Myths and Truth about Credit Scoring

Credit score is the key factor determining approval of almost any type of credit. It is based on the information contained in your credit report files. The widely used FICO score was developed by Fair Isaac Corporation, and it is a formula which assesses your potential credit risk.

The information used to calculate credit score can be broken down into five major parts. Your payment history with banks and other lenders will account for 35% of the score, the amount of money you owe for 30%, and the length of your credit history for 15%. New credit and a statistical assessment of how healthy your credit mix is will both account for 10%.

Credit score is not based in any way on the following information:

- references to debt management or credit counseling programs.
- person's marital status.
- current employment status, including how long with the same employer.
- credit report inquiries made by you, employers, insurance companies, or banks if made without your knowledge.
- what interest rates are charged on your credit cards, etc. - public assistance received.
- person's age.
- child or family support received.

You can increase your score by:

- always paying bills on time.
- paying off or reducing credit card and other debt.
- keeping old, unused credit cards, departments store cards and other "revolving" credit accounts open, even if you don't use them.
- not applying for credit very often.
- correcting mistakes on your credit reports.

Banks decisions are made according to their own standards.

While the majority of lenders use credit score as a key factor in approving credit, other facts play their parts as well, among them: your income, employment status and length of time at present address, to name a few. Each bank has its own standards. What score is acceptable for a particular loan or credit product depends solely on a lender. The person's credit score might not be high enough to get credit with one bank, and perfectly acceptable with another.

More about credit score and tips on improving your credit can be found at: How Much? - Comparing financial products.

Senior staff member for How Much?
http://www.howmuchanswers.com/

In The News:


Google News
Updated : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 02:07:34 GMT

Rival Tickets Are Redrawing Battlegrounds - New York Times


Times Online
Rival Tickets Are Redrawing Battlegrounds
New York Times - 3 hours ago
Senator John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin held a rally on Saturday at an airplane hanger in Colorado Springs, Colo. By PATRICK HEALY and MICHAEL COOPER Fresh from the Republican convention, Senator John McCain’s campaign sees evidence that his choice of ...
On to the main event for McCain, Obama Atlanta Journal Constitution
Obama, McCain to Honor Victims of 9/11 Together Voice of America
AFP - Hagerstown Morning Herald - Washington Post - Financial Times
all 1,434 news articles

Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:23:34 GMT

Tough Game Expected, but Penn State Makes It a Rout - New York Times


Washington Post
Tough Game Expected, but Penn State Makes It a Rout
New York Times - 50 minutes ago
By AP Evan Royster rushed for 141 yards and 3 touchdowns, Daryll Clark threw two scoring passes and the defense for 19th-ranked Penn State did not miss a beat without two suspended starters Saturday in a 45-14 victory over visiting Oregon State.
Clark, Royster lead Nittany Lions to romp over Oregon State Seattle Post Intelligencer
Big Ten early notes: Penn State makes a statement ESPN
The Associated Press - SportingNews.com - Dawgman.com - Big Ten Network
all 388 news articles

Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 01:17:05 GMT

'Wrestler' takes top honors at Venice - Variety

'Wrestler' takes top honors at Venice
Variety - 5 hours ago
By JEFF SNEIDER Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler" has won the Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion. Pic stars Mickey Rourke as a past-his-prime wrestler on the comeback trail.
'Wrestler' wins Golden Lion Hollywood Reporter
"The Wrestler" wins Venice Golden Lion Reuters
Independent - The Associated Press - guardian.co.uk - TIME
all 418 news articles

Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:11:44 GMT

FDA to List Drugs Being Investigated - Washington Post


ABC News
FDA to List Drugs Being Investigated
Washington Post - 21 hours ago
By David Brown The Food and Drug Administration will begin posting every three months a list of drugs whose safety is under investigation because of complaints brought to the agency's attention by drug companies, physicians and patients.
The Basics on the Foodfight Over Irradiation U.S. News & World Report
20 Drugs FDA Is Watching WebMD
Wall Street Journal - Los Angeles Times - The Associated Press - CNNMoney.com
all 535 news articles

Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:19:40 GMT

Hot Docs: Defending Georgia, Girls Married by 15, the Chemical BPA ... - U.S. News & World Report


CTV.ca
Hot Docs: Defending Georgia, Girls Married by 15, the Chemical BPA ...
U.S. News & World Report - Sep 5, 2008
A Resolute Strategy on Georgia: One day after Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced "at least $1 billion" in aid to Georgia, a Center for Strategic and International Studies report looks at increasing criticisms of such programs.
Bisphenol A may harm fetuses, infants and children Food Consumer
That Plastic Baby Bottle New York Times
eFluxMedia - Los Angeles Times - Washington Post - AHN
all 308 news articles

Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:01:40 GMT

Google Chrome Reflects A Desktop In Decline - InformationWeek


PR Web (press release)
Google Chrome Reflects A Desktop In Decline
InformationWeek - 4 hours ago
After 10 years as a company, Google is making the Chrome browser key to the coming of age of cloud computing, or software as a service.
Mozilla updates Firefox 3.1 with Alpha 2 build Computerworld
Mozilla releases second Firefox 3.1 alpha CNET News
CRN - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Examiner.com - Hartford Courant
all 231 news articles

Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:46:03 GMT

'Bangkok Dangerous' - Los Angeles Times


Los Angeles Times
'Bangkok Dangerous'
Los Angeles Times - 3 hours ago
The Pang brothers remake their audacious 1999 film, but without the gritty, seamy feel of the original, it seems like just another bullet ballet out of a Steve Wynn dream.
'Dangerous' prosperous at box office Variety
An Assassin Arrives to Turn Off the Lights New York Times
Metromix - Reuters - Boston Herald - Portsmouth Herald News
all 275 news articles

Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:52:03 GMT

RSS Feed Reader
Increased Web Site Traffic


PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Dont Fall for Credit Repair Scams

We've all seen the ads on television or in magazines,... Read More

Winning The Credit Game!

Everywhere we go, the word credit can be found, shining... Read More

Errors on Your Credit Report: What You Should Do

There are times when you may be turned down for... Read More

Are 0% Credit Cards Reaching Their End?

Are Credit Card companies starting to feel the pinch? We... Read More

Do You Know Whats On Your Credit Report ?

It is important to know your credit rating for a... Read More

7 Compelling Reasons Why A Prepaid Debit Card May Be Just The Financial Tool You Need

Prepaid debit cards are great financial tools and may be... Read More

Credit Repair Services vs. Do-It-Yourself Credit Repair

Millions of Americans suffer because of bad credit these days,... Read More

All Is Fair In Love, War, and, Your Credit Report - At Least It Should Be! Understanding the FCRA

Fact: Over 150 million Americans have credit report with the... Read More

Using Credit Cards Wisely

"I think money was stolen from my card" or "I... Read More

Credit Reports ? Why Your Credit Score is Important

If you have never heard of a FICO score before,... Read More

Credit Card Tips

Here are some useful credit card tips for you to... Read More

Making Sense of the Information in Your Credit Report

If you've ever applied for a credit card or loan,... Read More

SuperCharged Secret 1 of 5 - Credit Card Utopia

I AM THE CONSUMER. AND I HAVE LOW-RATE SUPER-POWERS!Note: The... Read More

Credit Cards - The Top 3 Things You Need To Know

Today there are so many different credit cards available, student... Read More

Choosing a Credit Counseling Company

If you have considered credit counseling as an option to... Read More

Bankruptcy vs. Credit Counseling: What Should I Do?

Credit Counseling and bankruptcy are both ways to relieve the... Read More

Consolidating Credit Cards

Credit card consolidation is a popular solution for those with... Read More

Ethical Finance: Who Benefits From Our Spending?

On one hand consumers are being universally criticised for running... Read More

Cash Advance ? How Does It Work?

If you want a cash advance or a payday/paycheck loan,... Read More

Addressing Bad Credit Card Debt

Spending HabitsSo you've just got your credit card. The first... Read More

Maximizing Credit Card Rewards

In their quest to get you to sign up for... Read More

Comprehending a Credit Report

Obtaining a credit report is an excellent way to begin... Read More

First Major Regulatory and Legislative Victory of 2005 for Creditors and Consumers

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, collectors are not... Read More

How To Use Your Credit Card For Ultimate Financial Advantage

Using a credit card wisely is an important step in... Read More

Stop Credit Card Offers

You can stop receiving credit card offers in the mail!... Read More