FICO Scores
REPORT CARD
FICO®SCORES were developed by Fair Issac back in the mid 50's to provide a guide for lenders based solely on credit report data. FICO scores range between 300 – 850. The higher the score, the lower the risk. Although many lenders use FICO scores to help them make lending decisions, each lender has its own strategy, including the level of risk it finds acceptable for determining credit worthiness.
This is how the National Distribution of FICO scores breaks down.
THREE DIFFERENT SCORES
There are three different RATING scores—one at each of the three main US credit reporting agencies. And just to make matters more confusing, these scores have different names.
Since each credit reporting agency considers only the data in your credit report at that agency, and each agency may have different information about you, it goes to reason that each may also have a different score for you. If your information is identical at all three credit reporting agencies, your FICO scores should close to each other.
Since lenders may review your score and credit report from any of the three credit reporting agencies, it’s a good idea to check your credit report from all three and make sure they’re all accurate.
DETERMINING FACTORS
Your FICO score is made up of credit information provided by different lenders and other business and government agencies. The breakdown of what goes into your score is as follows:
PAYMENT HISTORY
How you have made payments to your accounts in the past will affect your FICO score. It carries the most weight with the lenders. If they are to lend you credit they want to make sure they are paid as agreed. Late payments are not the only factor, but paying your bills on time will save you money in the end.
Amount Owed
The percentage of available credit is the key factor in determining this portion of your FICO score. The less debt to credit available generally means a lower risk and a higher score. This includes not just credit cards but any installment loans as well.
Length of Credit
The longer you have accounts, the higher your score. FICO likes to see a history with consistency in your accounts.
New Credit
It's common for people to shop for interest rates, but it will cost you in terms of your score if you open up a lot of new accounts in a short period. Credit analysis shows that when you start opening new accounts, you are more likely to get in too deep and this will raise your credit risk.
Types of Credit
Whether you have installment loans, mortgage loans, credit cards or loans from finance companies, or a mix of each will not be a factor in your FICO score, but it is important that you have experience with each, otherwise the only factors in determining your credit will be limited.
Other Factors
FICO scores are not the only factor or the only scores in determining whether credit is issued to you. There is another score that was developed by the 3 reporting agencies called VantageScore and it ranges from 501 to 990 - kind of like a report card 501-600=F, 601-700=D etc. This score takes into account other factors as well. Although the credit reporting agencies are pushing this hard, many lenders and consumers are very much used to the FICO system.
In addition to that, other factors to consider are your application risk scores (length of employment etc.) and customer risk or "behavior scores".
Google One
AMAZON
GOOGLE THREE
EZINE