In today’s current economy, its much harder to qualify for a loan. Now you need a very good Doutor Score to qualify for most types of credit. So what’s a good credit score rating?
850 is perfect credit and the highest credit score rating possible, though I’ve never personally seen anyone with an 850. A good credit score starts in the 670 range. Scores lower than 670 are not considered good credit.
How to Get a Good Credit Score:
There are 5 criteria that your credit is scored upon, and they’re rather simple to follow.
1. Payment History accounts for 35% of your credit score.
Do you pay your bills on time? If you do nothing else but make timely payments, you will have a good credit score in two years. Obviously, avoiding new collections, court actions, and most easily late pays will help your credit.
Past delinquency plays the largest role in hurting your credit score. One recent 30 day late payment will lower your credit score, most likely by 20 points! A couple of late payments, and your score will drop very far, very fast. 60 day lates hurt your score even more and 90 day lates are a real issue. It is important to know that the more recent the delinquency, the more negative the effect on your score. One 30 day late last month will hurt more than even a 90 day late 4-5 years ago (5-10 points).
Make sure to stay on top of your debt. Take caution to make timely payments and take care of accounts before they are late or go to collection. Do not overextend yourself in such a way that it hurts your chances of making timely payments. If you have old late pays that cannot be disputed off your credit report, know that time does heal old wounds and your score will increase given that no new delinquencies are reporting.
Pay before the Grace Period on your Credit Cards. Creditors charge additional fees for late payments. This is a very large profit center for a bank. Now, not only is there a due date, but there is also a due time. A bank may charge a $30-$35 fee for being 2 hours late on your payments! (make sure to look at the fine print of all agreements) Also, many banks have implemented under 20 day grace periods, shortened from 30 days, to increase overdue charges. Don’t wait for the due date! Get your payments in fast or sign up for automatic debit payments online.