18
Misunderstandings Persist About Credit Scores
Too many consumers still don't get it when it comes to credit scores.
And what you don't know can hurt you when it's time to buy a home -
especially in a tight credit market.
You need at least a 700 credit score to qualify for a low-rate mortgage.
Three of every four consumers incorrectly believe that credit scores are
influenced by income.
Even more - 79 percent - erroneously believe that credit scores can be
obtained free once a year. (They're probably thinking about their credit
report, instead.)
Those are among the findings of a report, "Consumer Understanding Of
Credit Scores Improves But Remains Poor" commissioned by the
Consumer Federation of America.
First, your credit score is a number assigned to your creditworthiness.
Your credit score indicates how well or poorly you'll repay a debt. The
higher the number, the more likely you'll repay on time.
Too many consumers still don't get it when it comes to credit scores.
And what you don't know can hurt you when it's time to buy a home -
especially in a tight credit market.
You need at least a 700 credit score to qualify for a low-rate mortgage.
Three of every four consumers incorrectly believe that credit scores are
influenced by income.
Even more - 79 percent - erroneously believe that credit scores can be
obtained free once a year. (They're probably thinking about their credit
report, instead.)
Those are among the findings of a report, "Consumer Understanding Of
Credit Scores Improves But Remains Poor" commissioned by the
Consumer Federation of America.
First, your credit score is a number assigned to your creditworthiness.
Your credit score indicates how well or poorly you'll repay a debt. The
higher the number, the more likely you'll repay on time.
©2007-2012 Vinson and McCord Realty LLC. All rights reserved.
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Overview
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Your bill-paying information on credit reports provides the basis for your credit score.
Consumers who take the time to obtain their credit score, for only about $15 under most circumstances, are more likely to have a better
understanding of the scores.
That includes knowledge that mortgage lenders rely heavily upon credit scores to approve or reject home loan applications.
Informed consumers also know they can generally raise their credit score by paying bills on time every time; by paying off debt and closing
those paid-off accounts; by not coming close to maxing out credit cards and by regularly checking their credit reports to make sure they are
accurate.
Your credit report is free from AnnualCreditReport.Com. For more information about your credit score, go to:
The study also found that consumers could save $28 billion a year in finance charges if they improved their credit scores by 30 points.
"Lack of consumer knowledge about credit scores not only increases the costs of their credit and insurance, but also reduces the availability of
these and other services," CFA Executive Director Stephen Brobeck says.
The study's findings include:
When asked to define "credit score," only 31 percent correctly identified the answer "risk of not repaying the loan" in a multiple-choice question
that also included "financial resources to pay back loans" (21 percent), "amount of consumer debt" (16 percent), "knowledge of consumer
credit" (15 percent), and "attitude toward consumer credit" (9 percent) as other options.
Consumers typically fail to understand that a credit score reflects only how they use credit, not factors such as income and age. Significant
percentages incorrectly believe that credit scores are influenced by income (74 percent); age (40 percent); marital status (38 percent); the state
in which they live (29 percent); level of education (29 percent); and ethnicity (15 percent).
Most consumers correctly understand that they can learn their credit scores if they are denied a mortgage loan (72 percent) or declined for a
credit card (65 percent). But an even larger group (79 percent) incorrectly believes that credit scores can be obtained free once a year. Only
credit reports are free every year.
Copyright © 2009 Realty Times®. All Rights Reserved.
Consumers who take the time to obtain their credit score, for only about $15 under most circumstances, are more likely to have a better
understanding of the scores.
That includes knowledge that mortgage lenders rely heavily upon credit scores to approve or reject home loan applications.
Informed consumers also know they can generally raise their credit score by paying bills on time every time; by paying off debt and closing
those paid-off accounts; by not coming close to maxing out credit cards and by regularly checking their credit reports to make sure they are
accurate.
Your credit report is free from AnnualCreditReport.Com. For more information about your credit score, go to:
The study also found that consumers could save $28 billion a year in finance charges if they improved their credit scores by 30 points.
"Lack of consumer knowledge about credit scores not only increases the costs of their credit and insurance, but also reduces the availability of
these and other services," CFA Executive Director Stephen Brobeck says.
The study's findings include:
When asked to define "credit score," only 31 percent correctly identified the answer "risk of not repaying the loan" in a multiple-choice question
that also included "financial resources to pay back loans" (21 percent), "amount of consumer debt" (16 percent), "knowledge of consumer
credit" (15 percent), and "attitude toward consumer credit" (9 percent) as other options.
Consumers typically fail to understand that a credit score reflects only how they use credit, not factors such as income and age. Significant
percentages incorrectly believe that credit scores are influenced by income (74 percent); age (40 percent); marital status (38 percent); the state
in which they live (29 percent); level of education (29 percent); and ethnicity (15 percent).
Most consumers correctly understand that they can learn their credit scores if they are denied a mortgage loan (72 percent) or declined for a
credit card (65 percent). But an even larger group (79 percent) incorrectly believes that credit scores can be obtained free once a year. Only
credit reports are free every year.
Copyright © 2009 Realty Times®. All Rights Reserved.
Vinson and McCord Realty LLC helps
you aquire a home, not just a house.
you aquire a home, not just a house.
VINSON & McCORD
REALTY LLC
REALTY LLC
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