Learning Outcomes
- Explain factors contributing to your credit score and identify resources for assistance with credit issues
Credit History and Credit Reports
You begin to establish a credit history as soon as you get your first credit card or get a loan. Your credit history includes information about the number of credit cards and loans you have and how conscientious you are about paying your bills. Three companies, TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian, collect this information and use it to create a credit report, which functions as a summary of your credit history. By law, you’re entitled to one free credit report each year from Annual Credit Report. Although you have to pay extra for your credit score to be included with your credit report, a lot of people use report this as a quick reference to gauge how good or bad their credit is. Different companies use slightly different ratings, but 300 or so is considered to be a low credit score, and 700–850 is considered to be high.
It’s a good idea to sign up for a free credit report from the Annual Credit Report since other companies will charge to give you your credit history and score. The best thing you can do is to keep track of your bills and pay them in a timely manner so you don’t have to worry about whether your credit is good or not. Potential landlords, banks, loan companies, car dealers, and even employers will often ask for your name and social security number so that they can obtain your credit information. Every business is different, but many use credit scores to evaluate prospective customers and decide how responsible or risky they might be.
The following video shows how your credit score is determined and gives some rules of the road for improving your current credit rating.
You can view the transcript for “How to Build a Good Credit Score” here (opens in new window).
Components of a Credit Score and How to Improve Your Credit
Credit scores contain a total of five components. These components are credit payment history (thirty-five percent), credit utilization (thirty percent), length of credit history (fifteen percent), new credit (ten percent), and credit mix (ten percent). The main action you can take to improve your credit score is to stop charging and pay all bills on time. Even if you cannot pay the full amount of the credit card balance, which is the best practice, pay the minimum on time. Paying more is better for your debt load but does not improve your score. Carrying a balance on a credit card does not improve your score. Your score will go down if you pay bills late and owe more than thirty percent of your available credit. Your credit score is a reflection of your willingness and ability to do what you say you will do—pay your debts on time.
What Is a Good Credit Score?
Most credit scores have a 300–850 score range. The higher the score, the lower the risk to lenders. A good credit score is considered to be in the 670–739 score range.
| Credit Score Ranges | Rating | Description |
|---|---|---|
| < 580 | Poor | This credit score is well below the average score of U.S. consumers and demonstrates to lenders that the borrower may be a risk. |
| 580–669 | Fair | This credit score is below the average score of U.S. consumers, though many lenders will approve loans with this score. |
| 670–739 | Good | This credit score is near or slightly above the average of U.S. consumers, and most lenders consider this a good score. |
| 740–799 | Very Good | This credit score is above the average of U.S. consumers and demonstrates to lenders that the borrower is very dependable. |
| 800+ | Exceptional | This credit score is well above the average score of U.S. consumers and clearly demonstrates to lenders that the borrower is an exceptionally low risk. |
Try It
Resources for Credit Issues
Credit counselors might be able to recommend budgeting and credit courses that will give you tips for managing your personal finances.
Maintaining credit is a big responsibility, and sometimes it can be challenging. For example, you might have to borrow more student loans than you want because you don’t have time to work while attending school, or it might be difficult to find a decent-paying job as a student or recent graduate. These are just a couple of issues that could threaten your credit. Repairing bad credit can take a long time—up to seven years—so it’s important to take action as soon as you’re having trouble paying bills or overspending. Different resources and options are available to help you deal with credit issues, including the following:
- Loan consolidation: Students may consider having multiple loans consolidated with the federal government so they have to make only one loan payment per month. While this consolidation may give you more time to pay off student loan debt, it may not be the best option, since the one monthly payment can cost more and accrue a higher interest rate. Students should talk to loan company representatives and financial aid resources at their institution to discuss other payment options, such as income-based payments in which the amount you pay each month is based on your income level.
- Credit counselors: Credit counselors are trained to help people develop personal budgets and to provide classes on savings and debt solutions. They may also offer debt management plans in which they work with your credit card and loan companies to arrange a deal and ask you for monthly deposits so that they can help you pay off your debts. If you are interested in a consultation from a credit counselor, you should ask family, friends, or your local government for references for reputable ones. You will also want to find counselors that do not charge customers too much for their services to avoid additional debt.
- Debt settlement plans: Debt collection companies will offer services to their clients that involve talking to credit card and loan companies and coming up with a plan to pay a lump sum instead of the total debt owed. Similar to finding credit counselors, you should contact local government offices to find reputable debt collection companies so you can avoid overpayments and scams.
- Bankruptcy: Bankruptcy is an official status that is obtained through court procedures, and it means that means you are unable to pay off your debts. People may file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, which means they don’t lose any assets and have a payment plan of three to five years to pay off their debts, or Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which means they may have to surrender assets that can be used to pay off their debts. Bankruptcy damages your credit score, and the fees for filing paperwork and hiring an attorney can be costly, so it is important to consider other financial solutions first.
glossary
credit score: a number derived from one’s credit report that reflects payment history and other metrics and largely determines future credit-worthiness
