Saturday, July 4, 2009

What is a good credit score?

FICO scores range from around 300 to about 850. Approximately 1 percent of the population with established credit has credit scores below 500 and another 13 percent score from 500 to 600. FICO, doesn’t seem to operate on real-life logic, FICO gathers and assesses credit and loan information from the three largest credit bureaus, Experian, TransUnion and Equifax, and disseminates this information to banks, lenders and credit card companies. FICO also provides credit scores to individual consumers who wish to keep track of their credit information either as a regular financial maintenance tool or for purposes of determining if they have a good credit score when applying for credit or a loan.

Payment history accounts for 35% of your score. The amount that you owe accounts for 30%. Payment History One of the most important factors narrating your payment history placing the emphasis on recent activities, it accounts for the 35% of your total score.

FICO scores generally do not equate your rate search with higher credit risk. FICO is so big that it's used interchangeably with the term "credit score." Most people call credit scores a FICO score. Other companies' numbers can give you a sense of how your credit is viewed by lenders, but if you really want to know how lenders see you, you need to check your FICO score.

FICO recognizes that people need to shop around to get the best rate when applying for loans, so they don’t lower your score as much when you have several inquiries in close succession. Generally speaking you still shouldn’t apply for too much credit, but if you’re comparison shopping to get the best rate on a loan, don’t worry about the resulting inquiries on your credit report. FICO's own information would indicate that a good history evaporates a lot more quickly than does a bad one, no matter how short lived. Most bad credit stays on record for at least seven years, a bankruptcy for ten.

Currently for some banks depending on the loan type all you need is a 650 credit score, but not everyone with a 650 credit score can get a loan. It really depends on your circumstances. Banks, credit card companies, auto dealers, retail stores and other lenders decide if you get your loan. Most businesses that issue credit or loans use credit scores to quickly summarize a consumer's credit history, saving the need to manually review an applicant's credit report and providing a better, faster decision. Banks want people with positive credit histories. They look for people that pay on time. Banks and financial institutions determine their best rates based on their own assessment of their customers. As such, definitions will change from lender to lender and industry to industry.

Bankruptcy is an unpleasant situation that can cause stress and nervousness for anyone who faces the situation. Bankruptcy is the situation when the person has accumulated very huge debts cannot repay the loans and hardly have any money in their bank accounts to handle the expenses. Bankruptcies can be reported for 10 years. Bankruptcy will easily take off up to 200 points from a credit score. After a bankruptcy, consumers will find it incredibly hard to find a loan with interest rates that are low.

Banks feel comfortable lending to people with such high credit scores because the odds are that they will not default. Those with scores ranging from 700-749 have a delinquency rate of around 5%. Banks report to credit agencies, so make sure that you pay your debt on time to have your credit score improved. Banks and mortgage lenders, car dealers, insurance companies, employers, landlords, retail stores, credit card issuers, even utility and phone companies. These creditors pay the credit reporting bureaus a fee to look at your credit report in order to evaluate how responsible you are.

Repairing your credit rating may not happen overnight. Before you start, get a score of your current credit rating and see the areas that you need to focus on. Repairing your credit reports and saving now may mean financial freedom in the long run.

Lenders like to see that you're spending within your means, which translates to using less of your credit limit — the lower percentage the better. Lenders look at your financial situation as well when determining your credit worthiness. They will see how many credit cards and loans you have, if you have made any late payments and how many years have you had a credit history. Lenders will likely offer you the best rates and terms. Continue practicing good credit behavior and you should have no problem receiving favorable loan terms and offers with little to no down payments.

Lenders use your credit score to judge how likely you are to repay a loan. A poor credit score may mean your loan application is rejected. Lenders will take a look at this potential debt load before considering how much they will lend you. They count the full amount against you, as if you were to go out and max all your cards tomorrow.

Lenders used their past experience at observing consumer credit behavior as the basis for judging new consumers. Lenders report your activity every 30 days to the credit bureaus and that’s the information that is used to determine your score. If you have a $2k balance showing on the credit report it’s because it wasn’t paid off before the lender reported it to the credit bureau at the end of the reporting period. Lenders may assess what constitutes a good credit rating differently. In fact defining good credit rating is flexible to a degree and some lenders may be interested in specific aspects of your score, more than in other aspects.

Lenders, such as banks and credit card companies, use credit scores to determine credit limits and interest rates for loans. Lenders check credit scores whether you're applying for a line-of-credit, loan, credit card, mortgage, equipment loan, even a lease. They'll also set interest rates based on your credit; a higher (better) credit score may save you hundreds — even thousands — of dollars in interest.

They will see how many credit cards and loans you have, if you have made any late payments and how many years have you had a credit history. Lenders will likely offer you the best rates and terms. Continue practicing good credit behavior and you should have no problem receiving favorable loan terms and offers with little to no down payments.

Consumers who do not have much financial history may not have good rating. Such consumers can however get their figures increased through what is called “piggybacking,” a practice where a consumer is added as an authorised user on a card issued to someone else, usually a parent or a partner. Consumers need to be very careful about making a choice. See to it that you can enjoy the 0 APR for at least 6 months or longer.

Missed payments can lower your score by as much as 100 points! Missing even one payment can shave off valuable points from your score. By using banking features like automatic payments and online bill pay you stay on track to maintain timely payments.

Creditors see the number as an indicator that an individual will repay a loan. Creditors and lending institutions look at your outstanding balances in regards to credit limits. If your balances are really close to their limits, for example if you’re line of credit limit is $20,000 and you have used $18,000 of that limit, your score could suffer.

It’s a gross simplification but the point is you don’t need a perfect score and it’s almost impossible to get a perfect score. Acquiring a loan to buy the house that you want depends on your credit score. Your credit score also plays a big role in getting approved for a loan to buy the car that you have had your eye on.

Identity theft affects nine million people in America a year. On average, the victim ends up spending forty hours and over $400 correcting the criminal’s errors. Identity thieves can take those forms out of your old mailbox and send them in. You can either opt out permanently or for five years.

Mortgage companies and other lenders use it to decide if a person is a good credit risk. But how many people actually know what a good credit score is? Mortgage lenders ask for your credit score from the credit rating agency and use this to evaluate your loan application.

Carrying a debt over month to month can be a very bad thing in the long run. While it won’t hurt your credit score when your carry debt (after all, credit card companies make their money on interest rates), it will lead to several bad habits, which can put you in a very dangerous hole. Carefully check each report for common errors such as misspellings, name confusions, and incorrect information. Car loans, student loan, a previous mortgage if you had one and in particular credit cards, we all have credit cards.

Step one in the process is making sure that you have a current copy of your credit report. Congress recently amended the Fair Credit Reporting Act so that consumers may now receive one free credit report annually. Step two on how to get a good credit score is to pay all of your bills on time, preferably early if possible. Every time you pay your electric bill, or almost any other bill, a few days late, this lowers your credit score some.

Given the current state of the economy, lenders are simply refusing to loan money to people with bad credit. It's too much of a risk for them, given what has happened over the last few months.

Perhaps you have had a few times in the past that you have made some late payments. If so, this can lower your credit score. Perhaps a better measure of financial health is your ability to withstand catastrophic events like job loss or medical emergencies while maintaining a decent quality of life.

Checking your credit score can only help you improve your credit score. The reason for this check is that there might be certain errors in your credit report.

Thank you for taking your time to read this article. Your comments on this article will be highly appreciated. To access hundreds of Gurmit’s articles please visit http://gurmittoor.blogspot.com.

Information shared here does not constitute financial, legal, or other professional advice, and no attorney-client or confidential relationship is or should be formed by use of the site. This article is intended to provide general information only and does not give advice which relates to your specific individual circumstances. Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Any link-listing or ad-listing on this site does not constitute any type of endorsement.

Gurmit loves travelling; he has been over 70 countries. He speaks fluent Cantonese, Polish, Hindi, Punjabi and English. Gurmit is an author, writer, insurance and mortgage expert. He frequently writes on various topics of interest to his readers. Gurmit Singh is a licensed mortgage expert with Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Villa.

Gurmit Singh, mba
Mortgage Expert
M08009905
Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Villa (11574)
Email:gurmit@gurmitsingh.ca
Website: http://www.gurmitsingh.ca

Friday, July 3, 2009

Secrets of Credit Score Part 7

Fair Isaac makes its money by selling the FICO scores on individual consumers to banks. When your bank buys a credit report from a CRA like TransUnion, it also buys the FICO score calculated from the TransUnion report. Fair Isaac and Company, which developed the score, felt that the score would only confuse consumers since there was nothing to tell them what it meant or what lenders were looking for.

Fair Isaac’s Global FICO Score applies the company’s industry-standard FICO credit risk scoring technology to rank-order consumers according to their credit risk. Designed to be consistently scaled across credit bureaus and across national borders, the score has established a global standard for consumer credit risk assessment.

Credit scores are also made use of by credit card companies. In case your application for a credit card is turned down than the reason is a low credit score. Credit scores are determined by a number of factors. Each of these factors contribute to a potential lender's view of how likely you are to pay back your loan on time. Credit scores are random. Anyone who checks their report score religiously every day would tell you that.

CREDIT SCORES are more important than ever in obtaining a good mortgage rate. If your score is lower than 630, you should inquire about an FHA Insured mortgage loan. Credit scores are a factor in the amount of security deposit you will have to pay for your telephone, electricity or natural gas service. Your credit score also has an important impact on the interest rate you will pay when you borrow money. Credit scores are fluid. They can be lowered by the credit bureaus if you have late payments.

Credit scores are extremely important for consumers looking for a loan, credit card, or mortgages. Often times these credit scores are the only piece of information looked at when processing a loan request. Credit scores are based in part on the portion of available credit a consumer uses. If a lowered credit limit means a customer’s account balance exceeds 50 percent of the limit, the customer’s credit score may decline. Credit scores are being used for everything these days, including mortgages, credit cards, and insurance and even employment decisions. Your credit score can be the number one thing that causes a credit company to say "yes" or "no" to your credit application.

Credit scores are used for loan approvals, determining interest and insurance rates, when screening for employment and rental applications, and even determining eligibility for cell phone contracts. But not everyone knows how credit scores are determined - and this is important to know. Credit scores are based on formulas. Formulas are not racist. Credit scores are offered by three bureaus viz. Perfect credit score is 850 while minimum credit score awarded is 350.

Credit scores are used by lenders to help them make decisions about who should receive credit and what are the appropriate terms of credit. Computer models take the information in a consumer’s credit report, and calculate a three-digit number. Credit scores are fluid numbers that change as the elements in your credit report change. For example, payment updates or a new account could cause scores to fluctuate.

Payments include monthly bills such as credit card and utility bills as well as loan repayments. Much of the information that is used to calculate your credit score is found in your credit report. Payment history includes whether required payments were made on time, and if they were late, by how much. Were the delinquencies recent?

Mortgages lenders usually penalize you 15 days after the due date. Mortgage lenders consider the middle score - the one that comes in between the maximum and minimum scores you receive from the bureaus. But often lenders may not use the middle score in order to evaluate your creditworthiness. Mortgages and auto loans usually count for more on your credit score than other debts because they are bigger debts, and in most cases you have them longer. Consequently, they demonstrate your ability to pay better than do things like your cell phone bill.

Actually you may be able to get a "free" credit score with the purchase of other services. According to a recent survey; 92 percent of all insurance companies use credit information when underwriting new policies. It is important to note that a credit score is just one of several underwriting tools; they also consider rating variables such as driving record, type of vehicle, where you live, your gender, your age, and other factors.

Thank you for taking your time to read this article. Your comments on this article will be highly appreciated. To access hundreds of Gurmit’s articles please visit http://gurmittoor.blogspot.com.

Information shared here does not constitute financial, legal, or other professional advice, and no attorney-client or confidential relationship is or should be formed by use of the site. This article is intended to provide general information only and does not give advice which relates to your specific individual circumstances. Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Any link-listing or ad-listing on this site does not constitute any type of endorsement.

Gurmit loves travelling; he has been over 70 countries. He speaks fluent Cantonese, Polish, Hindi, Punjabi and English. Gurmit is an author, writer, insurance and mortgage expert. He frequently writes on various topics of interest to his readers. Gurmit Singh is a licensed mortgage expert with Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Villa.

Gurmit Singh, mba
Mortgage Expert
M08009905
Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Villa (11574)
Email:gurmit@gurmitsingh.ca
Website: http://www.gurmitsingh.ca

Secrets of Credit Score Part 6

Lenders, such as banks and credit card companies, use credit scores to evaluate the potential risk posed by lending money to consumers and to mitigate losses due to bad debt. Lenders use credit scores to determine who qualifies for a loan, at what interest rate, and what credit limits. Lenders will often allow you to borrow more than 80 percent of the value of your home, and may not require private mortgage insurance. You will likely be able to get a home equity loan or line of credit with an interest rate equal to the prime rate, or even below it. Lenders also may seize upon lower credit scores to increase interest rates, pushing consumers deeper into distress.

Lenders may use that score, in addition to the information on your application and other factors, to determine the loan rate you will receive, the types of loans you may qualify for, and the amount of any loans. Lenders may also look at a credit history to determine what interest rate to charge for a specific person. Lenders used personal opinion to make a decision about an applicant that may have had little bearing on the applicant’s ability to repay debt.

FICO scores provide the best guide to future risk based solely on credit report data. The higher the credit score, the lower the risk. FICO scores, determined by a variety of factors, determine the interest rates banks and other lenders will offer you when you are looking for credit, whether for a home, car, or equity loan. FICO scores range from 300-900, with a higher score being better.

Bankruptcies, judgments, liens, and collections/charge-offs will negatively impact your score, as will late payments. FYI: The severity of the delinquency is determined by the amount, how much time has passed, and the number of times you were late on an account. Banks generally have been reluctant to offer long-term loans to small firms. The SBA guaranteed lending program encourages banks and non-bank lenders to make long-term loans to small firms by reducing their risk and leveraging the funds they have available.

Free credit scores or free FICO scores aren't available though you can get a free copy of your credit report once a year from each of the bureaus (as per the FCRA). You'll have to purchase the score in return of a fee set up by the FTC. Free credit reports requested by phone or mail will be processed within 15 days of receiving your request.

Consumer advocates say they're not so concerned that patients will actually be denied care because of their credit score. What does worry them, though, is that the hospitals may try to use the information they glean to pressure the patient. Consumers can typically keep their credit scores high by maintaining a long history of always paying their bills on time and not having too much debt.

Consumers usually buy their credit scores from the credit bureaus, but when they do they are buying a product called a VantageScore, not the FICO score from Fair Isaac that most lenders use. And some lenders sometimes create their own variation on a FICO score, adding in their own criteria. Consumers have been able to tack other users onto their credit cards and essentially "borrow" their good credit.

Thank you for taking your time to read this article. Your comments on this article will be highly appreciated. To access hundreds of Gurmit’s articles please visit http://gurmittoor.blogspot.com.

Information shared here does not constitute financial, legal, or other professional advice, and no attorney-client or confidential relationship is or should be formed by use of the site. This article is intended to provide general information only and does not give advice which relates to your specific individual circumstances. Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Any link-listing or ad-listing on this site does not constitute any type of endorsement.

Gurmit loves travelling; he has been over 70 countries. He speaks fluent Cantonese, Polish, Hindi, Punjabi and English. Gurmit is an author, writer, insurance and mortgage expert. He frequently writes on various topics of interest to his readers. Gurmit Singh is a licensed mortgage expert with Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Villa.

Gurmit Singh, mba
Mortgage Expert
M08009905
Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Villa (11574)
Email:gurmit@gurmitsingh.ca
Website: http://www.gurmitsingh.ca

Secrets of Credit Score Part 5

Credit scores became widely used in the 1980's. Long before credit scores, human judgment was the sole factor in deciding who received credit. Credit scores range from 300 to 850. All three of the credit bureaus Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion offer FICO credit scores using a complex mathematical formula developed by Fair, Isaac and Company, but they each give the scores a different name: At Equifax, the FICO is known as the Beacon credit score; at TransUnion, its called Empirica; and at Experian, it’s called the Experian/Fair, Isaac Risk Model.

Credit scores are based upon statistical models and not opinions. Credit scores computed with statistical models analyze historical data to make the best predictions about the future. Credit Scores & Credit Reports provides the first thorough examination of the all-important, but little understood, credit scoring and credit reporting systems. These articles should enable consumers to understand how both of these systems actually work, and what they can do to improve their FICO scores, and to ensure their credit reports are accurate. Credit scores are based on a person's whole credit picture. No one factor determines a score.

Credit scores are based on the information in your credit report, and each bureau has its own formula for calculating your score. In addition, each lender may have its own proprietary formula for calculating a score. Credit scores are available as an add-on feature of the report for a fee. Credit scores range between 300 and 900, with the average score in the U.S. Most lenders offer lower interest rates to applicants who have scores above average.

Credit scores are fluid numbers that change as the elements in your credit report change. Stay up-to-date with your credit and get unlimited access to your Experian credit report and score with Credit Manager. A higher number means you are more likely to pay back a debt. Credit scores change as the information on your credit report changes, sometimes as often as once a day. Some consumers get caught up in their credit scores and obsess about what they can do to raise them.

Credit scores predict how likely you are to default on a credit account or loan; they’re used to help set interest rates and terms. What you may not know is that credit scores are just the start of the way financial institutions evaluate you, and they’re not even the most commonly used scores — far from it. Credit scores help lenders assess risk more fairly because they are consistent and objective. Consumers also benefit from this method. Credit scores are calculated based on data in your credit reports and, as fluid numbers, change over time, sometimes on a daily basis! That's why it’s so important to stay on top of your credit reports for changes that could affect your credit scores.

Lenders supply the CRAs with information about their customers and in turn have access to credit records. Lenders look at your scores all the time. They look at your scores when deciding, for example, whether to change your interest rate or credit limit on a credit card, or whether to send you an offer through the mail. Lenders realize that many people occasionally pay late. Therefore, being late with a single payment is typically not as harmful as being late with two or more consecutive payments.

Thank you for taking your time to read this article. Your comments on this article will be highly appreciated. To access hundreds of Gurmit’s articles please visit http://gurmittoor.blogspot.com.

Information shared here does not constitute financial, legal, or other professional advice, and no attorney-client or confidential relationship is or should be formed by use of the site. This article is intended to provide general information only and does not give advice which relates to your specific individual circumstances. Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Any link-listing or ad-listing on this site does not constitute any type of endorsement.

Gurmit loves travelling; he has been over 70 countries. He speaks fluent Cantonese, Polish, Hindi, Punjabi and English. Gurmit is an author, writer, insurance and mortgage expert. He frequently writes on various topics of interest to his readers. Gurmit Singh is a licensed mortgage expert with Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Villa.

Gurmit Singh, mba
Mortgage Expert
M08009905
Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Villa (11574)
Email:gurmit@gurmitsingh.ca
Website: http://www.gurmitsingh.ca

Secrets of Credit Score Part 4

Financial institutions are now looking at things like default percentages corresponding to your FICO credit score. For example an accepted industry statistic is that consumers with a credit score of 750-760 usually have a default / arrears rate of 0.18%-0.20%. Financial institutions prefer to see a big gap between the credit amount you are using and the credit limits available for you. If you manage to keep your balances less than 30 percent of the credit limit on each credit card, things will get better for you.

Late payments will kill your credit score. If you were a lender, you would want the person to whom you are lending money to have a good history of making payments. Lately, many banks are starting to focus on lending to those with bad credit. This makes getting car loans accessible to nearly any one with a regular income.

Obviously, someone should have an opportunity to explain a blemish on their credit record - for instance, if a spouse did something to cause it or if something happened many years ago.

Online, you could have just applied and waited for a reply, all done within minutes. Without internet, you have to seek out the offices of the student loan lender and then go talk to them in person.

Contact the company to find out what your report said. This information is free if you ask for it within 60 days of being turned down for credit or insurance. Contact your creditor to ask for an adjustment when it comes to your payment terms whenever a financial problem will hinder you from making installments on time so that your late payments will not appear into your credit report.

Mortgage lenders in particular might look at your total available credit and ask you to close a few accounts as a condition for getting a loan. Mortgage is paid off and no other type of loans. Credit cards paid off monthly.

Banks that might have otherwise financed almost 100% of a home purchase will suddenly drop their offer to 80% or 90% when a credit check reveals a poor credit rating. In order to purchase the home, the consumer will need to come up with the remaining funds out of pocket and that means a considerably larger down payment. Banks are examining credit reports and reviewing credit scores for consumers who have existing credit cards with them. They can modify the terms, limits and interest rates for a current customer they feel might be a credit risk.

Users should focus on on-time payments and credit inquiries as active credit management. More accounts and longer history will come in time. Users should seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding all personal financial issues and evaluate the risks and applicability to their own circumstances of each financial product discussed regardless of who the publisher is or purports to be. Should you, through your use of this site, identify an individual or organization purporting to offer personalized advice, you bear all responsibility to ensure that the individual or organization has the qualifications that they may represent on the website, and that their advice is appropriate for your circumstances.

Again if you do not have any history of a late payment that does not mean that your credit score will improve. Again, your credit score is an evaluation of your ability to manage your credit, so another way to give your credit score a boost is to diversify the types of credit and loans you have. A good mixture of credit cards, mortgages, car loans, and student loans–a variety of credit–illustrates your ability to manage various types of credit.

Thank you for taking your time to read this article. Your comments on this article will be highly appreciated. To access hundreds of Gurmit’s articles please visit http://gurmittoor.blogspot.com.

Information shared here does not constitute financial, legal, or other professional advice, and no attorney-client or confidential relationship is or should be formed by use of the site. This article is intended to provide general information only and does not give advice which relates to your specific individual circumstances. Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Any link-listing or ad-listing on this site does not constitute any type of endorsement.

Gurmit loves travelling; he has been over 70 countries. He speaks fluent Cantonese, Polish, Hindi, Punjabi and English. Gurmit is an author, writer, insurance and mortgage expert. He frequently writes on various topics of interest to his readers. Gurmit Singh is a licensed mortgage expert with Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Villa.

Gurmit Singh, mba
Mortgage Expert
M08009905
Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Villa (11574)
Email:gurmit@gurmitsingh.ca
Website: http://www.gurmitsingh.ca

Secrets of Credit Score Part 3

Consumers should do what a good broker does -- look for a lender that offers the best rate for a specific score. Consumers can typically keep their credit scores high by maintaining a long history of always paying their bills on time and not having too much debt. Consumer advocates recommend checking your report periodically. If you see inaccurate information on your report, inform the credit reporting company.

The FICO score is derived from a formula that was created in the 1950s by Fair Isaac and Company as a way to help lenders to more accurately and more consistently measure the credit risk associated with borrowers. Consumers with past (or present) credit problems need to educate themselves, learn how to fix past problems, establish new credit (the right kind of credit!), and to change their credit habits going forward.

Lenders generally like the amount of credit you’re using to be under 20% of what’s available to you. So if you have two credit cards, each with a limit of $5,000, you want a total debt of $2,000 (or 20% of $10,000) or less. Lenders look for trends. Lenders use your credit-use ratio as a key factor for determining your creditworthiness. If you keep this ratio at a maximum of 30% (meaning total outstanding balance divided by total credit limits), it will help your credit score.

Lenders report your activity every 30 days to the credit bureaus and that’s the information that is used to determine your score. Lenders request a current score when you submit a credit application, so they have the most recent information available. Therefore, by taking the time to improve your score, you can qualify for more favorable interest rates. Lenders have little or no patience for someone who's a credit risk.

Lenders like to see that you're spending within your means, which translates to using less of your credit limit — the lower percentage the better.

Check the reports and if you find mistakes, fill out the simple form to dispute them. Check your credit score online. Improve your credit score. Checking your credit report on a regular basis to ensure it is accurate and error free is recommended by Fair Isaac the inventor of the FICO Score. Maintaining an error free credit report is part of credit management which will improve your credit rating over time.

Creditors may also use a generic scoring model developed by a credit scoring company. A credit scoring system awards points for each factor that helps predict who is most likely to repay a debt. Creditors often use third-party debt collectors to try to collect payment from you. Creditors might send your account to collections before or after charging it off.

Paid collection accounts hold just as harmful of a stain on your score as unpaid. The upside, though, is that they are less difficult to get removed. Paid off debts that are shown for the reason that first-rate aren’t doing you because much magnificent since they might if they were corrected. If there are any inaccuracies, you need to speak to the lender worried with the loan and necessitate that they correct the records on the credit reference file and confirm to you when this has been sorted.

Personally, I think keeping credit cards you don’t use open just for the sake of a couple points on your credit score silly. All those extra cards have too much potential for problems. Perhaps a bill was sent to a wrong address, or you have had a dispute with a vendor. It is likely that you have some issues on your report that should be disputed or corrected. Perhaps the clerks will always for your photo ID!

Financing has become a nightmare, especially when you can't get rid of your current home. Nonetheless, I am safe to assume I passed automated underwriting and am awaiting a manual double check of the file from the bank. Financial counsellors all agree about one thing: maintaining a good credit is important to conducting a healthy financial life.

Thank you for taking your time to read this article. Your comments on this article will be highly appreciated. Information shared here does not constitute financial, legal, or other professional advice. This article is intended to provide general information only and does not give advice which relates to your individual circumstances.

Gurmit is an insurance and mortgage expert. To get in touch with Gurmit Singh, please visit his website www.gurmitsingh.ca Thank you for taking your time to read this article. Your comments on this article will be highly appreciated. To access hundreds of Gurmit’s articles please visit http://gurmittoor.blogspot.com.

Information shared here does not constitute financial, legal, or other professional advice, and no attorney-client or confidential relationship is or should be formed by use of the site. This article is intended to provide general information only and does not give advice which relates to your specific individual circumstances. Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Any link-listing or ad-listing on this site does not constitute any type of endorsement.

Gurmit loves travelling; he has been over 70 countries. He speaks fluent Cantonese, Polish, Hindi, Punjabi and English. Gurmit is an author, writer, insurance and mortgage expert. He frequently writes on various topics of interest to his readers. Gurmit Singh is a licensed mortgage expert with Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Villa.

Gurmit Singh, mba
Mortgage Expert
M08009905
Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Villa (11574)
Email:gurmit@gurmitsingh.ca
Website: http://www.gurmitsingh.ca

Secrets of Credit Score Part 2

Credit scores have proven over time to be a reliable indicator of whether or not a consumer would repay a loan. Credit scores allow lenders to quickly make on-the-spot credit decisions based on a 3-digit number that sums up your credit worthiness. There are many credit scoring models in use today; all are designed to rate your likelihood to repay your debts. Credit scores are derived from credit reports, so it is vital that you know everything you can about credit reports.

Credit scores typically range from about 300 to 850. Consumers with high credit scores are more likely to obtain lower interest rates and better terms on loans, including mortgages, and credit cards (higher credit scores can also result in lower insurance rates). Credit scores are available as an add-on feature of the report for a fee. Credit scores are being used for everything these days, including mortgages, credit cards, and insurance and even employment decisions. Your credit score can be the number one thing that causes a credit company to say "yes" or "no" to your credit application.

Credit scores help lenders assess risk more fairly because they are consistent and objective. Consumers also benefit from this method. Credit scores are calculated based on data in your credit reports and, as fluid numbers, change over time, sometimes on a daily basis! That's why it’s so important to stay on top of your credit reports for changes that could affect your credit scores. Credit score is only one part of the equation when getting loans. The main focus should be on making sure everything in your credit report is accurate and as good as can be.

Credit scores are also weighed when you want to refinance a home loan or buy something on time. Some auto and home insurance companies will accept or reject you based on your credit score. Credit scores are fluid numbers that change as the elements in your credit report change.

Credit scores affect everything from rates on mortgages and car loans, to credit card terms and even whether you get a job. Lenders use them as an indication of how likely you are to repay a loan.

Bad credit can get you denied for basic services, such as electricity or a cell phone, if your credit report shows that you tend to pay late. Bad credit is typically associated with the inability to get new credit. Car loans, mortgages, and bank loans can be much more difficult to obtain with a problematic credit history.

Freezing your credit card or burying it in the backyard is such age-old advice, it’s practically a cliché. If your account goes dormant, the company may stop reporting it to the credit bureaus or they could shut it down completely.

FICO likes to see that you're still using credit, but doing so responsibly. FICO scores are the credit scores most lenders use to determine your credit risk. You have three FICO scores, one for each of the three credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax.

Each credit agency might give you a different score, so check with all three to get a good idea of exactly what your score is. Banks and other lenders check your FICO score when you apply for, and use credit. Knowing your score puts you one step ahead when you apply for a mortgage, loan or other credit. Banks, mortgage companies, apartment complexes, car dealerships, realtors, and even insurance companies can get your risk in a matter of a few seconds using the FICO score model that the bureaus use to determine your credit score. Your score is so prevalent these days.

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Information shared here does not constitute financial, legal, or other professional advice, and no attorney-client or confidential relationship is or should be formed by use of the site. This article is intended to provide general information only and does not give advice which relates to your specific individual circumstances. Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Any link-listing or ad-listing on this site does not constitute any type of endorsement.

Gurmit loves travelling; he has been over 70 countries. He speaks fluent Cantonese, Polish, Hindi, Punjabi and English. Gurmit is an author, writer, insurance and mortgage expert. He frequently writes on various topics of interest to his readers. Gurmit Singh is a licensed mortgage expert with Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Villa.

Gurmit Singh, mba
Mortgage Expert
M08009905
Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Villa (11574)
Email:gurmit@gurmitsingh.ca
Website: http://www.gurmitsingh.ca
 

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