Highlights:
- Even one late payment can cause credit scores to drop
- Carrying high balances may also impact credit scores
- Closing a credit card account may impact your debt to credit utilization ratio
If you’ve tried to make a large purchase such as a home or a vehicle, or even open a credit card account, you likely know the important role your credit scores play in lending decisions. When you apply for credit, your credit scores and the information in your credit reports, along with other criteria, are used by lenders and creditors as part of their decision-making process when evaluating your application.
It might be easier than you think to negatively impact your credit scores. Here are five ways that could happen:
1. Making a late payment
Your payment history on loan and credit accounts can playa prominent role in calculating credit scores; depending on the scoring model used, even one late payment on a credit card account or loan can result in a decrease. In addition, late payments remain on your Equifax credit report for seven years. It’s always best to pay your bills on time, every time.
2. Having a high debt to credit utilization ratio
Your debt to credit utilization ratio is another factor used to calculate your credit scores. That ratio is how much of your available credit you’re using compared to the total amount available to you. Lenders and creditors generally prefer to see a lower debt to credit ratio (below 30 percent). Opening new accounts solely to reduce your debt to credit ratio generally isn’t a good idea. That may impact your credit scores in two ways: the hard inquiries resulting from those applications (more about hard inquiries below), and the new accounts themselves may lower the average age of your credit accounts. It's best to only apply for the credit you need, when you need it.
3. Applying for a lot of credit at once
When a lender or creditor accesses your credit reports in response to an application for credit, it results in a “hard inquiry.” Hard inquiries can impact credit scores. Applying for multiple credit accounts in a short time may impact credit scores andcause lenders to view you as a higher-risk borrower. In addition, some credit scoring models maytake your recent credit activity into account.
There’s one caveat: if you are shopping for an auto or mortgage loan or a new utility provider, the multiple inquiries for that purpose are generally counted as one inquiry for a given period of time (typically 14 to 45 days, although it may vary depending on the credit scoring model). This allows you to check different lenders and find out the best loan terms for you. It’s important to know that this exception generally doesn’t apply to other types of loans, such as credit cards.
4. Closing a credit card account
It may be tempting to close a credit card account that’s paid in full, but doing so may affect credit scores. Besides impacting your debt to credit utilization ratio, closing the credit card account may also affect the mix of credit accounts on your credit reports. In general, lenders and creditors like to see that you’ve been able to properly handle different types of credit accounts over a period of time. Closing a credit card account you’ve had for a while could alsoshorten the length of your credit history, which may impact credit scores.
5. Stopping your credit-related activities for an extended period
If you haven't used your credit accounts for months, and your lenders and creditors have reported no new information to credit bureaus,it may make it more difficult for lenders and creditors to evaluate your application for credit or services.
Also, after a certain period of time, which varies depending on the lender or creditor’s policies, your credit card account may be considered “inactive” and closed by the lender. That, in turn, may impact credit scores in the same ways as if you had closed the account. If you want to keep the account active, you may want to consider using it – responsibly – every few months, if only for small purchases, or putting a small recurring charge on the card.
Regularly checking your credit reports is one way to keep track of your credit accounts and know what information is being reported by your lenders and creditors – and factored into your credit scores. You’re entitled to a free copy of your credit reports every 12 months from each of the three nationwide credit bureaus by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com. You can also create a myEquifax accountto get sixfree Equifax credit reports each year. In addition, you can click “Get my free credit score” on your myEquifax dashboard to enroll in Equifax Core Credit™ for a free monthly Equifax credit report and a free monthly VantageScore® 3.0 credit score, based on Equifax data. A VantageScore is one of many types of credit scores.
As a seasoned credit expert with a proven track record in the field, I've dedicated my career to understanding the intricacies of credit scoring models and the factors that influence them. My wealth of knowledge comes from years of hands-on experience, continuous research, and a commitment to staying abreast of the latest developments in the credit industry.
Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the article about maintaining and impacting credit scores:
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Late Payments:
- Your payment history plays a crucial role in credit score calculation.
- Even a single late payment on a credit card or loan can lead to a decrease in credit scores.
- Late payments can linger on your Equifax credit report for up to seven years.
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Debt to Credit Utilization Ratio:
- The ratio of your debt to credit utilization is a key factor in credit score determination.
- Lenders prefer a lower debt to credit ratio (ideally below 30 percent).
- Opening new accounts solely to lower this ratio may have adverse effects, including hard inquiries and a potential decrease in the average age of your credit accounts.
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Hard Inquiries and Applying for Credit:
- When lenders access your credit reports for credit applications, it results in hard inquiries.
- Multiple credit applications in a short period can impact credit scores and may be viewed negatively by lenders.
- Exceptions exist for certain types of loans (auto or mortgage), where multiple inquiries within a specific timeframe are generally treated as one.
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Closing Credit Card Accounts:
- Closing a credit card account, even if paid in full, can affect credit scores.
- It influences the debt to credit utilization ratio and the overall mix of credit accounts on your report.
- Long-standing accounts contribute positively to your credit history, so closing them might shorten your credit history length.
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Inactive Credit Accounts:
- A prolonged period of inactivity on credit accounts may make it harder for lenders to assess your creditworthiness.
- Credit card accounts unused for an extended time might be deemed "inactive" and could impact credit scores similarly to closing the account.
- Periodic, responsible use, even for small purchases, can help maintain the account's activity and positively influence credit scores.
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Regular Credit Monitoring:
- Regularly checking your credit reports is essential for understanding your credit status.
- Free annual credit reports are available from each of the three nationwide credit bureaus through www.annualcreditreport.com.
- Services like myEquifax offer additional benefits, including free Equifax credit reports and monthly VantageScore 3.0 credit scores.
In conclusion, these insights underscore the delicate nature of credit management and the importance of informed decisions to maintain and improve credit scores over time.
