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How a
Credit Score is Determined
by Molly Wilder
Trying to make sense of how a credit score is computed can be a
very mind-boggling task. Being as most of us depend on our credit scores to get
everything from a phone hook-up to a mortgage, it is important to know how they
work. If you've ever sat and tried to dissect the hows and whys of what those
numbers really mean, you may have come up with your own score of zero.
Credit scores came about in the late 1950's and were developed by Fair Isaac
& Co, also known as FICO, as a way to consolidate a person's credit profile with
a number. Your credit or Beacon score, which is the name used by Equifax,
computes many different factors on each person then tallies them up,
mysteriously, and appoints us with a number, or score. This score is what is
used to determine our credit worthiness.
Even though credit bureaus will not reveal how they determine our scores, we
all know the more points or higher we score, the better our chances of approval.
Here is some of the favorable information they look for when they have you fill
out that long application form.
When it comes to polishing your credit score, age matters. If you are under
21 or over 65, the chances that you are working are not favorable. If you are
under or over this age, you will score a zero. However, if you're married, you
will get one point. If you're divorced (they're probably assuming child or
alimony support), one point. If you are a parent of between one and three
children, again, one point. If you do not have any children or oddly enough,
have more than three kids, no points for you.
Having a landline phone will easily score you points, but cutting down costs
by having only a cell phone will score you nothing. If you've lived in your
previous residence for less then three or five years, don't think they've not
noticed. Again, no points. If your address places you in a trailer park instead
of Bell Air, nada. If you rent an apartment instead of room with a bunch of
friends, you will earn a point. If you have a mortgage, better yet. They realize
someone has found your credit worthy and given you money. If you're free and
clear of your mortgage, you've proven you can pay down debt. No information on
how many points for the accomplishment.
Being with an employer for a long time also scores big with FICO and of
course, the more you make, the better. The type of credit you have will account
for 10 per cent of your score while your current level of indebtedness will make
up another 30 per cent of your final tally. When it comes to credit scoring,
only 35 per cent of the score is based on payment history but one negative
report can sink you like a rock. Obtaining and keeping a good score can be
tricky but is worth all the effort once achieved.
If you are trying to pay off debt this year, but are struggling
to make your many payments, a debt consolidation loan can help. If you have bad
credit, visit our Bad Credit Loans website
today, for more information on our debt consolidation loans! Visit our blog for
more articles about
Bad Credit and Debt. |
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