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<channel>
	<title>Credit Score Guide</title>
	<link>http://www.creditscore-guide.com</link>
	<description>Find out how to improve your credit score</description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:30:48 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>Five Simple Steps You Can Take to Improve Your Credit Score</title>
		<link>http://www.creditscore-guide.com/credit-score-analysts/five-simple-steps-you-can-take-to-improve-your-credit-score/</link>
		<comments>http://www.creditscore-guide.com/credit-score-analysts/five-simple-steps-you-can-take-to-improve-your-credit-score/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:30:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Credit Score Analysts]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.creditscore-guide.com/credit-score-analysts/five-simple-steps-you-can-take-to-improve-your-credit-score/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tip! Once you find a lender, ensure that you complete their application form, thoroughly.  Remember that you are competing with other applicants, who have excellent credit scores.
You can improve your credit score by taking a few simple steps such as paying down your debt, reduce credit card charges, not opening new credit, and avoid [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style='float: right; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> Once you find a lender, ensure that you complete their application form, thoroughly.  Remember that you are competing with other applicants, who have excellent credit scores.</font></div>
<p>You can improve your credit score by taking a few simple steps such as paying down your debt, reduce credit card charges, not opening new credit, and avoid filing bankruptcy.</p>
<div style='float: left; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> Pay off debts to improve credit scores.</font></div>
<p>1.  Pay your bills on time.</p>
<p>Your payment history is the single most important factor in determining your credit score. In fact, it accounts for approximately 30-40% of the total score. Of course, recent history is more important than what happened five to ten years ago.  Therefore, the most important thing you can do to improve your credit score is to start paying your bills on time right now.  Late payments can absolutely destroy your credit score and missing even one payment can drop your score by as much as 100 points.</p>
<div style='float: right; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> Pay your bills on time. That&#8217;s the first advice you&#8217;ll get when you&#8217;re looking for ways to increase credit score.</font></div>
<p>2.  Pay down your debts and reduce your credit card charges.</p>
<p>Lenders like to see that you have not used up all of the available credit you have been given and consider someone who is maxed out on of their credit cards to be very risky.  The ratio of your balance to credit limit is referred to as card utilization.  To calculate your utilization, add up all of your credit card balances and divide that number by adding up all of your credit card limits.  The more debt you pay off, the more utilization you will have and the better your credit score will be.</p>
<p>3.  Don&#8217;t close paid-off accounts.</p>
<p>This one may sound counter-intuitive, but closing your accounts does not help your score and usually hurts it.  As mentioned above, creditors like to see that you are not using everything that is available to you.  By shutting down credit accounts, you lower the total credit available to you, which makes any balances you have higher in relation to your total lines, thereby increasing your utilization and decreasing your score.  Also, if you close your oldest accounts, it can shorten the length of your reported credit history and make you look like you have a shorter credit history.</p>
<p>4.  Don&#8217;t open new credit accounts.</p>
<p>Every time you open a new account, your creditor will pull your credit to look at it.  This creates what is called an inquiry on your credit report.  If you have too many inquiries, creditors assume you are out shopping for a lot of credit and may be very risky.  New accounts will also make your average credit history shorter and a longer positive credit history will score better than a short history.</p>
<div style='float: left; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> Obtain a copy of your credit score report from one of the three major credit bureau                                        			agencies: Equifax, TransUnion or Experian.</font></div>
<p>5.  Avoid filing bankruptcy.</p>
<p>Finally, you should not file bankruptcy unless you absolutely have to because it can drop your score by as much as 200 points.  Recovering from a bankruptcy can be extremely difficult.  Once a score drops below 640, which bankruptcy most likely will, credit becomes difficult to obtain and you will be given much higher interest rates.  High-interest rate lenders love recent bankruptcies, because they know consumers aren&#8217;t allowed to file again for another seven years.   Most conventional lenders, however, generally will reject consumers with a bankruptcy on their record.  Bankruptcies are generally reported on your credit report for 10 years.</p>
<p>If you would like to know what your credit report says and find out what your credit score is, TrimYourDebt.com has negotiated with one of the credit bureaus to offer consumers a free look at their credit report and credit score.  It is a 30-day free trial offer, so you get the information right up-front and you can cancel free of charge within 30-days.  To check your credit score for free, visit a target=_blank target=_new href=http://www.TrimYourDebt.com/GetYourCreditScore.aspx?src=arthttp://www.TrimYourDebt.com/GetYourCreditScore.aspx?src=art/a to find out now.</p>
<div style='float: right; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> My credit score will drop if I check my credit -  Fortunately, this is a myth.  If you check your own credit report it doesn&#8217;t harm your credit at all.</font></div>
<p>D Blackhurst is a writer for a target=_blank target=_new href=http://www.TrimYourDebt.comhttp://www.TrimYourDebt.com/a, which helps individuals with budgeting, debt management, insurance, credit scores, and insurance.</p>
<p> hr
<p>Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/credit+score+fico" rel="tag">credit score fico</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/build+credit+score" rel="tag">build credit score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/improving+credit+score" rel="tag">improving credit score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/credit+score+calculator" rel="tag">credit score calculator</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/credit+scoring" rel="tag">credit scoring</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/fix+credit+score" rel="tag">fix credit score</a></p>
<h3><small>Tags</small></h3><p class="mytag"><small>
<a href="http://www.creditscore-guide.com/category/credit-score-analysts" rel="tag">Credit Score Analysts</a>
</small></p>
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		<title>Fixing Your Credit Score Doesn&#8217;t Have to Cost You</title>
		<link>http://www.creditscore-guide.com/credit-score-analysts/fixing-your-credit-score-doesnt-have-to-cost-you/</link>
		<comments>http://www.creditscore-guide.com/credit-score-analysts/fixing-your-credit-score-doesnt-have-to-cost-you/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:33:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Credit Score Analysts]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.creditscore-guide.com/credit-score-analysts/fixing-your-credit-score-doesnt-have-to-cost-you/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tip! Give yourself time. Time is considered one of the most significant aspects that can help improve your credit score.
Credit repair advertisements claim to guarantee a quick fix on your credit report. They promise for a fee (not always disclosed at first) to clean up your credit history so that you can qualify for a [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style='float: right; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> Give yourself time. Time is considered one of the most significant aspects that can help improve your credit score.</font></div>
<p>Credit repair advertisements claim to guarantee a quick fix on your credit report. They promise for a fee (not always disclosed at first) to clean up your credit history so that you can qualify for a new home, car, insurance, a job, or premium credit cards.  Before you sign up with one of these companies, you need to know some facts.</p>
<p>bThe real facts on fixing your credit score/b</p>
<p>The real truth is that no one can legally remove information on a credit report. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) allows you, the consumer, to request an investigation of information in your file that you dispute as inaccurate or incomplete. There is no charge to you. There are other steps that you can do yourself, without paying a credit repair company, such as:</p>
<p>*You are allowed a free credit report if a company denies you credit, insurance, or employment (if this is a part of your employment application) provided you request a report within 60 days of this denial. The notice will give you the name of the consumer reporting agency that provided this report. You can dispute information that this denial is based upon. Under FCRA, both the consumer reporting agency and the information provider are responsible for correcting inaccurate or any incomplete information in that report.</p>
<div style='float: left; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> If you have old accounts that are already paid off, don&#8217;t close them!  Remember, you want to keep your available credit as high as possible for as long as possible.  Having more credit available versus your debt improves your credit score.</font></div>
<p>*Put in writing what information you believe to be inaccurate. Include copies of any documentation that supports your claim. Be sure to send this letter to the credit reporting agency, and send it certified mail so that you can prove it was mailed and signed for at their end.</p>
<p>*You will get a response within 30 days. During their investigation, they must forward all your documents to the merchant or vendor that provided the negative credit information and report back to the credit agency. If they find that the information is inaccurate, they must notify all three reporting agencies of their findings: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.</p>
<p>*When the investigation is concluded, you must receive a copy of the results in writing and a copy of the dispute if it is changed. It the disputed item is changed, the credit reporting agency cannot put the disputed information back into your file unless it is verified as accurate by the merchant or vendor.</p>
<div style='float: right; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> An individual&#8217;s race, sex, age, level of education, or marital status has no bearing on a credit score, nor does the fact that an application for credit was previously turned down.</font></div>
<p>*The credit reporting agency must send notices of a correction to anyone who received your credit report in the past six months. You can also have a corrected copy sent to employers that did not hire you based on your credit report.</p>
<p>bRemoving a bad credit rating/b</p>
<p>When you have a bad credit rating based on negative information that is accurate, you can only wait for it to be removed over time. By law, a credit reporting agency can only report negative information for seven years and bankruptcy for ten years. For unpaid judgments, the reporting period goes back seven years or until the statute of limitations runs out. Criminal convictions and applications for over $150,000 of life insurance have no time limits. By starting to pay your bills on time and contacting the creditors that you cannot pay, you can start to change your credit profile to the positive side, but that will take time also.</p>
<div style='float: left; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> Compare the debt consolidation loan programs that each lender can offer. If you have a very poor, low credit score like 450, 480 or 500 - your loan will be a subprime debt consolidation loan.</font></div>
<p>bIf you do decide to use a credit repair company/b</p>
<p>Start by getting a free copy of your credit report. Then assemble all your credit card bills and write them down. This will give both you and your credit repair company a starting point.  By law, credit repair companies must give you a brochure, Consumer Credit File Rights Under State and Federal Law when you sign a contract for their services. This contract must clearly specify your rights, obligations and fees. The contract must also clearly detail the descriptions of the services they will perform for you, how long it will take to see the results, and any guarantees they offer you. Members of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling are non-profit organizations providing free and low cost services to consumers with a wide range of plans, covering most types of credit used, including home mortgages.</p>
<div style='float: right; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> Thoroughly review your credit score for errors or outdated information. Quite often,     						 certain lending institutions are not due diligent on updating old information.</font></div>
<p>Credit repair companies can help if you&#8217;re drowning in debt. Before you sign a contract, check out these low cost and free options you can do yourself.</p>
<p>Ed Vegliante is the owner of a target=_blank target=_new href=http://www.credit-card-surplus.comhttp://www.credit-card-surplus.com/a a well organized credit card directory enabling the user to compare and a target=_blank target=_new href=http://www.credit-card-surplus.combapply for a credit card/a/b. View a variety of credit card offers and find links to secure online credit card applications.</p>
<p> hr
<p>Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/credit+card+score" rel="tag">credit card score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/credit+score+trans+union" rel="tag">credit score trans union</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/fico+scores+credit+rating" rel="tag">fico scores credit rating</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/credit+rate+score" rel="tag">credit rate score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/credit+report+score+trans+union" rel="tag">credit report score trans union</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/highest+credit+score" rel="tag">highest credit score</a></p>
<h3><small>Tags</small></h3><p class="mytag"><small>
<a href="http://www.creditscore-guide.com/category/credit-score-analysts" rel="tag">Credit Score Analysts</a>
</small></p>
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		<title>How Credit Card Applications Can Effect Your Credit Score</title>
		<link>http://www.creditscore-guide.com/credit-score-analysts/how-credit-card-applications-can-effect-your-credit-score/</link>
		<comments>http://www.creditscore-guide.com/credit-score-analysts/how-credit-card-applications-can-effect-your-credit-score/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:15:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Credit Score Analysts]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.creditscore-guide.com/credit-score-analysts/how-credit-card-applications-can-effect-your-credit-score/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tip! Get your credit report and credit score.
Thanks to the Internet, it has never been easier to receive and submit credit card applications. It can be very tempting to fill out all of the online forms available to you. But be careful, it could end up costing you&#8211;consider the following issues before hitting that send [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style='float: right; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> Get your credit report and credit score.</font></div>
<p>Thanks to the Internet, it has never been easier to receive and submit credit card applications. It can be very tempting to fill out all of the online forms available to you. But be careful, it could end up costing you&#8211;consider the following issues before hitting that send application again.  </p>
<p>Be aware of card offers promising pre-approved credit. You may be a prospective customer, but you still have to apply for credit. Each time you apply, the card company obtains a copy of your credit report. All these credit card applications count as inquiries that, if concentrated over a short period of time, can negatively affect your a target=_blank target=_new href=http://www.credit-report-credit-score.comcredit score/a  </p>
<p>With online credit card applications, you should also consider the security of your personal credit information. Take Security and privacy concerns seriously. Limit your online application to card companies that use industry-standard practices for security and privacy. Look for 128-bit encrypting, which scrambles your application data and requires a de-scrambler to read it.  </p>
<p>Additionally, the card company&#8217;s Web server should use Secured Sockets Layer (SSL) technology. Look for an online application on a secure screen of the Web site. This is usually identified with a padlock or similar icon, or has a URL that begins with the word https. The company should also clearly state its privacy policy for handling your financial data.   </p>
<div style='float: left; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> My credit score will drop if multiple lenders check my credit- If you contact multiple mortgage lenders shopping for the best interest rate within a couple of week period they are grouped together into a less damaging inquiry.  In essence, they will look like one inquiry.</font></div>
<p> &#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-   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&#8217;s are made active hyperlinks with no syntax changes.   &#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-</p>
<p>About The Author   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: a target=_blank target=_new href=http://www.credit-report-credit-score.comhttp://www.credit-report-credit-score.com/a</p>
<p> hr
<p>Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/credit+score+agency" rel="tag">credit score agency</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/credit+fix+report+score" rel="tag">credit fix report score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/free+credit+rating+score" rel="tag">free credit rating score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/credit+scoring+agency" rel="tag">credit scoring agency</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/credit+free+online+score" rel="tag">credit free online score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/credit+score+needed+for+mortgage" rel="tag">credit score needed for mortgage</a></p>
<h3><small>Tags</small></h3><p class="mytag"><small>
<a href="http://www.creditscore-guide.com/category/credit-score-analysts" rel="tag">Credit Score Analysts</a>
</small></p>
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		<title>5 Tips to Improve Your Credit Score</title>
		<link>http://www.creditscore-guide.com/credit-score-analysts/5-tips-to-improve-your-credit-score/</link>
		<comments>http://www.creditscore-guide.com/credit-score-analysts/5-tips-to-improve-your-credit-score/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 01 Mar 2009 08:45:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Credit Score Analysts]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.creditscore-guide.com/credit-score-analysts/5-tips-to-improve-your-credit-score/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tip! Pay the minimum monthly payments. This will repair your credit score remarkably.
Boosting your credit score can save you money.  Your credit score is a number based on how well you pay back loans on time, sometimes called a FICO score.  The higher the score, the less risky you are.  The 3 [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style='float: right; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> Pay the minimum monthly payments. This will repair your credit score remarkably.</font></div>
<p>Boosting your credit score can save you money.  Your credit score is a number based on how well you pay back loans on time, sometimes called a FICO score.  The higher the score, the less risky you are.  The 3 players are Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.</p>
<p>Your goal is to get above 620.  That&#8217;s the line for creditors.  If you are below 600, banks won&#8217;t loan you money.  In fact, if your mom knew your credit score was that low, she wouldn&#8217;t let you borrow any money, either.  If you can get the score above 700, you get low rates.  If you can eek out above 760, you can usually get the lowest rates.  Perfect score is 850.  Average score is 723.</p>
<p>Under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, you can obtain one annual free copy of your credit report. For more information visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call 877-322-8228. But you will still have to pay a fee to get your actual score.  Huh?  They&#8217;ll give you your credit history, but the actual number, well, they can charge you $6 for.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s the deal.  You can get one free credit report (no credit score number) from each of the 3 reporting agencies listed above.  But, you can only do this once a year.  So, I spaced my requests out every 4 months instead of getting all 3 at once.  That way I can note changes.  Just an idea.</p>
<div style='float: left; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> If you have paid off all your debt, and your credit score seems to be at a stand still, you might want to make small purchases each month with your credit card and pay them off immediately.  Often times the credit bureaus like to see at least some kind of activity.</font></div>
<p>Without further ado, here are the top 5 tips for improving your credit score:</p>
<p>1.	Pay your bills on time.  If you pay late, then your bill shows up in a special area called Adverse Accounts and it lists what month you were late and how late you were.  Think its OK, it only happened 3 years ago. . .wrong.  They keep the list for 7 years. Yes, seven.  Paying your bills on time can raise your score as much as 20 points just in one month.   2.	Keep you credit card balances low.  Maxing out your credit cards can lower your credit score by 70 points.   3.	Don&#8217;t open any credit cards you don&#8217;t need.  New accounts lower your credit score by an average of 10 points.   4.	Have credit cards.  Yes, you must have an installment type loan and its OK.  Just pay it on time.  If you have no credit cards or no installment loans, you tend to be a higher risk.   5.	Closed accounts don&#8217;t go away.  Believe me.  I just checked my credit report and some old stuff is still on there.  Real old stuff.</p>
<div style='float: right; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> Always be aware of the type of credit you hold because credit from financing companies can affect your credit score.</font></div>
<p>Hope this information helped you get your bills in order.</p>
<p>Stuart  a target=_blank target=_new href=http://www.improve-my-credit-report.comhttp://www.improve-my-credit-report.com/a   a target=_blank target=_new href=http://www.debt-counseling-recovery.comhttp://www.debt-counseling-recovery.com/a</p>
<p> hr
<p>Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/credit+score+needed+for+mortgage" rel="tag">credit score needed for mortgage</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/credit+scoring+uk" rel="tag">credit scoring uk</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/bureau+credit+report+score" rel="tag">bureau credit report score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/free+equifax+credit+score" rel="tag">free equifax credit score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/free+credit+rating+score" rel="tag">free credit rating score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/credit+card+score" rel="tag">credit card score</a></p>
<h3><small>Tags</small></h3><p class="mytag"><small>
<a href="http://www.creditscore-guide.com/category/credit-score-analysts" rel="tag">Credit Score Analysts</a>
</small></p>
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		<title>Would An Elected Official&#8217;s Credit Score Affect Your Vote?</title>
		<link>http://www.creditscore-guide.com/credit-score-analysts/would-an-elected-officials-credit-score-affect-your-vote/</link>
		<comments>http://www.creditscore-guide.com/credit-score-analysts/would-an-elected-officials-credit-score-affect-your-vote/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 22 Feb 2009 02:00:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Credit Score Analysts]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.creditscore-guide.com/credit-score-analysts/would-an-elected-officials-credit-score-affect-your-vote/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tip! Don&#8217;t beat yourself up.  I know this maybe hard, especially if you have a low credit score.
Bad credit can happen to good people. Often all it takes is a financial misstep here or medical emergency there and the average American could easily make a late payment, miss a payment, or fall behind all [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style='float: right; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> Don&#8217;t beat yourself up.  I know this maybe hard, especially if you have a low credit score.</font></div>
<p>Bad credit can happen to good people. Often all it takes is a financial misstep here or medical emergency there and the average American could easily make a late payment, miss a payment, or fall behind all together on their bills. While there is usually a unique personal story, and often a very good reason, rarely are individual circumstances a factor when your credit score is calculated.</p>
<p>Now more than ever it&#8217;s important for individuals to know their credit scores; but apparently private citizens aren&#8217;t the only ones who need to know the three digit score that&#8217;s become the grade you&#8217;re given based on your on-going financial behavior.</p>
<p>Recently a very gutsy newspaper in Toledo, Ohio challenged both Republican and Democrat City Counsel candidates to show their cards, by giving access to their credit reports and credit scores for the voting public to see.</p>
<div style='float: left; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> Manage your credit card balances. It&#8217;s best for your credit score if the balance on a given card is less than 50% of the limit on that card.</font></div>
<p>This raises a very interesting question; would an elected official&#8217;s credit score affect your vote?</p>
<p>I began to think about the potential precedent that this challenge would set if all political candidates were asked to come clean with this information. Sure we&#8217;re used to seeing their tax returns and knowing how much they make, but somehow this seems different, bigger, and more profound.</p>
<p>Credit scores are used by several groups to determine financial patterns, habits and in some cases even your character. They&#8217;re also used to predict the likelihood of your repeating these patterns in the future.</p>
<p>In general credit scores range from 300 (low) to 850 (very high) and everywhere in between. There is still some mystery around how a score is calculated and what factors are involved. One thing is for sure, this is a number you need to know and watch. Everyone from your current creditors to your car insurance company are checking it periodically to see where you rank, a low score could result in rate increases.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s obvious that as individuals we&#8217;re deemed worthy (creditworthy that is) by our credit score on a regular bases. Should the same standards be applied to those we choose to run our cities, states and even this country?</p>
<div style='float: right; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> If you have old accounts that are already paid off, don&#8217;t close them!  Remember, you want to keep your available credit as high as possible for as long as possible.  Having more credit available versus your debt improves your credit score.</font></div>
<p>To get a broader perspective on this Pandora&#8217;s boxlike question I did a bit of research on the overall impact of credit reports and credit scores on an individuals life and came to learn that, according to a Federal Trade Commission Consumer Alert, Employers often use a credit report when they hire and evaluate employees for promotion, reassignment or retention.</p>
<div style='float: left; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> Pay the minimum monthly payments. This will repair your credit score remarkably.</font></div>
<p>While to some it might seem unfair or like big brother is watching just a little to close, often this practice is widely justified, especially in the wake of Enron, corporate scandals and 9-11. Employers are learning that they can tell a lot about a job candidate and their probability to be a quality employee by their credit report and credit score.</p>
<p>Credit scores have the power to be the Varsity letter you wear proudly on your jacket or the Scarlet Letter you wear shamefully on your chest. Given the weight it has on so many aspects of an individuals life, is it fair or even necessary to require political candidates to disclose theirs?</p>
<div style='float: right; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> Thoroughly review your credit score for errors or outdated information. Quite often,     						 certain lending institutions are not due diligent on updating old information.</font></div>
<p>The question will no doubt be debated at water coolers, and in bars, dining rooms, even campaign war rooms all throughout the city of Toledo. I&#8217;m in New Jersey (where several candidates are running in heated battles as I write this) and I&#8217;ll be just as intrigued to learn if this fizzles out, or catches fire as a new trend.</p>
<p>It appears to me that the real question voters in Toledo (and soon maybe everywhere) have to ask themselves will be, Is a credit score (determined by a complex formula that no one seems to quite understand and that doesn&#8217;t take individual circumstances into consideration) really a good barometer for a political candidates ability to lead or do the job?</p>
<div style='float: left; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> When reviewing your credit report, use the above listed areas of evaluation to help 								raise your credit score.</font></div>
<p>Maybe. Maybe not. But before you form your opinion, I invite you to ask yourself a question. Given your personal financial situation, past or present, how many votes would be cast in your favor if your credit report was used to judge your character or ability to do the job?</p>
<p>Sanyika Calloway Boyce has made her share of money mistakes. She now teaches   a target=_blank target=_blank href=http://www.financialfitnesscoach.comfinancial literacy/a programs for teens, college student and adults. Visit her   online at a target=_blank target=_new href=http://www.financialfitnesscoach.comhttp://www.financialfitnesscoach.com/a</p>
<p>To find out what your credit score says about   you go to a target=_blank target=_new href=http://www.financialfitnesscoach.com/creditreporthttp://www.financialfitnesscoach.com/creditreport/a</p>
<p> hr
<p>Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/fico+scores+credit+rating" rel="tag">fico scores credit rating</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/fix+credit+score" rel="tag">fix credit score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/higher+credit+score" rel="tag">higher credit score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/fica+credit+score" rel="tag">fica credit score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/free+equifax+credit+score" rel="tag">free equifax credit score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/credit+fico+score" rel="tag">credit fico score</a></p>
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		<title>Best Car Loan Rate - How to Get the Most From Your Credit Score</title>
		<link>http://www.creditscore-guide.com/fico-credit-scoring/best-car-loan-rate-how-to-get-the-most-from-your-credit-score/</link>
		<comments>http://www.creditscore-guide.com/fico-credit-scoring/best-car-loan-rate-how-to-get-the-most-from-your-credit-score/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2009 04:00:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[FICO Credit Scoring]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.creditscore-guide.com/fico-credit-scoring/best-car-loan-rate-how-to-get-the-most-from-your-credit-score/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tip! Give yourself time. Time is considered one of the most significant aspects that can help improve your credit score.
Your credit score is the most important factor to getting the best car loan rate. Many shoppers make the mistake of going to the car dealership and applying for a loan before checking their credit report [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style='float: right; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> Give yourself time. Time is considered one of the most significant aspects that can help improve your credit score.</font></div>
<p>Your credit score is the most important factor to getting the best car loan rate. Many shoppers make the mistake of going to the car dealership and applying for a loan before checking their credit report and score. By checking your credit score ahead of time, you will know where you stand before seeking a lender. If you have an excellent credit score, you should expect the best car loan rate possible. Do not expect the lender to tell you that you could save money by applying for a loan elsewhere. Make sure you do your homework before applying for the loan. The little time that it takes to receive your credit report from the three major agencies could end up saving you a lot of money.</p>
<div style='float: left; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> Understand where credit scores come from.</font></div>
<p>bUnderstanding Your Credit Score/b</p>
<p>Your FICO credit score is more than just a number. Understanding how your credit score is determined can help you to maintain or improve your credit rating. Most credit scores will range in number from 300-850 points. The higher your number, the better your credit rating. Your credit score will be determined by five different categories. Some items will have a greater affect on your credit score than others.</p>
<p>1) How timely you pay your bills carries the greatest amount of weight on your credit rating. While it is a good idea to always pay your bills on time, lenders will look more at your recent payment history.</p>
<p>2) Amount of debt- lenders will look at your total debt and the outstanding debt on your credit cards. It is a good idea to keep credit card balances well below the maximum amount allowed.</p>
<p>3) Length of your credit history- how long have you had open credit accounts? Do you use credit on a regular basis.</p>
<p>4) How many credit accounts do you have open? What types of credit accounts do you have?</p>
<p>5) Recent credit inquiries and newly opened accounts - lenders will look unfavorably upon your credit record if you have had numerous recent credit inquiries or if you have opened several new credit accounts in a short period of time.</p>
<p>To view our recommended sources for auto loans online, visit this page:  a target=_blank target=_New href=http://www.abcloanguide.com/autoloans.shtmlRecommended Auto Finance   Companies/a.</p>
<p>Carrie Reeder is the owner of a target=_blank target=_New href=http://www.abcloanguide.comABC Loan   Guide/a, an informational website about various types of loans.</p>
<p> hr
<p>Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/poor+credit+score" rel="tag">poor credit score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/3+credit+score" rel="tag">3 credit score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/credit+loan+low+mortgage+score" rel="tag">credit loan low mortgage score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/improving+your+credit+score" rel="tag">improving your credit score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/3+bureau+credit+score" rel="tag">3 bureau credit score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/personal+credit+score" rel="tag">personal credit score</a></p>
<h3><small>Tags</small></h3><p class="mytag"><small>
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		<title>The Best Ways to Boost Your Credit Score</title>
		<link>http://www.creditscore-guide.com/improving-credit-score/the-best-ways-to-boost-your-credit-score/</link>
		<comments>http://www.creditscore-guide.com/improving-credit-score/the-best-ways-to-boost-your-credit-score/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:30:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Improving Credit Score]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.creditscore-guide.com/improving-credit-score/the-best-ways-to-boost-your-credit-score/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tip! If you have paid off all your debt, and your credit score seems to be at a stand still, you might want to make small purchases each month with your credit card and pay them off immediately.  Often times the credit bureaus like to see at least some kind of activity.
Because of the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style='float: right; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> If you have paid off all your debt, and your credit score seems to be at a stand still, you might want to make small purchases each month with your credit card and pay them off immediately.  Often times the credit bureaus like to see at least some kind of activity.</font></div>
<p>Because of the way bcredit scores/b are calculated, some actions you take will affect your credit score better than others.  In general, paying your bills on time and meeting your financial responsibilities will boost your score the most.  Owing a reasonable amount of money and being able to repay it will show lenders that you take your finances seriously and pose little threat of lost money.  There are a few tips that, more than any other, will boost your credit score the most:</p>
<p>Tip # 1: Pay your bills on time.</p>
<p>One of the best ways to improve your bcredit score/b is simply to pay your bills on time.  This is absurdly simple but it works very well, because nothing shows lenders that you take debts seriously as much as a history of paying promptly.  Every lender wants to be paid in full and on time.</p>
<p>If you pay all your bills on time then the odds are good that you will make the payments on a new debt on time, too, and that is certainly something every lender wants to see. Experts think that up to 35% of your credit score is based on your paying of bills on time, so this simple step is one of the easiest ways to boost your credit score.</p>
<div style='float: left; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> My credit score will drop if multiple lenders check my credit- If you contact multiple mortgage lenders shopping for the best interest rate within a couple of week period they are grouped together into a less damaging inquiry.  In essence, they will look like one inquiry.</font></div>
<p>Paying your bills on time also ensures that you don&#8217;t get hit with late fees and other financial penalties that make paying your bills off harder. Paying your bills in a timely way makes it easier to keep making payments on time.</p>
<p>Of course, if you have had problems making your payments on time in the past, your current credit score will reflect this.  It will take a number of months of repaying your bills on time to improve your credit score again, but the effort will be well worth it when your credit risk rating rebounds!</p>
<p>Tip #2: Avoid excessive credit.</p>
<p>If you have many lines of credit or several huge debts, you make a worse credit risk because you are close to overextending your credit.  This simply means that you may be taking on more credit than you can comfortably pay off.  Even if you are making payments regularly now on existing bills, lenders know that you will have a harder time paying off your bills if your debt load grows too much.</p>
<div style='float: right; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> )	Check your credit score online with one of the official companies to see what or why your credit score is the level it is. This will help you determine what you can really do to increase your credit score.</font></div>
<p>The higher your debts the greater your monthly debt payments and so the higher the risk that you will eventually be able to repay your debts.  Plus, statistical studies have shown that those with high debt loads have the hardest time financially when faced with a crisis such as a divorce, unemployment, or sudden illness.</p>
<p>Lenders (and credit bureaus who calculate your credit score) know that the more debt you have the greater problems you will have in case you do run into a life crisis.</p>
<div style='float: left; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> Make every payment on time.  This is the most important factor in your credit score rating.</font></div>
<p>In order to have a great credit score, avoid taking out excessive credit.  You should stick to one or two credit cards and one or two other major debts (car loan, mortgage) in order to have the best credit rating.  Do not apply for every new credit line or credit card just in case.  Borrow only when you need it and make sure to make payments on your debts on time.</p>
<div style='float: right; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> Pay off debts to improve credit scores.</font></div>
<p>You should also know that taking out lots of new credit accounts in a relatively short period of time will cause your credit score to nosedive because it will look as though you are being financially irresponsible.</p>
<p>Tip #3: Pay Down Your Debts</p>
<p>If you have a lot of debt, your credit score will suffer.  Paying down your debts to a minimum will help elevate your credit score.  For example, if you have a $1000 limit on your credit card and you regularly carry a balance of $900, you will be a less attractive credit risk to lenders than someone who has the same credit card but carries a smaller balance of $100 or so.  If you are serious about improving your credit score, then start with the largest debt you have and start paying it down so that you are using a less large percentage of your credit total.</p>
<div style='float: left; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> Pay the minimum monthly payments. This will repair your credit score remarkably.</font></div>
<p>In general, try to make sure that you use no more than 50% of your credit.  That means that if your credit card has a limit of $5000, make sure that you pay it down to at least $2500 and work at carrying no larger balance.  If possible, reduce the debt even more.  If you can pay off your credit card in full each month, that is even better. What counts here is what percentage of your total credit limit you are using - the lower the better.</p>
<div style='float: right; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> Make frequent payments. Credit scores maintain a record of how often or late a person 					remits payment.</font></div>
<p>Tip #4: Have a range of credit types.</p>
<p>The types of credit you have are a factor in calculating your credit score.  In general, lenders like to see that you are able to handle a range of credit types well.  Having some form of personal credit - such as bcredit cards/b - and some larger types of credit - such as a mortgage or auto loan - and paying them off regularly is better than having only one type of credit.</p>
<div style='float: left; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> Pay your bills on time. That&#8217;s the first advice you&#8217;ll get when you&#8217;re looking for ways to increase credit score.</font></div>
<p>Irene Chew is the author of best-selling e-book :101 Legitimate Tips for a target=_blank target=_new href=http://www.CreditScoreRevealed.comBoosting Your Credit Score  /a</p>
<p>To get the first three Chapters  ane eCourse for free just visit her a target=_blank target=_new href=http://www.CreditScoreRevealed.com/ecourseCredit Score Revealed/a site.</p>
<p> hr
<p>Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/free+credit+score" rel="tag">free credit score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/600+credit+score" rel="tag">600 credit score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/national+average+credit+score" rel="tag">national average credit score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/credit+repair+score" rel="tag">credit repair score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/consolidation+credit+loan+score+student" rel="tag">consolidation credit loan score student</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/credit+report+scores" rel="tag">credit report scores</a></p>
<h3><small>Tags</small></h3><p class="mytag"><small>
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		<title>What Is A Good Credit Score - How Can I Raise Mine?</title>
		<link>http://www.creditscore-guide.com/credit-reports/what-is-a-good-credit-score-how-can-i-raise-mine/</link>
		<comments>http://www.creditscore-guide.com/credit-reports/what-is-a-good-credit-score-how-can-i-raise-mine/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:30:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Credit Reports]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.creditscore-guide.com/credit-reports/what-is-a-good-credit-score-how-can-i-raise-mine/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tip! Pay your bills on time. That&#8217;s the first advice you&#8217;ll get when you&#8217;re looking for ways to increase credit score.
What is a good credit score? When you request a free copy of your credit report, you will find a score assigned to your credit history. This score will determine whether or not creditors will [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style='float: right; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> Pay your bills on time. That&#8217;s the first advice you&#8217;ll get when you&#8217;re looking for ways to increase credit score.</font></div>
<p>What is a good credit score? When you request a free copy of your credit report, you will find a score assigned to your credit history. This score will determine whether or not creditors will grant you the loan or credit that you want because it gives them an idea of your risk to repay. Generally, the answer to the question what is a good credit score? is the higher the better.</p>
<div style='float: left; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> When reviewing your credit report, use the above listed areas of evaluation to help 								raise your credit score.</font></div>
<p>Once you have your credit report in your hands your first question should be What is a good credit score and what is my credit score? Each credit bureau has its own method of computing the credit scores and by themselves they don&#8217;t really mean much. When the score is combined with your credit history, creditors can see at a glance how much money you owe and whether or not you have a good score. The scores range from 350 to 650, so if you are in the lower end of the score, then you will probably start to wonder how can I raise my credit score?</p>
<div style='float: right; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> Get your credit report and credit score.</font></div>
<p>Using the mortgage industry as an example, if you ask what is a good credit score, the answer will be close to 650. If you are a lot lower than that, your chances of getting a loan to buy a house may be slim. If you ask about improving your credit score, then you will find that counsellors will tell you to pay your bills on time and try to pay them off. The less bills you have, the greater your chances of getting the loan you want.</p>
<p>You might not realize it, but applying too often for credit does affect your credit score. Your credit report contains the names of all the people who have requested your credit report, so having a long list of names in this section will not help you improve your credit score. Most consumers have the idea that when they ask what is a good credit score, they will find out that a lower number is better. You might also find that your score with one credit bureau is better than another depending on the creditors that deal with each one.</p>
<div style='float: left; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> )	Check your credit score online with one of the official companies to see what or why your credit score is the level it is. This will help you determine what you can really do to increase your credit score.</font></div>
<p>Moving many times also affects your credit score. Even though you pay your bills on time and are able to manage another loan, you may have to ask yourself how can I raise my credit score. When creditors see a lot of addresses, they assume you have trouble paying the rent. When you ask what is a good credit score, you also need to ask what factors affect the credit score. When you scan the credit report to see what your credit score is, you also need to look at all the bills and the number of times you were late with the payments. The next time you request a credit report, you will be anxious to see the score and you won&#8217;t have to ask what is a good credit score.</p>
<p>What is a good credit score? It&#8217;s all relative, but contrary to popular belief it is not the lower the better.</p>
<p>To download a free copy of Peter&#8217;s Credit Repair book visit Peter&#8217;s Website a target=_blank target=_new href=http://www.credit-repair-answers.com/Credit Repair Answers/a and find out about a target=_blank target=_new href=http://www.credit-repair-answers.com/credit-bureaus.htmlCredit Bureaus/a and more, including Credit Repair Services, Free Credit Reports and Online Credit Repair.</p>
<p> hr
<p>Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/credit+scoring+system" rel="tag">credit scoring system</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/credit+score+uk" rel="tag">credit score uk</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/credit+report+score" rel="tag">credit report score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/personal+credit+score" rel="tag">personal credit score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/credit+repair+score" rel="tag">credit repair score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/get+credit+score" rel="tag">get credit score</a></p>
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		<title>What&#8217;s Your Credit Score?</title>
		<link>http://www.creditscore-guide.com/credit-scoring/whats-your-credit-score/</link>
		<comments>http://www.creditscore-guide.com/credit-scoring/whats-your-credit-score/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 07 Feb 2009 16:00:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Credit Scoring]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.creditscore-guide.com/credit-scoring/whats-your-credit-score/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tip! )	Do not apply for every car, credit card, and home that you are looking at as an eager consumer. Because every time you try to purchase a home, car, or get a new credit card your credit score is checked and the crediting agencies lower your score if you have had two or three [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style='float: right; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> )	Do not apply for every car, credit card, and home that you are looking at as an eager consumer. Because every time you try to purchase a home, car, or get a new credit card your credit score is checked and the crediting agencies lower your score if you have had two or three credit checks withing a few months of each other.</font></div>
<p>If you don&#8217;t know what your credit score is, it is high time that you learn!  This lone number is the biggest determination for lenders to decide whether you are or are not credit worthy.  Not only do credit card companies use your credit score to determine whether they should issue you a card or not, but so do car dealerships, banks, and even mortgage lenders.  You need to know what your credit score is.</p>
<div style='float: left; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> Give yourself time. Time is considered one of the most significant aspects that can help improve your credit score.</font></div>
<p>But, where can you learn just what it is?  Once a year you can pull a credit report on yourself from one of the credit reporting agencies.  This information will provide you with what your credit score is as well as what led to it being that number.  On the report you will find your creditors, all of those that have issued you credit within the last several years.  How well you pay them and what you owe on them will determine your credit score.</p>
<p>Of course, you will want your credit score to be high.  But, many people go about this the wrong way.  They often think that the more credit they have, the better.  Or, others think that they shouldn&#8217;t use any credit.  Both of these things are wrong.  You should have some credit so that you can qualify for credit later on.  But, too much credit can lead you to less ability to manage it.  In order to maintain a high credit score, you should have some credit, pay it on time and don&#8217;t carry a high balance on it monthly.  The combination of these things will provide you with the credit score you deserve.</p>
<div style='float: right; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> If you have paid off all your debt, and your credit score seems to be at a stand still, you might want to make small purchases each month with your credit card and pay them off immediately.  Often times the credit bureaus like to see at least some kind of activity.</font></div>
<p>Work on your credit score in that manner, but realize that you should check it yearly at the very least as well.  You need to insure that the creditors are reporting your credit accurately.  You also need to insure that no one is applying for and getting credit in your name.  When you do these things, your credit score will show companies that you are worth the risk.</p>
<p>Ken Austin is the webmaster at a target=_blank target=_new href=http://www.creditreliefonline.com/http://www.creditreliefonline.com//a  and   a target=_blank target=_new href=http://www.myfinanceconnection.com/http://www.myfinanceconnection.com//a</p>
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<p>Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/credit+rate+score" rel="tag">credit rate score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/credit+scoring+system" rel="tag">credit scoring system</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/credit+free+report+score" rel="tag">credit free report score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/free+experian+credit+score" rel="tag">free experian credit score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/increasing+credit+score" rel="tag">increasing credit score</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/credit+report+scores" rel="tag">credit report scores</a></p>
<h3><small>Tags</small></h3><p class="mytag"><small>
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		<title>An Average Credit Score - It Is Important When Borrowing</title>
		<link>http://www.creditscore-guide.com/credit-reports/an-average-credit-score-it-is-important-when-borrowing/</link>
		<comments>http://www.creditscore-guide.com/credit-reports/an-average-credit-score-it-is-important-when-borrowing/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2009 06:15:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Credit Reports]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.creditscore-guide.com/credit-reports/an-average-credit-score-it-is-important-when-borrowing/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tip! My credit score will drop if I check my credit -  Fortunately, this is a myth.  If you check your own credit report it doesn&#8217;t harm your credit at all.
The average credit score is the rating that the 3 major credit bureaus assign to your credit report. It is based on your [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style='float: right; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> My credit score will drop if I check my credit -  Fortunately, this is a myth.  If you check your own credit report it doesn&#8217;t harm your credit at all.</font></div>
<p>The average credit score is the rating that the 3 major credit bureaus assign to your credit report. It is based on your borrowing and repayment habits and depends on how much money you owe and how many times you have applied for credit. If you have a low credit score, there are ways of improving it. In general, an average credit score tells creditors that you are a good risk for them to lend you money.</p>
<div style='float: left; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> Get your credit report and credit score.</font></div>
<p>Computing a credit score is a scientific process that Experian, Trans Union and Equifax use and each one has its own unique system. The credit score range is between 375 and 900, with around the 600 mark being the average credit score. In order to find out what your credit score is, you need to request a free copy of your credit report. This will give you an idea of what creditors see when they do a credit check on you.</p>
<p>If you find that your average credit score is below 500, then you are in the lower part of the credit score range. It also means that you have to take steps toward improving credit scores. For example, if you plan to look for a loan for a new car within the next year, you should start now by making a diligent effort to pay all your bills on time. If you apply for a loan, even if you are accepted based on your earnings, every person that asks for your credit score shows up on your credit report. This deters some creditors because they think you are a compulsive borrower.</p>
<div style='float: right; width: 100px; padding: 5px; margin: 5px; background-color: #FFFFCC;'><font size=1><font color='#cc0000'><b>Tip!</b></font> The key to finding a lender, who specializes in low credit score refinance loans is to do your research.  The power of the internet cannot be underestimated, when it comes to shopping for a poor credit refinance lender.</font></div>
<p>The higher your credit score, the better chance you have of being granted credit. This is why you should always know what your credit report says about you and what your average credit score is. The credit score range you fall in not only determines whether or not you get a loan, bit it also determines the interest rate you have to pay. When you understand what creditors are looking for, you can work towards improving credit scores. When your average credit score is good, you will save money in the interest rates charged on the loan.</p>
<p>An average credit score is fine, although you can always do better.</p>
<p>To download a free copy of Peter&#8217;s Credit Repair book visit Peter&#8217;s Website a target=_blank target=_new href=http://www.credit-repair-answers.com/Credit Repair Answers/a and find out about a target=_blank target=_new href=http://www.credit-repair-answers.com/credit-bureaus.htmlCredit Bureaus/a and more, including Credit Repair Services, Free Credit Reports and Online Credit Repair.</p>
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