Credit Information
Credit Information
Credit is defined as your willingness and ability to pay back lenders. Businesses you borrow money from record your payment patterns onto a centralized database. The credit report companies obtain their information from national credit repositories, including the Experian, Trans Union, Equifax and firms that search public records.
What is a credit score? Credit bureau scoring is a way for lenders to assess the likelihood that a borrower will default on a loan. These scores range from 450 to 850. The higher the score the less the credit list. Credit scores are based on all data that is related to your ability to pay back a lender. This includes things like:
- Late payments
- Insurance payments
- Housing payments
- The frequency of late payments
- Outstanding debt
- Assets
- Available credit
- Loan inquiries
How Important is my Credit Score?
The importance of you credit score will depend on the lender as well as the loan product you choose. Some lenders will not use scores at all for certain programs. Some will have mandatory minimum credit scores that you must meet to get a loan. Your loan officer can explain to you how your credit score will come into play based on a particular program.
How to Fix a Mistake on Your Credit Report
If you find an error on your credit report, no matter how big or small, you should address it right away. You can contact a creditor directly to dispute any information you disagree with on a credit report. Usually any creditor you have borrowed from will have contact information available on your credit report. Once you have settled all disputed claims, the proper changes will be made and the information will be reflected in your credit history.
How Long Does Negative Information Stay on Your Credit Report?
Most information must be wiped from your credit history after seven years of the date that it happened. One exception are bankruptcies, which may be reported for up to ten years. Even if you have an amount corrected on with a creditor, it may still be on your credit report. You may have to provide documentation to the lender explaining the issue.
How Long Before My Credit Score Increases?
It can take from 30 to 60 days for changes to appear on your credit report, since companies usually put out credit reports once a month. Your score will be based on the information in the credit bureaus database. You can contact the credit company to let them know if you don’t see the changes you expect.
How to Increase your Credit Score
Your credit score is determined by the credit repositories, and there are a few things you can to increase your credit score. Following are some simple methods you can do to increase your credit score:
- Have any incorrect credit scores removed. Get documentation from the creditor providing proof of the issue.
- Close any unused accounts. If a loan applicant has too many accounts, this may indicate the excessive use of credit by the borrower.
- Establish good credit history with reputable creditors. This will show stability and indicate the ability to pay on time.
- Resolve any disputed credit history that may negatively affect your score. This shows that make good on your promise to pay your debts.
- Limit your number of credit inquiries. Inquiries will show on your credit report for three months after they are made, but stay with the credit bureau for two years. Once you have repaired once damaged credit, do not apply for new lines of credit.
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