most likely to repay a debt. A total number of points -- a credit score -- helps predict how creditworthy you are, that is, how likely it is that you will repay a loan and make the payments when due.

Because your credit report is an important part of many credit scoring systems, it is very important to make sure it's accurate before you submit a credit application. To get copies of your report, contact the three major credit reporting agencies:

  • Equifax: (800) 685-1111
  • Experian (formerly TRW): (888) EXPERIAN (397-3742)
  • Trans Union: (800) 916-8800

These agencies may charge you up to $9.00 for your credit report.

Why is credit scoring used?
Credit scoring is based on real data and statistics, so it usually is more reliable than subjective or judgmental methods. It treats all applicants objectively. Judgmental methods typically rely on criteria that are not systematically tested and can vary when applied by different individuals.

How is a credit scoring model developed?
To develop a model, a creditor selects a random sample of its customers, or a sample of similar customers if their sample is not large enough, and analyzes it statistically to identify characteristics that relate to creditworthiness. Then, each of these factors is assigned a weight based on how strong a predictor it is of who would be a good credit risk. Each creditor may use its own credit scoring model, different scoring models for different types of credit, or a generic model developed by a credit scoring company.

Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, a credit scoring system may not use certain characteristics like -- race, sex, marital status, national origin, or religion -- as factors. However, creditors are allowed to use age in properly designed scoring systems. But any scoring system that includes age must give equal treatment to elderly applicants.

What can I do to improve my score?
Credit scoring models are complex and often vary among creditors and for different types of credit. If one factor changes, your score may change -- but improvement generally depends on how that factor relates to other factors considered by the model. Only the creditor can explain what might improve your score under the particular model used to evaluate your credit application.

Nevertheless, scoring models generally evaluate the following types of information in your credit report:

  • Have you paid your bills on time? Payment history typically is a significant factor. It is likely that your score will be affected negatively if you have paid bills late, had an account referred to collections, or declared bankruptcy, if that history is reflected on your credit report.
  • What is your outstanding debt? Many scoring models evaluate the amount of debt you have compared to your credit limits. If the amount you owe is close to your credit limit, that is likely to have a negative effect on your score.
  • How long is your credit history? Generally, models consider the length of your credit track record. An insufficient credit history may have an effect on your score, but that can be offset by other factors, such as timely payments and low balances.
  • Have you applied for new credit recently? Many scoring models consider whether you have applied for credit recently by looking at "inquiries" on your credit report when you apply for credit. If you have applied for too many new accounts recently, that may negatively affect your score. However, not all inquiries are counted. Inquiries by creditors who are monitoring your account or looking at credit reports to make "prescreened" credit offers are not counted.
  • How many and what types of credit accounts do you have? Although it is generally good to have established credit accounts, too many credit card accounts may have a negative effect on your score. In addition, many models consider the type of credit accounts you have. For example, under some scoring models, loans from finance companies may negatively affect your credit score.

Scoring models may be based on more than just information in your credit report. For example, the model may consider information from your credit application as well: your job or occupation, length of employment, or whether you own a home.

To improve your credit score under most models, concentrate on paying your bills on time, paying down outstanding balances, and not taking on new debt. It's likely to take some time to improve your score significantly.

How reliable is the credit scoring system?
Credit scoring systems enable creditors to evaluate millions of applicants consistently and impartially on many different characteristics. But to be statistically valid, credit scoring systems must be based on a big enough sample. Remember that these systems generally vary from creditor to creditor.

Although you may think such a system is arbitrary or impersonal, it can help make decisions faster, more accurately, and more impartially than individuals when it is properly designed. And many creditors design their systems so that in marginal cases, applicants whose scores are not high enough to pass easily or are low enough to fail absolutely are referred to a credit manager who decides whether the company or lender will extend credit. This may allow for discussion and negotiation between the credit manager and the consumer.

What happens if you are denied credit or don't get the terms you want?
If you are denied credit, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act requires that the creditor give you a notice that tells you the specific reasons your application was rejected or the fact that you have the right to learn the reasons if you ask within 60 days. Indefinite and vague reasons for denial are illegal, so ask the creditor to be specific. Acceptable reasons include: "Your income was low" or "You haven't been employed long enough." Unacceptable reasons include: "You didn't meet our minimum standards" or "You didn't receive enough points on our credit scoring system."

If a creditor says you were denied credit because you are too near your credit limits on your charge cards or you have too many credit card accounts, you may want to reapply after paying down your balances or closing some accounts. Credit scoring systems consider updated information and change over time.

Sometimes you can be denied credit because of information from a credit report. If so, the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires the creditor to give you the name, address and phone number of the credit reporting agency that supplied the information. You should contact that agency to find out what your report said. This information is free if you request it within 60 days of being turned down for credit. The credit reporting agency can tell you what's in your report, but only the creditor can tell you why your application was denied.

If you've been denied credit, or didn't get the rate or credit terms you want, ask the creditor if a credit scoring system was used. If so, ask what characteristics or factors were used in that system, and the best ways to improve your application. If you get credit, ask the creditor whether you are getting the best rate and terms available and, if not, why. If you are not offered the best rate available because of inaccuracies in your credit report, be sure to dispute the inaccurate information in your credit report.

© Copyright - www.deleteuglycredit.com

Omar M. Omar is the owner of http://www.deleteuglycredit.com and - Author of "The Credit Repair Bible" book. The website is dedicated to providing credit consumers free advice on how to repair credit. It also provides credit consumers numerous information about their credit report, credit laws, and their rights as a consumer.

You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, in your Newsletter, on your website, or in your E-Book, as long as the author's Resource Box is included with the article.


MORE RESOURCES:

GM, Chrysler, credit unions expand loan programs
Forbes, NY - 10 hours ago
AP , 01.07.09, 03:29 PM EST General Motors and Chrysler say they're both expanding deals that offer low-cost loans and special pricing incentives to credit ...
GM, Chrysler, credit unions expand loan programs The Associated Press
GM To Expand Credit Union Discounts Nationwide CNNMoney.com
GM, Chrysler, Credit Unions Expand Loan Programs WWJ
Automotive News - Crain's Detroit Business
all 125 news articles


ABC News

Stimulus Plan Would Expand Tax Credit for Poor
Wall Street Journal - 2 hours ago
The plan would grant an estimated 5.5 million poor children access to the credit for the first time, and expand the tax benefit for millions more poor ...
Video: Obama's Economic See-Saw CBS
Is There A Citigroup Tax Credit Hidden in the Stimulus Plan? The Washington Independent
Lawmakers and Financial Experts Question Obama's Tax Cuts Washington Post
Media Matters for America - Huffington Post
all 6,904 news articles


Javno.hr

Loan Delinquencies Hit Record High Last Year
Washington Post, United States - 1 hour ago
By Nancy Trejos Delinquencies on auto loans and home equity lines of credit reached their highest levels on record during the third quarter of 2008, ...
US Lenders Pay As Idled Borrowers Don't Forbes
Delinquent consumer loans rise to near record Minneapolis Star Tribune
HELOC, Car Loan Delinquencies At Record Highs U.S. News & World Report
USA Today - Reuters
all 47 news articles


S&P Lowers Credit Ratings on PNC
Wall Street Journal - 8 hours ago
By JOHN KELL Standard & Poor's Ratings Service lowered its credit ratings on PNC Financial Services Group Inc. because of concerns about the size of its ...
Market Report -- In Play (PNC) MSN Money
all 14 news articles


CBS News

Working Triage In The Credit Crisis
CBS News, NY - 6 hours ago
(CBS) The recession gets the credit for lower oil prices - and for more Americans falling behind on their loan payments. A new report says that, ...
Simpler Credit Card Statements On The Way MSNBC
6 new rules of credit card negotiations CreditCards.com
all 16 news articles


US consumer credit worsens in December: Fitch
Reuters - 12 hours ago
NEW YORK, Jan 7 (Reuters) - US consumer credit deteriorated in December as credit card defaults rose and cardholder payment rates suffered the largest one ...
Credit card defaults rise again in December Forbes
Credit-Card Charge Offs Jump Wall Street Journal Blogs
Fitch: US Credit Card Defaults Rise, Payments Slow as Consumers ... Earthtimes (press release)
all 16 news articles


Swap Spread Shows ‘Healing’ of Credit Markets: Chart of Day
Bloomberg - 4 hours ago
8 (Bloomberg) -- Interest-rate derivatives are signaling credit markets are returning to levels not seen in a year as the Federal Reserve keeps its target ...


The Associated Press

Car dealerships slash prices to drive traffic
The Associated Press - 7 hours ago
"If you have (credit score of) 700 and above you don't have a problem getting a loan. We're seeing some great opportunities for people with excellent credit ...
Good deals for car buyers, but getting a loan harder Fox 28
all 76 news articles


Free Credit Repair Guide Offers Hope for Homeowners
MSNBC - 10 hours ago
LOS ANGELES, CA - With the current state of the economy it's becoming increasingly difficult to qualify for a loan -- even if you have perfect credit. ...


CTV.ca

Russia's Gas War Gets Credit-Crunched
Wall Street Journal - 8 hours ago
In the credit-crunch era Ukraine cannot afford this game, and increasingly neither can Gazprom. There is a deal that can be done to ensure safe passage of ...
Video: Ukraine leaves Europe without gas Gazprom RussiaToday
Hungary, Slovakia Most at Risk as Gas Halt Hinders Industry Bloomberg
No immediate Ukraine gas row rating impact-Fitch guardian.co.uk
Irish Times - Bloomberg
all 5,545 news articles

Credit - Google News

home | site map
© myfinancialsolutiononline.com 2007