What is Credit Score Credit Report

Credit Report scores are the credit scores most lenders use to determine your credit risk. You have three Credit Report scores, one for each of the three credit bureaus – Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. Each score is based on information the credit bureau keeps on file about you. As this information changes, your Credit Report scores tend to change as well.

If you don’t think that your Credit Report scores are important, think again. The rate you can expect to pay for a loan is dependent on these scores. The difference between a Credit Report score of 620 and 760 can often be tens of thousands of dollars over the life of your loan. A low score can cost you money each month or even stop you from refinancing at a rate you know other people are getting.

Basically, the higher your Credit Report scores the less you can expect to pay for your loan. For example, on a $216,000 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage:

As you can see in this example using today’s national rates, a person with a Credit Report score of 760 or better will pay $227 less per month for a $216,000 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage than a person with a Credit Report score of 620 – that’s a savings of $2,724 per year. You can see how essential improving your scores can be if they are low, and also how important it is to keep them high if they are good.

Even if you think your Credit Report scores are fine, there may be errors on your credit report that you’ll want to clear up before refinancing. Addressing errors before you begin the process may be annoying, but dealing with them while you’re in the middle of trying to secure a loan will be downright infuriating.

Most lenders use all three Credit Report scores when evaluating your loan application. Your score will likely be different for each bureau and there may be errors on one that doesn’t appear on the others. When you apply for a loan, do it with the peace of mind of knowing how you’ll be viewed by lenders. Credit Report Deluxe provides you with all three of your Credit Report scores – Order your Credit Scores now.

Your Credit Report score analysis will suggest things you can do to improve your score over time. Generally, people with high Credit Report scores consistently:

• - Pay bills on time.
• - Keep balances low on credit cards and other revolving credit products.
• - Apply for and open new credit accounts only as needed.

  what's the most important factor in a Score?

  Credit Report scores consider five main kinds of credit information. Listed from most important to least important, these are:

• - Payment history.
• - Amount owed.
• - Length of credit history.
• - New credit.
• - Types of credit in use.
• What do Credit Report scores ignore?
• - Your race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or marital status.
• - Your age.
• - Your salary, occupation, title, employer, date employed, or employment history.
• - Where you live.
• - Any interest rate being charged on a particular credit card or other account.
• - Certain types of inquiries (such as promotional, account review, insurance or employment-related inquiries).
• - Credit counseling.
• -Any information not found in your credit report.
• -Any information that is not proven to be predictive of future credit performance.

What is a good Credit Report score?

Since there is no one minimum score used by all lenders, it's hard to say what a good score is outside the context of a particular lending decision. Your lender may be able to give you guidance on the criteria for a given credit product

How often does my score change?

Your credit report is continually updated with new information from your creditors. The Credit Report score is calculated based on the latest snapshot of information contained in your credit report at the time the score is requested. So your Credit Report score from a month ago is probably not the same score a lender would get from the consumer reporting agency today. Fluctuations of a few points from month to month are quite common.

How are Credit Report scores calculated?

Every Credit Report score is calculated at a consumer reporting agency using a mathematical formula that evaluates many types of information on your credit report at that agency. By comparing your information to the patterns in millions of past credit reports, the score identifies your level of future credit risk.

What are the highest and lowest Credit Report scores?

Credit Report scores range from 300 to 850. The higher the score, the lower the predicted credit risk for lenders.

Why do lenders use Credit Report scores?

Credit scores give lenders a fast, objective and impartial snapshot of a person's credit risk based on their credit history. That's why lenders use Credit Report credit scores when making credit decisions. The higher the individual's score, the lower the risk to lenders when extending new credit to that person.

Does everyone have a Credit Report score?

For a Credit Report score to be calculated on your credit report, the report must contain at least one account which has been open for six months or longer. In addition, the report must contain at least one account that has been updated in the past six months. This ensures that there is enough information - and enough recent information - in your report to compute an accurate score.

What is a BEACON, EMPIRICA or Experian/Fair Isaac Risk Score?

These are the commercial names used by the different credit reporting agencies for the Credit Report score. Credit Report scores are calculated by the three major credit reporting agencies - Equifax, Experian and TransUnion - using formulas developed by Fair Isaac. The Credit Report score is known as BEACON® at Equifax, EMPIRICA® at TransUnion and the Experian/Fair Isaac Risk Score at Experian.

Will my score actually change over time?

Yes, it's normal for scores to change. Your Credit Report score today is likely different from your Credit Report score of a few weeks ago. Your score changes when the underlying information on your credit report changes. Since this can happen anytime, lenders usually make decisions based on your most current Credit Report score and not on yesterday's score.

Is my score more likely to go up or down?

That depends on a lot of things under your control. For example, if you manage your credit carefully by paying your bills on time, keeping credit card balances low, and only taking on as much new credit as you really need, then your score is likely to improve over time. But if you pay your bills late, carry high credit card balances or shop excessively for new credit, then your score will probably go down.

Improving Your Score

It's important to note that raising your score is a bit like losing weight: It takes time and there is no quick fix. In fact, quick-fix efforts can backfire. The best advice is to manage credit responsibly over time. See how much money you can save by just following these tips and raising your score.