Why Your Credit Score is Important


Your credit score can either haunt you or reward you. It all depends on how you handle your credit and payment activities. Your credit score determines what interest rates you will pay and if you are even approved for a loan or a credit card at all. In addition, your credit score can play a factor in renting your next apartment or getting hired from a potential employer.

Your credit score is compiled from the information on your credit report. The performance of your credit activity is rated on a numerical scale from 350-850. This number is your credit score. The higher your credit score, the better. Late payments, delinquent accounts and maxed out credit limits are all things that can lower your score. Below is a general guideline to determine what your credit score means in terms of getting approved for a loan or receiving credit and what type of interest rates you can expect to pay.

750-850: Is considered to be an excellent credit score. You can expect approval and should receive a great interest rate.

680-749: Is considered to be a good credit score. Generally you should be approved and given a favorable interest rate. 620-679: Is considered to be a middle of the road score. You will more than likely be approved but you may have to pay a higher interest rate.

550-619: Is considered to be a low credit score. You can find lenders who will approve people with poor credit scores but they will probably charge very high interest rates and fees.

300-549: Is considered to be a very bad score. It will be a challenge to find a lender that will offer you credit at all.

Do you know what your credit score is? Having this information can save you the time and hassle of trying to get approved for loans that you may not even be eligible for. There are many reputable companies like http://www.credit-report-credit-score.com that can provide you with your credit score for free.

If your credit score is lower than you need it to be, there are many ways to get your score up. It will take some time and diligence but it can happen. There are credit repair companies available to help get your credit situation back into shape. But there are also actions you can take on your own to improve your credit score.

First, you have to be sure to make all of your future payments on time. Late payments can be very detrimental to your credit score. Secondly, you should try to stop charging if you have a lot of credit card debt. If you do have a lot of credit card debt, you should try to pay the balances down as much as possible. Do not attempt to obtain new credit and do not fill out excessive amounts of loan applications. New accounts and numerous credit application inquires can be a hazard to your score.

If you currently have a good credit score, then make sure you keep it! If you are beginning to have financial trouble and your monthly payments are becoming a challenge, try at all costs to avoid defaulting on any of your loans, especially your mortgage. Taking out a debt consolidation loan is an option that can help ease your monthly payment obligations and keep you from ruining your credit score.

With all of this said, you can see why your credit score is one very important little number.

-------------------------
Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the authors bio paragraph at the bottom of this article is included, the article is published "as is" (unedited) and all URL's are made active hyperlinks with no syntax changes.
-------------------------

This article was written by Beth Pardue who has over 10 years of experience in the financial industry assisting clients with assorted financial needs. To learn more about credit reports or to get a free credit report online please visit: http://www.credit-report-credit-score.com







Related News




Credit still choked, Treasurys rally - CNN

Thanh Nien Daily

Credit still choked, Treasurys rally
CNN -3 hours ago
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Credit markets were still choked Monday, as the financial crisis spread throughout Europe and stock markets around the world ...
The Bailout, and a Keen Eye on Fixed IncomeBarron's
Why This 'Credit Crisis' Hits EveryoneWall Street Journal
Volatility the only short-term guaranteeNEWS.com.au
San Francisco Chronicle - New Zealand Herald
all 1,100 news articles

Tax Credit Extension Ensures Strong Future for Solar Industry - MarketWatch

Tax Credit Extension Ensures Strong Future for Solar Industry
MarketWatch -7 hours ago
a leading provider of renewable energy solar solutions, commends Congress for resurrecting the tax credit package that will serve as the lifeblood for the ...
Will Coal Be Cashing In On the New Tax Credit?Wall Street Journal
Congress Extends Refined Coal Tax CreditUtility Products Magazine
US bailout bill heralds eight year tax credit extension for solar ...Energy Risk (subscription)
ComputerworldUK - Wisconsin Ag Connection
all 550 news articles

US STOCKS-Credit, recession fears slam Wall Street - Reuters UK

Boston Globe

US STOCKS-Credit, recession fears slam Wall Street
Reuters UK, UK -35 minutes ago
The emergency rescue of two big European banks and a move by several European governments to guarantee bank deposits intensified fears that the credit...
Video: Wall Street Tumbles Amid Global Sell-offAssociatedPress
Dow Plunges 700 Points Amid Global Sell-OffABC News
Wall Street tumbles amid global sell-offSan Diego Union Tribune
Asia Times Online - Forbes
all 1,907 news articles

Bush says rescue plan will take some time to work - The Associated Press

Boston Globe

Bush says rescue plan will take some time to work
The Associated Press -1 hour ago
In the short term, he said the Treasury Department must go about enacting its plan to buy up troubled assets from financial firms so that credit will start ...
Video: Bush: Financial Rescue Plan Will Take TimeAssociatedPress
Bush: Financial rescue plan will take some timeThe Associated Press
all 879 news articles

Investors expect volatility as credit woes persist - The Associated Press

Albany Times Union

Investors expect volatility as credit woes persist
The Associated Press -22 hours ago
Those steps are the latest sign that the troubles of US banks, which have all but paralyzed credit markets, are affecting the financial systems of other ...
BoC pumps $2.4-billion into money marketsGlobe and Mail
1 hurdle down, many more to go for the economyUSA Today
Fed May See Lending to Companies, States as Next Crisis FrontsBloomberg
Barron's - San Francisco Chronicle
all 345 news articles

Carmakers in the credit coal mine - CBC.ca

The Gazette (Montreal)

Carmakers in the credit coal mine
CBC.ca, Canada -7 hours ago
But Wall Street's high-profile collapse, and the related tightening of credit for all businesses, has made a difficult situation even worse — and stirred ...
Credit Crunch Has Effect On Local Auto SalesLocalNews8.com
Toyota Offers Surprising Car DealsU.S. News Rankings & Reviews
Weak economy, tight credit squeeze LI auto dealersNewsday
MLive.com - Minneapolis Star Tribune
all 1,245 news articles

Fitch downgrades Ford credit rating another notch - Forbes

Fitch downgrades Ford credit rating another notch
Forbes, NY -49 minutes ago
s credit rating deeper into junk status Monday as economic worries dragged down auto shares along with stock markets around the globe. ...
Fitch Downgrades Ford & Ford Credit to 'CCC'; Outlook NegativeMarketWatch
Fitch cuts Ford, Ford Motor Credit, deeper into junkReuters
GM, Ford Tumble as Credit Crisis Unsettles Investors (Update1)Bloomberg
LeftLane News - 24/7 Wall St.
all 22 news articles

Credit crisis fears spark global stock rout - Reuters

Yahoo

Credit crisis fears spark global stock rout
Reuters -50 minutes ago
By Herbert Lash NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fears that the credit crisis will not be contained sparked panic selling across global stock markets on Monday and sent ...
US STOCKS-Credit worry set to sink Wall St at openguardian.co.uk
Stocks stumble at openCNN
Stocks worldwide fall as crisis fears widenReuters
all 35 news articles

Credit crisis adds to pressures on auto dealers - The Associated Press

Credit crisis adds to pressures on auto dealers
The Associated Press -10 hours ago
For auto dealers already suffering under the worst US sales downturn in 15 years, the increasing cost of the credit they use to keep inventory in their ...
How to buy a car - even nowCNNMoney.com
all 230 news articles

Credit Karma Launches New Credit Card Recommendation Service Based ... - MarketWatch

Credit Karma Launches New Credit Card Recommendation Service Based ...
MarketWatch -9 hours ago
The new service provides customized recommendations by credit score range using a computation of current credit card information and overall consumer card ...
the fake identity racketSydney Morning Herald
all 136 news articles