Money experts recommend checking your credit report and credit score at least once a year. This way, you know where you stand credit-wise, and when you're ready to apply for a loan, there aren't any surprises. But if you check your credit score this year, and notice that your score hasn't changed from last year, you might be confused. Several factors play a role in credit scoring, and there are good reasons why your score isn't improving.
Having a credit card isn't enough to build a high credit score. You have to use credit to improve your credit, or else creditors will view your account as inactive and stop updating your credit report. Even if you prefer not to use credit, make small charges every few months and then pay off these charges. This keeps your credit account active.
The type of credit you have makes up 10% of your credit score. For that matter, you need a mix of credit accounts. This might include a credit card, a personal loan, an installment loan or a mortgage. This doesn't suggest applying for any and every type of credit, but if you can have a mix of three different types of credit, this can give your credit score a boost.
Even if you pay your bills on time every month, it takes years to build a strong credit history. The length of your credit history makes up 15% of your credit score. So, be patient. The more you use credit, and the more positive activity added to your credit report, the higher your score.
Submitting a payment more than 30 days past due will result in a negative remark on your credit report, and it only takes one negative remark to drop your score. Even if you only have two 30-day late payments a year, this can keep your credit score stagnant. For a better score, always pay on time – on or before the due date.
A maxed out credit card can drop your credit score. This is because the amount you owe makes up 30% of your credit score. If you have a credit card, your balance should not exceed 30% of your credit line. People with the highest credit scores only use 1% to 10% of their credit line, according to Credit Karma.
Every credit application you submit creates an inquiry on your credit report. One or two inquiries won't destroy your credit. But if you're constantly applying for new credit cards or loans, each inquiry can reduce your credit score by as much as two to five points. Therefore, if you apply for 10 credit cards in one month, you can take as much as 50 points off your credit score.
Before you apply for a credit card or a loan, make sure the bank reports to the credit bureaus on a regular basis. Positive activity is key to building a strong credit history. You can pay your bills on time every month, but it won't help your credit score if the lender never reports this positive activity.
A strong credit score makes it easier to get approved for loans, qualify for better rates, and a high credit score can even result in cheaper insurance premiums. Can you think of other factors keeping your credit score stuck?