A credit score is a numerical summary of your creditworthiness based on your history. Credit providers, such as banks and credit card companies, use it to evaluate the risk of lending you money. A higher credit score usually makes it easier for borrowers to obtain credit from financial institutions and often results in lower interest rates. Here are the key things you need to know about your credit score.
It's All About Your Credit History
Your credit score is primarily derived from your credit report, which is a detailed record of your past borrowing and repayment history. This includes information about loans, credit card usage, payment history, outstanding debts, and other financial behaviours.
How is Your Credit Score Calculated?
Different credit bureaus use various models to calculate credit scores. The most commonly known models are Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) and VantageScore. These models analyse data from your credit report to generate a score. In the case of FICO scores, your score is made up of the following components:
- Payment History (35% of FICO Score): This is the most significant factor. It reflects whether you have paid past credit accounts on time.
- Amounts Owed (30% of FICO Score): This involves the total amount of credit and loans you're using compared to your total credit limit, also known as your credit utilisation ratio.
- Length of Credit History (15% of FICO Score): A longer credit history generally increases your score.
- New Credit (10% of FICO Score): This includes the number of new accounts you have opened and the number of recent hard inquiries (when a lender requests your credit report after you apply for credit).
- Credit Mix (10% of FICO Score): This refers to the variety of credit products you have, including credit cards, instalment loans, finance company accounts, mortgage loans, etc.
Credit scores typically range from 300 to 850. A higher score indicates better creditworthiness, suggesting that the individual is a lower risk to lenders. Scores are often categorised into ranges, e.g. 'excellent', 'good', 'fair', 'poor', which can influence the terms and interest rates offered by lenders.
Why Does Your Credit Score Matter?
Your credit score influences the likelihood of being approved for loans, credit cards, and other financial products. It also affects the terms and interest rates you are offered. In some cases, credit scores can also be a factor in renting an apartment, getting certain jobs (especially in finance or government), and determining insurance premiums. Read more about the risks of a low credit score.
How To Keep Your Credit Score High
To build and maintain a good credit score, it’s crucial to pay your bills on time, keep your credit card balances low, avoid taking on too much debt, and apply for new credit sparingly. You should regularly check your credit score and address any issues as soon as you can. Your credit report can help you understand your financial standing, identify areas for improvement, and detect any errors or fraudulent activities. For a free credit report, use Debt Sage's credit report tool.
Summary
In summary, a credit score is a vital metric that represents your financial reliability and credit health. It plays a significant role in various aspects of financial life, influencing the terms under which credit is available to you. The two most important factors in determining your credit score are your payment history and your credit utilisation ratio. Together, these can account for as much as 65% of your score. Other factors, like the length of your credit history and the types of credit you have, typically contribute about 10% each to your overall score. Knowing your credit status is crucial, particularly if you plan to apply for any form of financing in the future. Debt Sage can provide a comprehensive credit report to give you a clear understanding of your total debt and help assess your creditworthiness.