Compare Mortgage Quotes

Refinance Rates for Today

Please enable JavaScript for the best experience.

In the mean time, check out our refinance rates!

Company Loan Type APR Est. Pmt.

Fico road map

Posted on: 27th Apr, 2007 06:59 am
FICO SCORES

Understanding the crossroads that lead to explaining the score.

Approximate Credit Weight for each year
  • 40% = current to 12 months
  • 30% = 13-24 months
  • 20% = 25-36 months
  • 10% = 37+ months
What makes up the score?
  • 35% = based on payment history (i.e. on-time pays or delinquencies)
    • More weight on current pay history
  • 30% = capacity (capacity is King)
  • 15% = length of credit
  • 10% = accumulation of debt in the last 12-18 months
    • # of inquiries
    • opening dates
  • 10% = mix of credit
    • installment (raises) vs. revolving (lowers)
    • # of finance company loans the more, the lower the score
What doesn't affect the score?
  • Debt ratio
  • Income
  • Length of residence
  • Length of employment
How to improve the score?
  • Pay down on credit cards
  • Do not close credit cards because capacity will decrease
  • Continue to make payments on time (older late pays will become less significant with time)
  • Slow down on opening new accounts
  • Acquire a solid credit history with years of experience
  • Moving revolving debt to installment debt.
What actions will hurt the score?
  • Missing payments (irregardless of $ amounts…It will take
    24mo to restore credit with one late pay)
  • Credit cards at capacity (i.e. maxing out credit cards)
  • Closing credit cards out (this lowers available capacity)
  • Shopping for credit excessively
  • Opening up numerous trades in a short time period
  • Having more revolving loans in relation to installment loans
  • Borrowing from finance companies.


Source: http://www.cwcu.org/library/credit_scores.htm

[Edited As per Forum Rules - By Caron]
Good information Will :)
Posted on: 27th Apr, 2007 12:47 pm
That will help people trying to know more about credit scores but Will if you format it a bit then it would look better.

Colin
Posted on: 27th Apr, 2007 01:27 pm
Yes Will, I agree with the points you have mentioned here about credit score. But I would surely like to add the following tips.
  • One should not have several installment loans as they are bound to reduce the score. Instead, one can have a combination of installment loans and credit cards requiring payments at fixed rates.

  • It is better to avoid opening too many new accounts for someone who has already been through credit problems in the past.

  • One should avoid too many credit inquiries carried out within a short range of time. This would imply that you aren't opening multiple accounts and will not affect the score.
Posted on: 28th Apr, 2007 01:59 am
Page loaded in 0.092 seconds.