How Credit Score Ranges Matter

January 8, 2022CreditBy toptierfinancial

Financial and lending institutions use credit scores to determine how likely someone is to repay a loan. According to FICO, the average credit score in the United States stands at 716, but that number varies significantly by state. Credit scores range from 300 to 850, and each number corresponds to a different level of credit risk.

A high credit score means you’re a low-risk borrower, which could lead to lower interest rates on loans and other lines of credit. On the other hand, low credit scores could mean higher interest rates and a greater chance of not being approved for a loan.

While most people know they have credit scores, they may not understand why these score numbers matter or how they are determined. Read on as we explore how different credit score ranges map to financial situations and tips on how you can improve your credit score.

What Credit Score Ranges Should Mean To You

Different credit score ranges correspond to varying levels of risk. Knowing your credit score is incredibly helpful when it comes to determining whether you will qualify for a loan or credit card.

Credit card companies and lenders use credit scores to determine your loan qualification, credit limit, and applicable interest rate. Lenders often give more appealing interest rates to people with high credit scores because there is a lower chance of the debt not being repaid by the borrower.

Since people with low credit scores are considered high-risk borrowers, they may have trouble getting approved for various financial products, including personal and credit cards. As a result, they could be charged higher interest rates or denied credit entirely.

What Are the Credit Score Ranges?

Credit scoring companies like FICO use multiple credit scoring models to determine your credit score. FICO scores dominate the market, and the most popular versions range from 300-850, with each number indicating how likely you are to be a responsible borrower. Below are the different credit score ranges and what they represent financially:

Commonly used FICO credit scores range from 300 to 850.

Exceptional 800-850

Consumers with exceptional credit scores have consistently excellent credit usage behavior. They have low balances on their credit card accounts, maintain their credit utilization ratios around 10% or lower, and have a long history (decades) of on-time monthly payments. Borrowers within this range are offered higher credit limits and can qualify for lower rates on personal loans, credit cards, lines of credit, and mortgages.

The highest possible credit score you can have on the FICO scoring system is 850. While it is possible to obtain a perfect 850 credit score, it is not necessary to do so in order to get the best credit offers, nor is it a practical goal. Getting an 850 credit score requires that every single credit scoring factor must be perfect, which is simply not possible for most consumers.

Consumers with credit score ranges that are very good or exceptional will get the best interest rates on mortgages and other loans.

Very Good 740-799

A score between 740 and 799 is in the very good credit range. These borrowers generally have good financial responsibility regarding credit and money management. They have lower credit utilization ratios, a good history of on-time payments, and few derogatory marks on their credit reports.

Most lenders are still comfortable extending lines of credit to these borrowers, so people within this range are likely to get approved for loans and other products with favorable interest rates.

Good 670-739

A FICO score falling between 670 and 739 is considered a good credit score. The national average credit score stands in this range. This score indicates that you have generally been responsible with credit in the past and paid your bills on time. You may qualify for average rates, but it may become more difficult to be approved for some types of credit. You’ll likely have to shop around in order to find the best interest rates.

Fair 580-669

Individuals with credit scores within this range are below the national average and may have negative marks on their credit reports. If you have a FICO score in this range, you’ve likely missed payments or shown signs of high credit usage and delinquencies. This means you may not qualify for some types of credit, such as loans or credit cards. Few lenders will likely extend a credit line to you but offer high-interest rates.

Poor 300-580

This range is the lowest credit score rating on credit reports and is considered to be very bad credit. People with a FICO score in this range are seen as high-risk borrowers and may be unable to get approved for loans, lines of credit, or mortgages. They have several cases of missed payments, high balances, and high credit utilization ratios. Poor credit scores may also result from filing bankruptcy or having debt in collections.

“Credit invisibles” are those who do not have a credit score, which can be equally as problematic as having bad credit.

No Credit Score

It is possible to not have a credit score at all, which is known as being credit invisible. If you haven’t had a loan or credit card for several years, your credit score may not be able to be calculated because there is insufficient information on your credit reports.

Lenders may still allow you access to credit based on your other assets, but it usually requires additional verification of your assets and income.

How To Build Credit & Earn A Better Credit Score

Building and improving your credit score can be a challenging but rewarding experience. Your credit score will increase your access to financing products with lower interest rates and fees on everything from loans to mortgages. Below are some tips that can help improve your score:

Make all of your monthly payments on time – One of the most significant factors that go into calculating your credit score is your payment history. A history of on-time payments will help boost your credit score. If you miss payments, this can be reported to credit reporting agencies and damage your credit score.

Pay more than the minimum payment – By only making the minimum payment each month, you make it easier for yourself to accumulate more and more debt. Not paying your balance in full also increases your utilization ratio, which impacts your score negatively the higher your utilization becomes. Focus on paying off as much of the balance as possible each month.

Keep credit card balances low – Again, carrying large balances negatively impacts your credit score, so it is important to consistently keep your balances low if you can. If you have large outstanding credit card balances on your accounts compared to your available credit, lenders are also more reluctant to give you a new line of credit because they may view you as financially over-extended.

Keeping your credit cards open while maintaining low balances helps your credit utilization and, by extension, your credit score.

Keep your credit cards open – Closing a credit card account can hurt your credit score because you no longer get the benefit of its credit limit. Keeping your credit cards open even if you are not using them much allows the cards to help out your credit utilization metrics, boosting your credit scores.

Only apply for credit when you need it – Each time you apply for a new loan or credit card, lenders check your credit report, which results in a hard inquiry being added to your credit report. Having too many hard inquiries within the past year can impact your score negatively. If lenders see a lot of inquiries in your credit history, they may be concerned that you are taking on too much new debt and might not be able to make all of your payments on time.

Why You Should Never Trust a CPN to Boost a Credit Score Range

If you’re looking to boost or reset your credit score and come across a company that offers Credit Privacy Numbers (CPN), it’s best to stay away. A CPN is a nine-digit fake or stolen Social Security number that credit repair companies sell to people who want to repair their credit scores.

These companies instruct you to use the CPN in place of your Social Security Number when applying for credit. CPNs are generated randomly or stolen Social Security numbers, mostly from children, inmates, and senior citizens. Using a CPN is illegal, and when caught, you can face a hefty fine or even jail time.

Using a CPN instead of a stolen Social Security number, you may be committing an identity theft crime. Depending on your state and the statute of limitations, you could be jailed for a maximum of 15 years and face thousands in fines. Using a CPN to reset or boost your credit score is not worth the risk.

7 Fast Credit Building Strategies to Influence Your Credit Score Range

Credit scores have become an essential part of today’s society. It’s no longer just used for loan applications. Employers and landlords may also ask to review your credit score or credit history. In some cases, you may not get access to housing, utilities, or insurance if you have a low credit score.

If your credit score isn’t your ideal number, or is below the average credit score, there are several things you can do to help increase it. Here are seven fast strategies to help improve your credit score range:

1. Develop Your Credit File

Creating a positive credit file is the first step in building credit. This can be done by opening a credit line that is reported to the major credit bureaus. If you make on-time monthly payments and keep your revolving utilization ratio below 30%, this demonstration of good credit behavior will increase your credit score and, in turn, boost your credit score range. Higher credit scores will open doors to better financing options and lower rates.

2. Check Your Credit Reports

When building your credit score range, it’s critical to check your credit reports to know where you stand.

As mandated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), you can get your credit report for free once a year from each of the three credit bureaus. Additionally, during the COVID pandemic, the credit bureaus have volunteered to provide free credit reports to everyone on a weekly basis. This

Review each credit report for inaccurate information and dispute errors as necessary.

3. Dispute Credit Report Errors

Your credit score can be significantly lowered if your credit report contains erroneous negative items. However, the credit bureaus can be contacted if any errors are found. Your dispute letter must be investigated and responded to by the credit bureau within 30 days. If you find the information to be inaccurate, you can request that it be removed or corrected on your credit report.

4. Pay Your Bills on Time

Payment history is the most critical factor in your credit score, accounting for 35% of your score. No credit-building strategy will be effective if you do not consistently pay your bills on time. Late payments can remain on your credit report for up to seven years.

If you do this successfully, having a long history of on-time bill payments will help you achieve excellent credit scores. To avoid accidental missing or late payments, you can set up reminder notifications and automatic bill payments with your lenders.

5. Increase Your Credit Limit

Paying off credit cards and other revolving accounts may help boost your credit score range, but having a high amount of available credit will add points to your score. Consider increasing the limit on your lines of credit to decrease your utilization ratio. An ideal time to do this is after building up a history of responsible credit usage or when you have started a better-paying job.

According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, your payment history, credit mix, debt owed, and length of your credit history are some important credit factors a credit card issuer will look at when determining your credit limits.

6. Catch Up on Delinquencies and Past Due Accounts

If you have missed payments in the past, try to resolve them as soon as possible. Bringing your delinquent accounts current will help improve your credit score, and paying off collections may help your score depending on which credit scoring model is used.

Since most negative information like late payments remains on your credit report for seven years, it’s important to start repairing your credit history as soon as possible.

If you have trouble with credit card debt, consider talking to a credit counselor to create a debt management plan. They may be able to negotiate lower monthly payments and interest with your creditors and help you pay off old collection accounts faster. Some may even work to get these negative marks removed from your report.

7. Get a Secured Credit Card

If you are just starting out or have had credit problems in the past, applying for a secured card can help you improve your credit score. When you apply for a secured card, you make a security deposit that the issuer will use as collateral if you are unable to pay.

Monthly payments on a secured credit card will help build your credit score. You should look for secured cards that report to all three major credit bureaus in order to take advantage of the credit-building benefits of credit cards.

The Dollar Differences in Credit Score Ranges

The difference between good credit and bad credit can add up to thousands of dollars of interest over your lifetime.

The higher your credit score range, the less risk you pose to lenders and the more likely you are to be approved for a loan with a lower interest rate.

For this reason, having a good credit score can save you thousands of dollars in interest costs.

However, those with low credit scores will have trouble getting approved for a loan, and those who do may be required to pay a higher interest rate to offset the increased risk of lending. Therefore, having a low credit score means you pay more for financing big-ticket items like a car or a home.

Why You Should Share What You Learned About a Credit Score’s Range

Sharing your knowledge about credit score ranges will help people understand the importance of maintaining a good credit score. To get financing for big-ticket items or a dream home, your credit score must reflect your financial responsibility. In the long run, consumers will save money and have easier access to credit when they have a history of good credit habits.

For lenders to feel confident that you are financially responsible, you should maintain a good credit mix of accounts including a checking account, savings account, and an investment portfolio.

Follow the credit tips above, such as maintaining a low credit utilization rate, making on-time payments, and not opening too many accounts at one time so that you can maintain a good credit score.

Conclusions on Credit Score Ranges

It’s important to understand credit score ranges and realize that they are a reflection of your creditworthiness.

Positive credit habits can open doors to financial opportunities that you would not be able to access otherwise, so start building up your credit history and credit scores now. Finally, make sure to keep up your good credit habits consistently to set yourself up for financial success in the future.

Read more: tradelinesupply.com

How Does Closing a Credit Card Affect My Score?

January 8, 2022CreditBy toptierfinancial

The NFCC often receives readers questions asking us what they should do in their money situation. We pick some to share that others could be asking themselves and hope to help many in sharing these answers.

This week’s question: I heard my friend closed her oldest credit card of 4 years and lost all of that credit and her credit score went down. I have one year of credit on a credit card that has a $98 fee after one year, if I close the card do I lose all my credit?

Generally, you can expect your score to drop when you close a credit card, especially if it is your only credit card. So, consider keeping it open. However, if you are primarily motivated to close this credit card to avoid the $98 annual fee, you may have the option to downgrade your credit card for one that doesn’t have an annual fee. Contact your credit card and ask about your options. This way, you can keep your account and its history on your credit report. You could also consider adding another credit line to help you establish a new credit history if you need to close your credit card for good.

But there are more critical factors that impact your score. Understanding what factors influence your credit score can help you understand how your credit score could be affected if you close a credit card and what you can do to build it back up.

What goes into your credit score

Your score is calculated using a secret formula based on the information on your credit reports. Five common factors influence your credit score. Below, we explain how these factors affect your FICO score, which is the scoring model most lenders use. Other scoring models, such as the VantageScore, use a similar system to calculate your scores.

Payment history (35%): This part of your score takes into consideration whether you make on-time and complete payments every month. Late or missed payments lower your score and stay in your report for 24 months. When you close a credit card, your past credit history it’s not erased. Instead, it stays in your report for seven years, influencing your score to a lesser degree. But, if you close your only credit line, your score will likely suffer more because you won’t have any monthly activity to use to calculate your new score.
Amounts owed or utilization ratio (30%): This category factors how much credit you use compared to your available credit. It’s calculated by adding all of your credit card debt and dividing it by your overall available credit. Creditors like to see that you use little of your available credit. Ideally, you should use less than 30%. For instance, let’s say you have two credit cards with a credit limit of $1,000 each and $500 debt in one of your cards. In this scenario, you have $1,500 in available credit, equal to a 25% utilization ratio. Suppose you close one of those credit cards (even if it has a balance). In that case, you are decreasing your total available credit by $1,000, increasing your utilization ratio to 50%, lowering your score.
Credit history length (15%): This percentage of your score is set by how long you have had accounts reporting to your credit file. Influencing factors include the age of your oldest account, the newest, and an average of the other accounts. So, closing your oldest account can directly affect your credit history length, shortening it. Generally, the older your credit history, the better it’s for your score. The only way to create a long history is to be patient as time goes by.
The credit mix (10%): Diversity in your credit lines may not be the greatest influencer of your credit score, but it does make a difference. Ideally, it would be best to have a healthy mix of revolving credit (your credit cards) and installment loans, such as mortgages, car loans, and student loans. There’s no set rule of how many credit cards or loans you need to have.
New credit (10%): How often you ask for new credit defines this category. Any new credit request generates a hard inquiry in your report, which stays there for 24 months. Too many inquiries in a short period not only brings your score down but makes you look like a risky borrower because it seems that you are borrowing too much too fast.

Now that you have a better understanding of what goes into your score, you have more insight into how closing your credit card can affect you. Remember, your best strategy will depend on why you want to close your account, your current credit report, and your financial goals. If you need additional guidance, talk to an NFCC Certified Financial counselor by visiting NFCC.org or calling 800-388-2227. Your counselor can review your credit report to help you decide what works best for you.

If you have a question, please submit it on our Ask an Expert page here.

The post How Does Closing a Credit Card Affect My Score? appeared first on NFCC.

FICO 10 and FICO 10T Explained by a Credit Expert

January 5, 2022CreditBy toptierfinancial

FICO 10 and FICO 10 T are new credit scoring models developed by FICO that have the potential to change the credit industry in a major way.

Credit expert John Ulzheimer, who worked for FICO for seven years and has almost 30 total years of experience in the industry, explained what FICO 10 and FICO 10 T are and what they mean for you as a consumer in an episode of Credit Countdown.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are strictly those of John Ulzheimer and do not necessarily reflect the official stance or position of Tradeline Supply Company, LLC. Tradeline Supply Company, LLC does not sell tradelines to increase credit scores and does not guarantee any score improvements. Tradelines can in some cases cause credit scores to go down.

What Are FICO 10 and FICO 10 T?

The FICO 10 and FICO 10 T credit scoring models are part of the latest generation of credit scores in FICO’s lineup, which also includes FICO score generations 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9. Currently, the most widely used base model is FICO 8. With every new FICO score, FICO tries to improve upon the power of their scores to predict consumer defaults, which is the overarching goal of credit scores generally.

The tenth generation of FICO credit scores is technically called the FICO 10 Suite, as it contains multiple different versions of FICO 10, although in common language this entire group is often simplified as just “FICO 10.”

FICO 10 was announced in early 2020, and it has received much media attention due to the changes that distinguish it from its earlier counterparts.

Why Are Consumers Worried About FICO 10?

Media coverage of the new suite of credit scores tends to focus on the claim that some consumers may see their credit scores go down with FICO 10.

However, John Ulzheimer says that this creates “controversy where controversy doesn’t exist.”

Why? Here are two reasons.

1. The FICO 10 Suite is a normal redevelopment of the FICO credit scoring system.

As we discussed above, FICO regularly redevelops their credit scoring models in order to make them more and more predictive of credit risk.

This is just like what other companies do with their products. Think of Apple and the iPhone: there isn’t just one iPhone anymore. They introduce newer generations of the iPhone, and people want to upgrade to the new and improved models that work better.

This does not mean that the previous versions were “bad,” just that there is a new version that may be better.

2. Your credit scores will be different every time FICO redevelops its credit scoring system.

With every change that is made to the credit scoring system, as an inevitable consequence, your credit score will change. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Your credit score could go up, or it could go down, or it could remain similar to where it was.

Regardless of any changes made, the fact is that if you have a good credit score with one scoring model, you will likely still have a good credit score with a different model. The same goes for bad credit scores. Although different credit score versions have different ways of going about it, they all share the ultimate goal of predicting a consumer’s credit risk, and this will be reflected in your scores regardless of which particular credit scoring model is used.

There are dozens of different credit scoring models, and your credit score is going to be different with each model.

How Will FICO 10 Affect Your Credit Score?

In terms of how FICO 10 could affect your score, John says that newer credit scoring models such as FICO 10 do a better job of separating high-risk and low-risk consumers than older models. In other words, if you have good credit, your score is likely going to be higher with FICO 10. If you have bad credit, your credit score is likely going to be lower with FICO 10.

According to John, this is normal and it is what you would expect to see with any new credit scoring system.

What About FICO 10 T (FICO 10 Trended)?

The “T” in FICO 10 T stands for trended data.

FICO 10 T is unique among FICO’s roster of credit scores because it is the only tri-bureau FICO score on the market with trended data. (FICO competitor VantageScore also has a credit score that uses trended data, VantageScore 4.0.)

What Is Trended Data and Why Is It Unique?

When you check your credit report, you may see that some of your accounts show a history of your balances, your payments due, and how much your payments actually were each month for the past 24 months.

Being able to see this information over time makes it easy to understand the trends in your usage of the account.

Here are some examples of the types of insights trended data can provide:

If you are running up large balances over time.
If you are keeping your balances relatively low over time.
If you have been making your minimum payments over time.
If you have been paying in full over time.
What percentage of your balance you have been paying over time.

Trended data allows credit scores to consider trends in how you have managed your accounts over the past 24 months.

FICO 10 T can now consider this data as part of calculating your credit score.

The information trended data provides is very valuable because it adds another level of data that helps to predict the likelihood that a consumer will default.

For example, a consumer who has a perfect payment history and pays in full every month or keeps a relatively low balance is probably going to score better with FICO 10 than a consumer who maxes out their credit cards or keeps a relatively high balance over time, even if they pay off their credit cards every month.

The research done on trended data demonstrates that transactors, those who charge balances and then pay in full, carry less risk than revolvers, who roll over a portion of the balance from month to month rather than paying it off in full each month.

Consumers who carry a balance over time instead of paying their balances off in full every month will be penalized by FICO 10 T.

To summarize, trended data is what makes FICO 10 T different from the base version of FICO 10. FICO 10 still works like other traditional credit scoring models in that it only looks at a “snapshot” of your credit report at a given time.

Should You Be Worried About the FICO 10 Suite of Credit Scores?

You don’t need to stress out about FICO 10, especially if you have good credit, as you will still have a good credit score under FICO 10.

The same practices that are important in other credit scoring systems still apply to FICO 10 and will still reward you with a good score:

Always make your payments on time.
Pay off your credit cards in full every month.
Keep your balances low relative to your credit limits (maintain a low revolving utilization ratio).
Limit the number of hard inquiries that hit your credit report by only applying for credit when you actually need it.

We hope this article helped you understand the new FICO 10 and FICO 10 T credit scores. Check out the video below, and browse our Knowledge Center and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content like this!

Read more: tradelinesupply.com

Master Credit-Building in Less Than 7 Minutes

December 24, 2021CreditBy toptierfinancial

A credit score is a three-digit number that can greatly impact your life.

The seemingly small number reflects a measure of your creditworthiness, which can have an outsized effect on your finances. A good credit score can unlock a lower interest rate on long-term loans, which could save you thousands. But a bad credit score could bar you from accessing affordable loans for major purchases such as a home or car.

Clearly, your credit score is important. We’ll talk about just how essential below. But how can you build credit? We’ll also cover the best strategies to give your credit score the boost it needs.

What Is Credit-Building?

Credit-building employs strategies to improve your credit score. Wherever your credit score currently stands, credit-building can help you take it to the next level.

The goal of credit-building is to create a history of responsible credit usage. That means opening credit accounts and making on-time payments to keep these accounts in good standing.

To start, building credit can be as simple as that—making on-time payments to your accounts. The only downside is that it can take time to create a solid payment history for your credit report. In fact, it takes around two years for a credit account to be ‘seasoned.’ Seasoned accounts have enough age to show potential lenders that you can responsibly manage your credit. With multiple seasoned accounts on your report, your credit score should increase.

Although it takes time to build good credit, the steady approach of making on-time payments to your accounts will pay off.

Credit-Building vs. Credit Repair

Credit-building and credit repair both have the same goal of increasing your credit score. But each path has a different strategy for success.

Here’s a closer look at each option.

Credit Repair

Credit repair should be the first step if you have a bad credit score.

Generally, credit repair involves addressing any existing negative activity on your credit report. Negative activity could stem from errors on your credit report or a case of identity theft. The process starts by pulling a free copy of your credit report and looking for any bad marks.

For example, you might see inaccurate information about a bill sent to collections on your credit report. In that case, you can dispute the record to have it updated or removed from your credit report.

A bad credit score could make a credit repair agency a tempting option. Typically, the operation works by going through your credit report for you to root out any errors.

Although you can pay for this service, it is possible to tackle credit repair on your own. It will take some time and energy. But you can track down your credit report and take steps to correct any errors you find.

You can learn more about your credit repair options with Tradeline Supply Company, LLC.

Credit-Building

While the focus of credit repair is to remove negative information, on the other hand, credit-building is focused on adding positive information to your credit report. Whether you don’t have a credit history of any kind or if you have a bad credit score, credit-building is the right move.

Essentially, building credit is accomplished by obtaining a line of credit to pay back on time. As you create a history of responsible credit management with consistent on-time payments, you will build your credit history.

No Credit vs. Bad Credit: Which is Worse?

When it comes to credit scores, there are good scores and bad scores.

Here’s the breakdown of credit scores on a scale of poor to excellent:

Poor: 300 to 579.

Fair: 580 to 669.

Good: 670 to 739.

Very good: 740 to 799.

Excellent: 800 to 850.

Most commonly used credit scores range from 300 to 850.

If you have a credit score, you’ll be able to find out where you fall on the scale. But what if you don’t have any credit at all? Is it better to have a bad credit score? Or are you better off with no credit score at all?

In general, it is easier to achieve a good credit score if you are starting from scratch. That’s because you will not have negative marks on your nonexistent credit report to address. With that, you can jump straight into building credit.

If you have a bad credit score, though, you’ll need to start credit repair before credit-building. If you have a bad credit score due to multiple errors on your report, then working on credit repair should give your credit score a big boost. In that case, the process of credit repair might be faster than credit-building. But if you have legitimate financial mistakes on your credit report that have led to a poor credit score, then it will likely take more time to improve your credit score.

It will take some work to improve your bad or nonexistent credit score in either situation. The details of your credit report will determine whether it is preferable to have a bad credit score or no credit at all.

A Fast Tour Through the Stages of Building Credit

The good news is that you can build credit from wherever you are starting. Here’s a fast tour of the stages of credit-building.

Check Your Credit Report

If you have a credit history of any kind, the first step should be to check your credit report.

When you have your free copy, check it over for errors and mistakes. A few things to watch for include incorrect balances and incorrect payment dates. You may or may not find any mistakes. But if you do, dispute the error with the credit bureaus or the company sending the information to the credit bureaus.

If the error is removed, your credit score could see a boost. If you don’t find any errors, this step will still help you understand where you are starting from in terms of your credit history.

Bringing in a consistent income is an important consideration when you are applying for credit.

If you don’t have a credit history yet, you should not have a credit report, but it’s a good idea to check anyway. If you discover that you do have a credit report despite never having credit, this is an indication that someone has fraudulently opened credit accounts in your name, and you will need to address the theft of your identity and the fraudulent accounts.

Maintain a Steady Income

An income is not a part of your credit score. But your income will play a big role in your ability to borrow money and repay your debts in full and on time. Without the option to borrow money, it can be almost impossible to build credit.

Borrow Funds

With a steady income, you may be able to take out a line of credit of some kind. Taking out a loan, line of credit, or credit card is a critical part of building credit. Otherwise, lenders won’t be able to discern how you manage your payments.

Two popular credit-building choices for those with no prior credit history include a secured credit card or a credit-builder loan.

Use Credit Responsibly

No matter how you choose to borrow the funds, the most important thing is to manage your credit obligations responsibly. In order to build your credit, you need to be able to demonstrate to lenders that you have a consistent pattern of responsibly using credit.

As you build a history of responsible credit usage, you will inch closer to your goal of having a good credit score.

Why Credit Scores Matter: Good Credit And Bad Credit Money Differences

It will take time and effort to build a good credit score. Is it worth the effort?

For most people, the answer is a resounding yes! A good credit score can have a big impact on your overall financial picture. If you have a bad credit score or lack a credit score, you could be missing out on big savings opportunities, or you could be missing out on opportunities to borrow money in the first place.

Most consumers need to take out a mortgage to be able to buy a house, which is much easier to do if you have a good credit score.

Big Purchases

With a better credit score, you are poised to take advantage of loans for big-ticket items with reasonable interest rates.

Let’s say that you want to take out a loan to achieve your dream of homeownership, as the majority of home buyers do not have the cash to pay for such a large expense outright. Your credit score will impact whether or not you are approved for the loan and decide what interest rate is attached if you do get approved.

In this scenario, a good credit score could make the difference between becoming a homeowner or not. In addition, a good credit score could save you thousands of dollars in interest over the life of the loan.

Insurance Savings

Those with higher credit scores benefit from lower insurance premiums.

A good credit score could impact your insurance premiums in some states. This is because insurance credit scores have been shown to correlate with a consumer’s likelihood of filing an insurance claim.

In fact, a recent WalletHub survey found that people with no credit pay 67% more for car insurance than people with excellent credit.

Imagine how quickly those costs add up when you have to pay a higher premium every month!

Credit Card Perks

When used responsibly, a credit card can be an extremely valuable financial tool. But if you have a bad credit score, you could be stuck with a credit card for bad credit that offers no perks and a sky-high APR.

In contrast, a good credit score can open the door to many credit card options that come with helpful perks. For example, you might find a cashback opportunity or built-in savings when you use the card, as well as other benefits.

What Lenders Want to See in Your Credit History

As you build your credit history, you might wonder what lenders are looking for in a creditworthy customer. Although there is no hard and fast rule, since each lender has their own underwriting process, the breakdown of a credit score gives us insight into the most important characteristics that lenders generally want to see when evaluating your credit profile.

Credit card perks such as cash back are typically reserved for consumers who have high credit scores.

Payment History

Payment history accounts for 35% of your credit score. In other words, on-time payments represent a critical component of your credit score. Lenders want to feel confident that you make it a priority to repay your debts so that they will not incur a financial loss by extending credit to you.

Even one missed payment can make a serious dent in your credit score, so do not take this category lightly. Making your payments on time 100% of the time is the most important thing you can do to earn a good credit score.

Credit Utilization

Your credit utilization rate represents 30% of your credit score. Your credit utilization rate, also referred to as your utilization ratio, revolving utilization, or your debt-to-credit ratio, measures how much debt you owe on your revolving accounts compared to the amount of revolving credit you have available.

A lower overall utilization rate will result in a better credit score, meaning that lenders will be looking to see how you manage your balances relative to your credit limits. Using too much of your available credit shows that you are a greater credit risk and lenders will be less likely to be willing to work with you.

Furthermore, having too many accounts with balances can also hurt your credit score.

Length of Credit History

Lenders want to know that you are someone they can count on to repay their funds consistently over time. To that end, they’ll be looking to see how long you’ve been able to manage your credit accounts responsibly.

Your actual age is not considered in this, but older consumers do tend to have longer credit histories simply because they have had more time in their adult life to accumulate credit accounts and make on-time payments. In order to improve this factor, all consumers can do is open accounts early on and wait for their accounts to age while diligently making payments and managing their balances.

This factor accounts for 15% of your credit score, but in reality, it is far more important than it seems on the surface because more credit age also means more on-time payments in your payment history, which adds another 35% of your score.

Credit Mix

Your mix of credit is determined by the types of accounts you have open. In general, lenders want to see examples of both revolving lines of credit (e.g. credit cards) and installment loans (student loans, auto loans, personal loans, mortgages, etc.) on your credit report.

This factor accounts for 10% of your credit score.

Learn more about account types and account diversity in our credit mix infographic.

New Credit

Last but not least, credit inquiries account for the final 10% of your credit profile. Hard inquiries appear on your credit report when lenders check your credit when you are looking to open a new credit account with them.

Creditors don’t want to see very many of these hard credit inquiries acquired within the past year. Having too many credit inquiries could be a red flag because it shows that you are seeking a lot of new credit and may not be in the best financial position to pay your bills.

Keep in mind that soft inquiries, which occur when you check your own credit report and other situations when your credit is pulled for something other than a lending decision, are not seen by lenders and are not considered in credit scores.

7 Epic Credit-Building Master Moves

Now it’s time to tackle your credit-building goals. Here are seven strategies to help you take your credit to the next level in no time.

Become an Authorized User

A trusted friend or family member may be able to add you to their credit account as an authorized user. As an authorized user, your credit report will reflect the credit limit and reliable payment history of the account.

If you don’t have someone you can ask to become an authorized user, other options are available. You can purchase accounts with high limits and perfect payment histories from Tradeline Supply Company, LLC.

Open a Joint Line of Credit

Opening a joint line of credit can be a helpful step in your credit-building journey. If you have someone to manage your finances with, a joint line of credit can provide an opportunity for you to build credit along with the joint account holder.

However, there are some downsides to joint lines of credit. They are not available with all lenders, and if you do choose to open a joint account with someone, you may not be able to remove the joint account holder if the relationship sours.

Consider a Secured Credit Card

A secured credit card requires an upfront cash deposit to mitigate financial risk to the lender in case you do not pay your bill. In most cases, the deposit is equal to your credit limit. So, if you deposit $1500, your spending limit will likely be $1500.

Since secured credit cards typically have low credit limits, you will want to keep your balances low so that your credit report does not show a high utilization rate.

If you are just getting started with credit, a secured credit card can be a good way to get the ball rolling.

Set Up Automatic Bill Payments

Setting up automated bill payments on your credit cards can help you avoid getting negative marks on your credit report.

If you open any lines of credit, it is critical that you make on-time payments in order to build up a positive credit history. A good way to ensure that you always make on-time payments is to set up automatic bill payments. With an automatic payment system in place, you won’t have to worry about missing a payment and hurting your credit score.

But even with automatic payments, it is a good idea to check out your bills each month to keep an eye on your spending as well as any potentially fraudulent charges.

Increase Your Credit Limit

If you already have existing credit cards, then consider asking your credit card provider for an increased credit limit. You will effectively lower your credit utilization rate with an increased credit limit. With a lower credit utilization rate, you might see an increase in your credit score.

Pay Off Existing Debt

On the flip side, you can also lower your credit utilization rate by paying off any existing debt you currently have. Although paying off debt is never easy, it could provide the credit score increase you’ve been looking for.

Want tips on paying off debt? See our article on the debt snowball method vs. the debt avalanche method.

Get Credit For Your Bills

Did you know that you can get credit for some of the bills you already pay? There are alternative credit data services out there designed to add your utility, rent, and subscription payments to your credit report.

For example, Experian Boost, eCredable Lift, and RentReporters can help you get credit for the bills you already pay on time. If you pay your bills on time, having that information on your credit report could boost your credit score.

Fighting Credit Misinformation

According to Possible, 4 in 7 Americans are financially illiterate, so it should come as no surprise that many Americans are mystified by their credit score. Not only that, but many believe in detrimental credit myths, leading to poor credit choices due to misinformation.

If you are working with someone to build their credit, you may have to work through some deeply embedded credit score myths. For example, you might hear that checking your credit score lowers your credit score. But that is completely inaccurate. Other common myths include the belief that carrying a balance will boost your credit score or the idea that your credit score doesn’t matter to your personal finances.

As you dive into the process of building credit, utilize reliable resources to learn more about good credit practices and take action to help you reach the credit score of your dreams.

The Bottom Line: Credit-Building Is Achievable

A good credit score can open a world of financial possibilities such as low-interest loans on major purchases, valuable credit card perks, lower insurance premiums, lower security deposits, and more. Although the process of building good credit will take time, it is an achievable goal no matter where you are starting from.

Want to learn more about your credit? Take advantage of the free resources offered by Tradeline Supply Company, LLC.

Read more: tradelinesupply.com

How to Make Easy Money Selling Tradelines

December 18, 2021CreditBy toptierfinancial

Selling tradelines has been written about on several reputable websites referring to it as a “$1,000 per hour side gig,” but is this true?

Technically, the answer is yes, but let us explain further. Keep reading this article to find out how to make money selling tradelines.

The Authorized User Tradeline Strategy

Do you remember hearing this old advice? “When your kids become young adults, add them to your credit cards as an authorized user to give them a head start on their credit.”

This credit-building strategy actually works, and now there is a way to get paid by doing the same thing for other people looking to build their credit profiles. Keep reading to find out how this works and why some people are earning thousands of dollars by selling their authorized user (AU) tradelines.

Is Selling Tradelines Really a $1,000 per Hour Side Gig?

You can earn money in minutes by selling authorized user tradelines on your credit cards.

At Tradeline Supply Company, LLC, commissions generally range from around $50 – $350 per AU spot sold. The older the credit card is and the higher the credit limit, the higher the commission will be.

The AUs only stay on the tradeline for two months in most cases, so there is relatively frequent turnover. On average, we usually allow our credit partners to sell two AU spots per credit card every two months.

The reason this works out to a four-digit hourly wage is really due to how little time it takes to work this gig.

Once you get familiar with adding and removing AUs from your accounts, you might be able to add someone in one minute and remove someone in 30 seconds since that often only requires a click of a mouse. A couple of banks allow you to add an AU online and then require you to call them to get the AU removed.

This said, let’s just assume on average adding an AU takes two minutes and removing an AU takes two minutes. An average commission is around $150 per spot. If you do the math, earning $150 in four minutes of work comes out to an hourly wage of approximately $2,250 per hour. On the higher end of the commission range, a $350 commission works out to be approximately $5,250 per hour based on time worked.

Watch your profits grow as you sell tradelines.

Obviously, the $1,000 per hour rate is not a true measure of how much you can expect to earn. A $1,000 per hour full-time job would earn someone over $2 million per year.

We are not saying you can make that much money, but if you calculate how much money you earn versus time spent, the numbers are in fact very impressive.

Perhaps a more realistic way to assess this opportunity is to look at how much time would be required to earn $10,000 selling tradelines in a year.

The people who earn over $10,000 per year usually have higher-paying cards, so their average commission would be closer to $250 per spot. To make $10,000, this person would have to sell 40 spots per year. With an average of four minutes of work per deal, this person would have spent approximately 2.67 hours of work to earn $10,000, which works out to around $3,750 per hour.

Are There Risks to Selling Tradelines?

Although the authorized user never receives any information about the credit partner, you can always add additional security measures to your account for peace of mind. Photo by Blue Coat.

Yes, there are some risks to selling tradelines. The main risk is the possibility of getting your credit card shut down. We estimate a 1-5% chance of getting your card closed depending on the bank and the number of authorized user (AU) spots you sell during a given period of time.

The good news is that you have control over how many AU spots you sell. If you have been consistently selling your AU spots out every cycle, you can always choose to pause your account between sales and give your cards a rest.

The key here is to avoid adding and removing too many AUs too quickly. You want your accounts to stay open so that you can stay in this game for the long haul.

The most common questions that most people immediately ask are “Is this even legal?”, “Can this affect my credit?”, and “What if the authorized user spends a bunch of money on my card?” The answers are yes, selling tradelines is legal; no, the authorized user will not affect the credit partner’s credit; and no, the authorized user cannot spend any money on your account.

The credit card companies will only send the AU card to the primary account holder’s address and the AU does not receive any information about the credit partner or their account whatsoever. Additionally, most banks offer extra security features such as account activity alerts, instant account freezes, and multi-factor authentication.

Why Isn’t Everyone Selling Tradelines?

The business of selling tradelines has remained sort of “underground” for many years. The knowledge of this option has largely relied on word of mouth through certain niche personal finance communities.

It takes a very unique type of individual who has built great credit, has multiple excellent lines of credit, and is willing to share that credit for money. This trifecta of qualities is extremely rare, so it does not make financial sense to broadcast this opportunity to the general public when the target demographic is so small.

This unique dynamic might explain why you may not have heard about this kind of financial opportunity until now.

How Do I Get Started Selling My Tradelines?

Getting started selling tradelines is easy. Just visit our website and enter your information into the box to instantly receive our current commission schedule and instructions with the next steps.

If you would like to do further research on selling tradelines, can read our article, “Selling Tradelines: How to Choose the Best Tradeline Company” and our Credit Partner FAQs.

To speak with a live person from our team regarding our credit partner program, feel free to give us a call at 888-844-8910.

Read more: tradelinesupply.com

Are Credit Sweeps Legal? – Credit Countdown

December 11, 2021CreditBy toptierfinancial

Credit sweeps are a heavily advertised and promoted service among credit repair companies. Unfortunately for many unsuspecting consumers looking to improve their credit, the credit sweep is a fraudulent and illegal practice.

John Ulzheimer, one of the nation’s most prominent credit experts, explains why you need to watch out for credit sweep scams in an episode of Credit Countdown.

Credit Repair: Legal vs. Illegal

To be clear, credit repair as a whole is not illegal. Credit repair—the legal kind at least—is simply the process of removing inaccurate or unverifiable information from a consumer’s credit report. This is done by disputing the negative items with the credit reporting agencies (CRAs, AKA credit bureaus). Alternatively, credit report information may be challenged through the financial institution that is furnishing the data to the CRAs.

Credit repair is legal as long as it complies with federal and state rules and laws that govern the industry of credit repair.

Hiring a Credit Repair Company to Fix Your Credit

Although the credit dispute process is free to everyone, consumers who want help repairing their credit can choose to pay a credit repair company to try to get negative information removed from their credit reports.

Although trustworthy credit repair professionals do exist, there are also plenty of “scumbags,” in John’s words, in the industry who take advantage of consumers and use illegal and fraudulent practices to make money.

For this reason, it’s extremely important to do your due diligence before deciding to work with a credit repair company.

The Credit Dispute Process

Typically, the credit repair process involves sending letters on the behalf of consumers to challenge the validity of the data in question and ask the CRAs to validate the items. This process is not illegal; it is commonly used and has been around for decades.

Disputes Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives you the right to dispute information on your credit reports that you believe to be incorrect. If you do challenge an item on your credit report, the credit bureaus are required to perform an investigation. They then look into your claim and determine if the dispute is valid or if the challenged information can be verified as correct.

Section 605B of the FCRA

Section 605B of the FCRA is a section that is entitled “Block of Information Resulting From Identity Theft.”

This section of the FCRA states that if you have been the victim of identity theft and someone else has fraudulently opened accounts in your name, then you have the right to have the fraudulent information resulting from identity theft removed from your credit reports.

In addition, in the event of identity theft, Section 605B obligates the CRAs to do two things that are not normally required as a part of removing negative information:

They have to remove the fraudulent information from your credit report within four business days of receiving all of the valid documentation that proves identity theft has occurred. This is a very short period of time in comparison to the 30-45 days that are typically allowed for the credit bureaus to complete their investigations and remove the information.
They have to block the information from ever appearing on your credit reports again.

Scammers have abused this section of the FCRA by selling a service that takes advantage of these policies even when identity theft is not the cause of negative information appearing on someone’s credit report.

What Is a Credit Sweep?

This particular scam that disreputable credit repair companies often engage in is called the credit sweep.

The goal of a credit sweep is to cause the credit bureaus to remove negative information from your credit reports prior to the time that they are legally required to do so. The FCRA mandates that negative information must be removed from a credit report after seven years (with the exception of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which can stay on your credit report for up to 10 years).

A credit repair company tries to get the negative marks deleted from your credit report immediately rather than waiting until it is seven years old, when it will automatically be taken off of your credit report.

How Do Credit Sweeps Work?

The way a credit sweep works is the credit repair company asks you to pretend that you have been the victim of identity theft so that they can get the credit bureaus to remove accurate, valid negative information from your credit report.

The credit repair company has you go to an enforcement agency such as the police and file a police report claiming that your identity has been stolen. They can then show the identity theft report to the credit bureaus as “evidence” that the negative information on your credit report is there as a result of your identity being stolen.

If the credit sweep is successful, the CRAs have to remove all of the implicated negative information within four business days and prevent it from ever reappearing on your report, thus “sweeping” all the negative items off of your credit report.

Credit Sweep Fraud

As John puts it, it is clear that credit sweeps are fraudulent and illegal.

Not only are you lying to the CRAs, but also to the police, and filing a false police report is against the law.

In addition, lying to the credit bureaus and then defaulting on your credit obligations can land you in court, criminally charged with fraud.

Conclusions on Credit Sweeps

Is it worth it to try to fix your credit by purchasing a credit sweep and possibly being prosecuted for fraud? Or is it a better idea to pay your bills on time so that negative information does not hit your credit report in the first place? It’s up to you to consider the pros and cons.

If you learned something from this article, please share it so that others can be aware of the dangers of credit sweep scams.

You can watch the Credit Countdown video below. Find more content like this on our YouTube channel and in our Knowledge Center!

Read more: tradelinesupply.com

Reasons Why You May Not Have a Credit Score – Credit Countdown

September 25, 2021CreditBy toptierfinancial

We’ve written before about the problem of credit invisibility, which is when a consumer does not have a credit score. Millions of consumers are credit invisible in the United States, which represents a serious obstacle in the path to financial success in a society where credit is interwoven with so many aspects of our lives. You yourself may even be credit invisible and looking for a way to become credit visible by gaining credit history.

If you do not have a credit score, credit expert John Ulzheimer explained why this may be the case in a recent Credit Countdown video on the TradelineSupply Company, LLC YouTube channel. Keep reading for the text version or scroll to the bottom of this article to see the video.

What Are the Minimum Credit Scoring Criteria?

In order to be able to generate a credit score, your credit report has to meet certain requirements. These requirements are slightly different depending on whether the credit scoring model being used is a FICO score or a VantageScore.

FICO Score Minimum Credit Scoring Criteria

You must have at least one undisputed tradeline.

A tradeline is an account on your credit report. This may include credit cards, lines of credit, installment loans, etc. (Other items on your credit report that are not accounts and therefore are not considered tradelines include collections, judgments, tax liens, bankruptcies, and inquiries.)

In order to be included by credit scoring models, the tradeline cannot be disputed.

The undisputed tradeline must be at least six months old.

At least six months of credit history are needed in order to accurately predict your likelihood of defaulting in the future, which is what credit scores are designed to do. Trying to come up with a credit score using fewer data points might cause the score to be less predictive of your actual credit risk, which could create problems for lenders.

You must have recent activity on your credit report (within the past six months).

To meet this requirement, you must have at least one undisputed tradeline that has been updated within the past six months. Don’t worry, this can be the same tradeline that qualifies you for the prior two criteria as long as it has reported activity within the past six months, or it can be a different account.

You cannot be listed as “deceased” on your credit report.

Credit scores cannot be created for individuals who are deceased (or appear to be deceased due to an error).

If your credit profile satisfies these criteria, then you will be able to qualify for any FICO score regardless of which generation it may be.

VantageScore Minimum Credit Scoring Criteria

Compared to FICO scores, the VantageScore credit scoring models have less stringent requirements on who can qualify for a credit score.

You cannot be listed as “deceased” on your credit report.

Like FICO scores, VantageScores also do not calculate credit scores for deceased consumers.

You should have at least one or two months of credit history with any credit bureau.

According to MoneyCrashers.com, “the VantageScore model typically produces scores for consumers with one to two months of credit history, regardless of which bureau reports that activity.” The account or accounts do not need to have six months of age in order to be scored.

The company claims that the VantageScore 4.0 and 3.0 models can provide credit scores to 40 million consumers who cannot be scored using other types of credit scoring models since it is easier for consumers with limited information in their credit files to meet the minimum scoring criteria.

What the Lender Sees When You Do Not Have a Credit Score

If a lender tries to pull your credit score and you do not have one for any of the above reasons, they will instead receive what is known as a “reject code” or a “failure code.”

This reject code indicates to the lender that you have failed to meet the minimum credit scoring criteria and which criteria you did not satisfy.

Watch the video on this topic featuring seasoned credit professional John Ulzheimer below, or go to our YouTube channel to subscribe and see more credit-related videos!

Read more: tradelinesupply.com

Metro 2, e-OSCAR, and the Credit Repair Dispute Process – Credit Countdown

September 25, 2021CreditBy toptierfinancial

In credit repair, the credit dispute process involves the use of two systems called Metro 2 and e-OSCAR. If you are unfamiliar with these terms, as is likely the case for most consumers, then keep reading this article. Credit expert John Ulzheimer takes us behind the scenes of the consumer dispute process and explains the importance of the Metro 2 and e-OSCAR systems in consumer credit disputes.

The Right to Dispute Information on Your Credit Reports

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal statute that confers rights to consumers with regard to their personal credit reports.

One of these rights you have under the FCRA is the right to challenge information on your credit report that you believe to be inaccurate.

Where Does the Information on Your Credit Reports Come From?

The information on your credit reports is provided by data furnishers, such as your lenders, to the three major credit reporting agencies (CRAs): Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), there are approximately 16,000 of these data furnishers in the United States.

Here are some examples of data furnishers that may report information about your credit accounts to the credit bureaus every month:

Banks
Credit unions
Financial service providers
Mortgage lenders
Auto lenders
Student loan servicers
Debt collector

Disputing Information With the Credit Reporting Agencies (Indirect Dispute)

One way to dispute something on your credit report is to file a dispute with the CRAs. This method is called an indirect dispute because rather than taking your dispute directly to the furnisher itself, you are asking the credit bureau to investigate the claim on your behalf.

The credit bureau is then obligated to conduct a “reasonable investigation” into your dispute, which typically includes contacting the furnishing party and asking them if there is any validity to your credit dispute.

To understand how indirect disputes work, we first need to define Metro 2 and e-OSCAR. Then, we can take a look at each step in the procedure and see how Metro 2 and e-OSCAR play important roles in the dispute process.

What Is Metro 2?

Metro 2 is the “language” used by data furnishers to communicate information to the credit bureaus. It is the standard (and only) language used for this purpose. The previous version of this language, Metro 1, is outdated and is no longer used.

The Metro 2 language consists of alpha, numeric, and alphanumeric characters. These characters go into different fields on your credit report which indicate certain things.

Metro 2 is communicated through the Consumer Data Industry Associate (CDIA) using a manual called the Credit Reporting Resource Guide (CRRG).

When the data furnishers receive dispute forms from the credit bureaus, the information on those forms is encoded in the Metro 2 language.

What Is e-OSCAR?

e-OSCAR is a communication protocol analogous to a phone line between the credit bureaus and the companies that furnish data to them. It is used to transmit information such as dispute forms back and forth between the credit bureaus and data furnishers.

Like Metro 2, e-OSCAR is universal, meaning it is the only communication method used in the dispute process and therefore it is used by all three credit bureaus.

How the Indirect Dispute Process Works

You challenge information on your credit report by filing a dispute with a credit bureau.
The credit bureau assigns a dispute code to your claim, which is meant to indicate the nature of your dispute.
The credit bureau sends an automated consumer dispute verification form (ACDV) to the data furnisher using e-OSCAR.
The furnishing party logs into the e-OSCAR system to view the disputes.
The data furnisher looks at the dispute code on the ACDV indicating the reason for the dispute. For example, the consumer may have stated that the disputed information does not belong to them.
The data furnisher goes into their internal system to review the consumer’s account in order to verify or refute the disputed information.
The furnishing party then reports the results to the credit bureau by indicating this on the ACDV and sending the ACDV back to the credit bureau via e-OSCAR.
The credit bureau updates your account in their records to reflect the correct information and sends a copy of the report to the consumer.

You can read more about the forms used in the credit dispute process in another article.

Filing a Dispute is Free for Consumers

As a consumer, you do not have to pay to dispute information on your credit report or to have that information corrupted. The right to be able to dispute items for free is mandated by the FCRA.

This includes the updated credit report that the credit bureau sends to you once their investigation is complete.

Summary of Metro 2, e-OSCAR, and the Credit Repair Dispute Process

The FCRA gives you the right to dispute information on your credit report for free.
Data furnishers, e.g. lenders, report information about your accounts to the credit bureaus every month.
You can dispute something on your credit report by going to the CRAs, which is called an indirect dispute.
The CRAs and data furnishers communicate dispute information using forms and codes via the e-OSCAR platform and the Metro 2 language.
Once a credit bureau finishes their investigation into your dispute, they confirm or update the information on your credit report and send you a copy.

Want to see the video version of this article? Watch it below or visit our YouTube channel, where we drop new educational credit videos every weekday!

Read more: tradelinesupply.com

When You Should NOT Be an Authorized User

September 24, 2021CreditBy toptierfinancial

Being an authorized user on someone else’s credit card can often be a valuable strategy for consumers who are looking to build credit. However, it is not true that everyone will benefit from authorized user accounts in every situation.

In some cases, being added as an authorized user may have a neutral impact, which is to say that it doesn’t have much of an impact on your credit one way or the other. Furthermore, in some cases, becoming an authorized user could even hurt your credit score, which is obviously counterproductive.

So if you are interested in potentially adding an authorized user tradeline to your credit file, how can you ensure that this action does not backfire and end up having an adverse impact on your credit?

To address this question, let’s look at some cases in which it is not a good idea to be added to someone’s credit card account as an authorized user, from the perspective of credit expert John Ulzheimer. John provided his expert opinion on this topic in a Credit Countdown video on the Tradeline Supply Company, LLC YouTube channel, which you can view below this article.

Scenario 1: Being Added to a Young Account

Being added as an authorized user to a credit card account that has little age can be detrimental due to the ways it can impact your age-related metrics.

When we talk about credit age, which is also referred to as “time in file” or length of credit history, we do not mean your personal age. (It is a myth that your age affects your credit score.)

Rather, we are talking about the age of your credit report and the tradelines in your credit report. This is determined using various age-related metrics such as the age of your oldest account and the average age of all of your accounts.

The credit age category only makes up 15% of your FICO score, but the impact can still be significant because more age means more on-time payment history, which, at 35%, makes up the largest chunk of your credit score.

It is beneficial to your credit to have as much age as possible. The longer your credit history is, the more confident lenders can be that you pay back your debts, which is why these age-related metrics are important to your credit score.

If you are added as an authorized user to a new credit card, then the low age of the account can bring down your average age of accounts. According to John, this scenario could result in either your credit score going down, or it could “dilute” the other, more beneficial aspects of the authorized user relationship.

To prevent this common tradeline mistake from happening to you, be sure to choose an authorized user account that has as much age as possible so that it will not bring down your credit age and damage your credit score. Our tradeline calculator is a great tool to help you with this.

Ideally, John recommends being added to an account that is at least 20 years old, although this is certainly not possible or practical for everyone. If that is the case for you, just aim for as much age as possible.

Scenario 2: Becoming an Authorized User on a Heavily Utilized Card

Revolving utilization, which is often called the credit utilization ratio, is an important factor that contributes 30% of your FICO score. In this case, lower is better, because if you are utilizing too much of your available credit, this indicates that you are a larger financial risk for lenders.

For this reason, when it comes to your credit score, you want your credit utilization to be as low as possible.

Many consumers seek out authorized user tradelines with high credit limits, but if these accounts also have high utilization ratios, then being added to one as an authorized user could do more harm than good by increasing your revolving utilization instead of decreasing it.

The ideal credit card to become an authorized user on would have a high credit limit, but regardless of the credit limit of a credit card, its utilization ratio should be very low in order to avoid any negative effects.

Scenario 3: If the Credit Card Has a History of Derogatory Entries or Is Currently Delinquent

Of course, it is not a good idea to become associated with a credit card account that has a history of derogatory items or if it is currently past due. Your payment history is the most important determining factor of your credit score, making up 35% of it, so it is vital to maintain a perfect payment history on any account you are added to.

If you are added to a credit card that has any negative items in its payment history, it is far more likely to hurt your credit score than it is to help.

In the event that you are added to an account that has been or is currently delinquent, fortunately, you can have yourself removed from the card. Instead of wasting your time on this type of situation, however, the best thing to do is to ensure that a card has a perfect payment history before having your name added to it.

Scenario 4: If You Already Have a Low Credit Score or Derogatory Items on Your Credit Report

If your credit score is low already, don’t assume that being an authorized user is going to fix all of your problems.

Having a low credit score means you have some negative items on your credit report, and unfortunately, these negative items can act to balance out the potential effect of the authorized user account. One account with a good payment history can only go so far in diluting the impact of derogatory items on your credit report.

As another example, if you have a low credit score because you have several credit cards with high utilization ratios, then adding one card to your credit report that has a low utilization ratio may not be enough to move the needle overall.

In this kind of situation, it is important to be realistic and reasonable with your expectations.

Scenario 5: If the Card Does Not Report to All Three Credit Bureaus

An authorized user tradeline has no value if it does not appear on your credit report, and not all card issuers report authorized users to the credit bureaus. Many card issuers do choose to report authorized user data, but they are not required to do so, so it is not a guarantee.

Therefore, when choosing an authorized user account, it’s crucial to check with the issuer of the credit card you are considering piggybacking on to ensure that they report authorized user information to all three of the major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

That way, you can at least be sure that the tradeline will be posted to your credit report, which is a condition that needs to be met in order for the account to potentially have an impact.

Do you agree with these times when you should not be an authorized user? Let us know by commenting on this article or on the YouTube video below. For more helpful videos about tradelines and the credit system, subscribe to our channel and take a look at our valuable content!

Read more: tradelinesupply.com

Secured vs. Unsecured Debt: What Are the Pros and Cons? – Credit Countdown

September 24, 2021CreditBy toptierfinancial

Secured credit and unsecured credit are types of credit that are very different in terms of risk to consumers and lenders.

In a Credit Countdown video on our YouTube channel, credit expert John Ulzheimer explains the benefits and drawbacks of each type of credit and how different types of credit can affect your credit score. Read what he has to say below and watch the video on our channel!

What Is Secured Credit?

Secured credit is a form of credit that is backed by some sort of physical asset as collateral. If the borrower defaults on a secured loan, the lender can take the asset in order to recoup the loss.

Examples of Secured Credit

When you take out an auto loan, the loan is secured by your vehicle. Technically, the lender is the owner of the car until you finish paying off the debt. If you fail to repay the loan as agreed, the lender can take back the car using the process of repossession.

Similarly, when you take out a mortgage, that loan is secured by your home, and the bank still “owns” the home until you pay it off. In this case, not paying your mortgage can lead to the bank foreclosing on your home, meaning that they evict you from the home and then can sell it to someone else.

Pawn shop loans and title loans are also examples of secured loans.

While most credit cards are typically unsecured, secured credit cards do exist for consumers who may not be able to qualify for unsecured credit cards due to bad credit or a lack of credit history. With a secured credit card, you make a security deposit that counts toward your credit limit that the lender can keep in the event that you are not able to make the required payments on your credit card.

Mortgage loans are secured by your home.

What Is Unsecured Credit?

Unsecured credit is credit that does not have a physical asset as collateral, so the lender cannot take back an asset if you default on the debt.

Examples of Unsecured Credit

A student loan is an example of an unsecured loan because there is no material asset that can be taken away if you do not pay your student loans. Student loans are used to pay for an education, and obviously, the lender cannot “take back” the education you have already received.

Credit cards are generally extensions of unsecured credit, except in the case of secured credit cards, as we described above.

Secured Credit
Unsecured Credit

Auto loans
Unsecured credit cards

Mortgage loans
Student loans

Home equity lines of credit
Unsecured personal loans

Secured credit cards
Unsecured lines of credit

Motorcycle loans

Boat loans

Pawn shop loans

Title loans

The Impact of Secured and Unsecured Debt on Your Credit Score

Secured and unsecured accounts are treated equally by credit scoring models, according to John. You are not penalized or rewarded by credit scores based on your accounts being unsecured or secured.

Different types of accounts are still treated differently by credit scores due to other factors (e.g. credit cards are treated differently than installment loans), but this particular factor does not play a role.

Secured Credit Cards: Use Them Carefully

Secured credit card accounts are commonly used by consumers to establish credit or rebuild their credit after having bad credit. This is a valuable credit-building strategy, but you should be cautious about how much you spend on your secured credit card.

Why? Because secured credit cards often have very low credit limits. That means you can quickly get to a high utilization ratio on the account even from modest spending. For example, if your secured credit card has a credit limit of $500 and you spend $250, you already have a utilization ratio on that account of 50%.

Having heavily utilized credit card accounts can have a significant negative impact on your credit score, so if you’re trying to keep your credit score as high as possible, you’ll want to keep an eye on the balance of your secured credit card and not let it creep too high relative to your credit limit.

Read more: tradelinesupply.com

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