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6: Credit Score
Your Credit Score is a numerical representation of your credit worthiness that is used by most lenders and credit card issuers. Remember, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion each have their own set of credit data about you, which is why Credit Scores may vary between them.
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Percentile: Your credit rating ranks higher than 81% of U.S. consumers.
What factors RAISE your PLUS Score:
You´ve paid your bills on time and currently do not have any overdue accounts or derogatory information, such as a collection, charge-off, or bankruptcy, on your report. You can be proud of the fact that you are building a good credit score, so continue with the positive credit behavior!
Your average credit limit for your major credit cards, such as VISA or MasterCard, is high. This tells lenders that you have enough financial experience and will be more likely to see you as a good credit risk. Keep paying all your bills on time and work toward minimizing your outstanding balance and you should have no trouble obtaining high credit limits on future credit accounts.
What factors LOWER your PLUS Score:
Each time a potential lender or landlord pulls your credit report for review, an inquiry is placed on your file. Having too many inquiries to your credit report is negatively affecting your score. Inquiries stay on your credit report for up to two years, but they are not necessarily negative information. However, too many inquiries may indicate to lenders that you are trying to take on more new debt. Try to keep your inquiries to a minimum and apply for new credit sparingly.
Your overall balances are close to your overall credit limits, which may be lowering your score. Having high credit limits shows lenders that you are responsible with your credit, but you should increase the cushion between your debt and your limits by paying down your balances so lenders don't perceive you as getting in more debt than you can handle. This may help improve your credit score.
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Help?
About your PLUS Score:
Your PLUS Score is formulated using the information in your
credit file. Your PLUS Score can range between 330
and 830, with a higher score indicating a lower risk. There are many scoring
models used in the marketplace. The type of score used, and its associated risk
levels, may vary from lender to lender. But regardless of what scoring model is
used, they all have one purpose: to summarize your creditworthiness. Keep in
mind that your score is just one factor used in the application process. Other
factors, such as your annual salary and length of employment, may also be
considered by lenders when you apply for a loan.
What this means to you:
Credit scoring can help you understand your overall credit
rating and help companies better understand how to serve you. Overall benefits
of credit scoring have included faster credit approvals, reduction in human
error and bias, consistency, and better terms and rates for American consumers
through reduced costs and losses for lenders. While lenders may use different
scoring models to determine how you score, and each major credit bureau has its
own method for calculating credit scores, the scoring models have been fairly
well standardized so that a score at one bureau is roughly equivalent to the
same score at another.
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DISCLAIMER
The PLUS Score®, developed by Experian, is not an endorsement or guarantee of your credit worthiness as seen by lenders. The different risk levels presented here are for educational use only. Your PLUS Score can help you understand what factors raise and lower your credit rating.
Please be aware that there are many scoring models used in the marketplace, and each lender´s scoring model has its own set of factors. How each lender weighs their chosen factors may vary, but the exact formula used to calculate your score is proprietary. But generally, the higher your score, the better your chances are of obtaining favorable rates and terms.
Your PLUS Score was calculated using your actual data from your credit file on the day that you request your PLUS Score, making it comparable to most scoring models in the industry. But keep in mind that other factors, such as length of employment and annual salary, are often taken into consideration by lenders when making decisions about you.
Also note that each bureau has its own set of data, resulting in a separate PLUS Score for each of your credit files.
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