Posts Tagged ‘ score ’

Ordering your own credit report won’t hurt your credit scores

Dear Experian, Is there any way I can check my credit score without it hurting my score? How much does it hurt me to order my credit score? - KWS[ READ MORE ]

Alarm company can turn past due account over to collections

Dear Experian, I have a dispute with a security alarm company. They have implied a contract extension on a policy that I did not approve. I have not made a payment on the policy since November 2012 and am concerned that they may eventually turn the balance over to collections, thus negatively affecting my credit, though they have not threatened such action yet. Is there an arrangement I can make with the credit reporting companies that can prevent harm to my credit in the event that issues with this company escalate? That is, can I prevent them from damaging my credit history by reporting this unpaid balance? Or is my only option to pay them? - JSS[ READ MORE ]

Intentional late payments for debt settlement will damage credit scores

Dear Experian, I am considering signing up with a debt settlement company. They told me that in order for them to negotiate the best deal with my creditors I must refrain from paying my bills for more than 90 days. Won’t this negatively affect my scores? - TND[ READ MORE ]

Why there isn’t just one credit score

Dear Experian, Why isn't there one credit score across the board? Could you please explain why lenders receive different credit scores than what I receive? Why are the credit scores different from each lender, such as for car loans, mortgages and other loan companies? - ICH[ READ MORE ]

Settled or charged off accounts in your credit report are “potentially negative”

Dear Experian, If an account is paid off/closed, settled, or charged off, why would it still be showing as potentially negative? Is there any way to get these removed so they no longer affect me negatively? - JNG[ READ MORE ]

You cannot dispute a credit score

Dear Experian, Can I dispute the score? I have a creditor that hasn’t reported me current on several opened accounts. I show current with Experian and one of the other credit agencies but there is no account data with the third. I show the lowest score from them. - NTA[ READ MORE ]

Declination notice received after withdrawing loan application

Dear Experian, I withdrew an application for credit from a national bank on the same day of my request. They still sent me the packet, and then several days later they sent me a declined notice. Does this affect my credit score? - CHR[ READ MORE ]

Consider entire financial picture, not just credit scores, when deciding whether to close accounts

Dear Experian, I have many small revolving store credit cards with no balance on them. How can I close them without it hurting my credit? - ENB[ READ MORE ]

Purchasing your own scores will not hurt future credit scores

Dear Experian, I obtained my free annual credit report a few days ago, but didn't purchase the score. I am not interested in obtaining the score. If I purchase a credit score does it give my credit a double hit? Also, when you obtain your score, does your score get lowered, and if so by how much? - MHO[ READ MORE ]

Choosing between a motorcycle and an engagement ring

Dear Experian, I have been rebuilding my credit and would like to purchase a motorcycle and an engagement ring. If I apply for credit and get denied will my credit score go down and how long will the two remain on my credit report? - ENB[ READ MORE ]

Why credit scores change even with little account activity

Dear Experian, Why does my credit score jump around so much when I don't have much activity? - SGD[ READ MORE ]

Paying off a debt early won’t help credit scores

Dear Experian, I have a friend who took out a personal loan just so she could build up her credit. She's nearly 40 with no credit. She still has six months of payments to make on it. I was wondering if it is bad to pay it off early or does that help her? - JNS[ READ MORE ]

Test your credit score knowledge at CreditScoreQuiz.org

Dear Readers, VantageScore Solutions, a company that produces a credit score developed as a joint venture among the three national credit reporting companies and Consumer Federation of America an association of non-profit consumer organizations established in 1968, just announced the results of a survey that gauged consumer awareness of credit scores and recent changes to the credit scoring industry.[ READ MORE ]

Paying everything off may not improve scores immediately

Dear Experian, I have paid everything off, except for one dispute. Why has my credit score not improved? - RRD[ READ MORE ]

How often to purchase your credit scores

Dear Experian, How often should you check your credit score? - AAN[ READ MORE ]

Inquiry for credit line increase could impact scores, but is not the only issue

Dear Experian, If I ask for a credit line increase on my credit card, part of the credit card process is to do a credit check with Experian. Does this type of credit inquiry affect my credit score? - RYC[ READ MORE ]

Why you can’t retrieve a credit score from last year

Dear Experian, Can I see what my score is now and what it was last year? - LOU[ READ MORE ]

Bankruptcy has greatest impact on scores, collections a close second

Dear Experian, What is worse, having several credit cards in collection or having a bankruptcy on your credit report? - JUA[ READ MORE ]

Rebuilding credit after job loss

Dear Experian, I lost my job two years ago and have had a bad patch paying my bills. My credit score dipped substantially. I managed to get on plans with my late accounts and am on track to be debt free in about three years. Can my score ever improve? - THO[ READ MORE ]

Why high school students do not have a “beginning credit score”

Dear Experian, I teach seniors in high school. They want to know what a beginning credit score would be if you've just turned 18 and you are applying for your first credit card. - RRY[ READ MORE ]

Getting your personal report does not affect credit scores

Dear Experian, Does it affect my credit score if I pull my own credit report more than twice a month? - LAK[ READ MORE ]

Paying off all debts will help scores in the long run

Dear Experian, I was told by a realtor that paying off everything on my report will cause my score to drop. Is this true? - STM[ READ MORE ]

Pre-paid cards will not help credit scores

Dear Experian, Is there a pre-paid credit card company that I can use to help improve my credit score? - MBM[ READ MORE ]

Deciding whether to cosign a car loan for your son or daughter

Dear Experian, My son has less than perfect credit but was told by his bank he could get a car loan with a co-signer. I have extremely high scores and do not want them lowered for any reason under my control. Assuming all of his loan payments are made on time and the loan always remains current, will this negatively affect my credit scores? - BOA[ READ MORE ]

Paying credit card bills early doesn’t hurt scores

Dear Experian, Does paying credit card bills ahead of time hurt your credit scores? - AVE[ READ MORE ]