Archive for the ‘Credit’ Category
Important Information on Credit Scoring
A lot of credit reporting bureaus or agencies gathers information on the subject of the debtor’s credit history or files from reliable private and public sources. They also collect data from the creditors who extended the loan to the debtor.
Accordingly, the information is clustered into five sets or categories with the corresponding percentages which reflect the importance of each category in the final computation of scores, namely: (1) Owed Amount – 30%, (2) History of Payments – 30%, (3) Duration of Credit Record – 15%, (4) Nature or Kinds of Credit Currently in Use – 10%, and lastly (5) Latest Credit Inquiries – 10%.
Generally, these credit bureaus calculate the debtor’s credit score using a three figure number which range from 300 up to 850. The higher the credit score, the better chance of acquiring low interest rates for the loan being applied for and a better opening for wealth accumulation.
The industry of credit-scoring has been generating different opinions and wide-spread reactions to the public. Guidelines can be found on Rehoboth Business Center. The consumers fear that credit-based rating or scoring will pose a negative impact or unjust rating to them and will affect their economic standing and other financial transactions.
Some credit bureaus justify their purpose of gathering information and making credit rating or scoring. For them, their work is to help lending businesses formulate efficient economic decisions.
Others create a distinction between the credit-based scores of insurance companies which predicts the loss of propensity and the credit scores which is simply to predict the worthiness of a certain person to pay.
A distinctive company should develop its own credit-base rating or scoring algorithm to serve better the consumers. Here are some of the strategies adopted in credit scoring:
1. Forming a Credit Assistance Group/Team – they are the quick response group that will assist consumers calling through toll-free numbers. The public would certainly like to know the effect of credit records to their application of loans, mortgage, employment and/or insurance transactions.
Also included to the team’s responsibility is the making of reports on the personal credit insurance of the consumers. This report will show the consumer’s variable score and the comparison with the aggregate scores
In addition, the team will consider previous credit records and the possible effect of extraordinary events which resulted to low scoring.
They will help the consumers by directing or referring them to the right people who will be of much help to them in taking good care of their credit problems. They will also help in correcting errors in the credit records of the concerned consumer.
2. Revising a New Method in Credit Scoring- this simplified method uses nine variables instead of the usual sixteen. Their algorithm will compute the credit scores by designating or assigning 100 as a foundation score. From these base score, they either add or minus making the range of score from 50 up to 250. The lower the score, the more desirable it is as credit scores.
3. For those consumers with no credit records or whose credit histories are lacking, they will create a program which will specifically cater to these groups of creditors to somehow uplift their credit ratings.
With the continued research and study on the needs of the consumers, these credit scoring bureaus will truly make a difference to the lending and/or insurance world.
Check your Free Credit Report and Be Wary of your Score
Have a credit check and determine your personal credit score.
Credit check is usually done to verify whether you are eligible for a loan or on any other forms of credit based on your past credit performances. This will reveal your past as well as your previous credit transactions with different lenders and how you deal with it. Thus, a credit check is the reflection of your past credit performance. It works like a report card, which reveals whether you have “passed” or “failed” in a particular subject.
Credit checks are done by lending institutions such as credit card companies and banks on individuals who wish to apply for a loan or any form of credit. In addition, credit checks could also be done by a homeowner whether an individual would be a good tenant or not, as reflected by his or her past credit performance. Insurance firms also run credit checks on individuals who wish to avail of their insurance policies.
You can obtain your credit report containing credit-related information from any of the three major credit-reporting agencies. Furthermore, you can obtain your personal credit reports for free as stated in the FCRA or the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Under this Act, every individual is entitled to receive a free credit report from any of the three major credit-reporting companies in the United States once a year – Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union. Your free credit report contain your personal information (such as your name and address), how you paid your past and previous bills, and any delinquencies you have committed such as late payments as well as if you have filed for bankruptcy.
To obtain your free credit report, you need to fill up the required form through a centralized credit report website on any of the three major credit bureaus in the United States. You will be required to provide some basic information, which includes your name, permanent address, your social security number, and your birth date. Your credit report is important in securing yourself against any attempts of identity theft such as credit cards misuse and other forms of fraud. In addition, you must update your credit report regularly as lending institutions would be using such reports to determine if you are worthy enough to be awarded with the loan you have applied for. Guidelines can you get on Rehoboth Business Center.
After you received your free credit report, you should read each section carefully. All aspects must be included in computing your credit score. So make sure you have paid attention to all of them. Check your report for any discrepancies and make sure that you have not missed any payments at all. Your credit report also comes with the list of individuals or business entities that you have requested credit information from. You may also check to see if such names or entities are familiar with you.
Your free credit report would be used in running a credit check to you when applying for a loan or any other forms of credit. Thus, make sure that it is free of discrepancies or erroneous entries. Keep in mind that this report will reflect your credit performance – ensure that you do not stumble anywhere so that your loan application would always be a success.
The Actual Formula to Calculate Credit Scores
Credit reports are put together by credit bureaus, which use information from client companies. It works like this: credit bureaus have clients – such as credit card companies and utility companies, to name just two – who provide them with information. Once a file is begun on you (i.e. once you open a bank account or have bills to pay) then information about you is stored on the record. If you are late paying a bill, the clients call the credit bureaus and note this. Any unpaid bills, overdue bills or other problems with credit count as “dings” on your credit report and affect your score.
Information such as what type of debt you have, how much debt you have, how regularly you pay your bills on time, and your credit accounts are all information that is used to calculate your credit score.
Your age, sex, and income do not count towards your credit score. The actual formula used by credit bureaus to calculate credit scores is a well-kept secret, but it is known that recent account activity, debts, length of credit, unpaid accounts, and types of credit are among the things that count the most in tabulating credit scores from a credit report.

