Filed under: Personal Finance, Lynnette Khalfani-Cox
Some of the myths they debunk include:
o. Closing out old, inactive accounts will help your score
o. Opening (but not using) accounts will help your score
o. Paying off old debts and judgments will help your score
o. Dispute letters can clean up your bad credit
Remember, each of the ideas listed above are misconceptions that don't help your credit rating at all. In fact, when you act improperly based on these myths, they can actually hurt your FICO credit score.
I could add dozens more myths about credit scores. But here are three quick ones that come to mind:
MYTH: My age, race, gender, marital status, income or where I live can impact my credit score.
FACT: None of those factors are taken into consideration at all when your FICO credit score is determined. Under U.S. law, it is illegal to for credit scoring to take into account race, age, color, nationality, religion, sex and marital status.
MYTH: I pay cash for everything and don't buy on credit or use credit cards, so my credit score should be excellent.
FACT: Having no credit history or never using credit can have a negative impact on your credit score. It helps your FICO score to have some history of paying credit obligations on time. FICO reports that people with no credit cards tend to be higher risk than those who have credit cards, use them periodically, and manage their debt responsibly.
MYTH: The most important factor in my credit score is whether or not I am "maxed out" on my credit cards.
FACT: The single biggest determinant of your FICO credit score (35% of it) is based on how well you've paid your bills on time in the past. Your FICO score takes into account whether or not you've had late or missed payments, how far past due your bills were, how long ago the late pays occurred, as well as whether you have any collection items or public records, such as a repossession, foreclosure or judgment against you. How much credit you've used, and whether or not you are "maxed out" accounts for 30% of your FICO credit score.
Related:
+Social Security Freeze to Hit African Americans, Latinos Especially Hard
+Should Millionaires Be Eligible For Unemployment Benefits?
If you need more advice about improving your credit rating, be sure to check out a copy of my book, 'Perfect Credit: 7 Steps to a Great Credit Rating'. Also, if your credit card debt is what's holding you back from achieving excellent credit, read my New York Times bestseller, 'Zero Debt,' free of charge on my blog at AskTheMoneyCoach.com. Just click the tab that says Free Zero Debt.
Lastly, if you haven't seen your credit reports or credit scores lately, you're making a big mistake. Here's how to get your FICO credit score free.
Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, an award-winning financial news journalist and former Wall Street Journal reporter for CNBC, has been featured in the Washington Post, USA Today, and the New York Times, as well as magazines ranging from Essence and Redbook to Black Enterprise and Smart Money. Check out her New York Times best seller 'Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom.'