We can borrow money from lenders, but the lenders would want to ensure that we have high credit worthiness. All that the lender needs to ensure is that they will get their money back before the loan is approved. Lenders can get to know about the borrowers with the help of credit bureaus who maintain all the necessary records. These bureaus study the past credit data of a person and comes up with a credit score. The credit score is thus nothing but a figure that shows how credit worthy that person is. This score is very important because the lender can understand how wise it would be to issue the loan to that person. Actually there are 3 free credit scores all over the US and you would do well to know more about them.
There are three separate American credit bureaus. The three major credit bureaus are the Experian, the TransUnion and the Equifax. Each of them performs a statistical analysis of individual credit data, and comes up with a credit score. The credit worthiness of the borrower is reflected by this credit score. For calculating individual credit scores, separate methods are taken up by these three credit bureaus. As a result, the individual conclusions of these 3 agencies are often not the same. A software that is automated calculates the credit score. This software has been designed and made operational by the Fair Issac Corporation (FICO). Hence, credit scores are also known as FICO scores.
All the three credit scores are combined in the full credit report. Apart from these three credit scores, each of the bureaus also calculate the VantageScore separately. Generally, VantageScore can assume any value between 501 and 900. The FICO credit score varies between 300 to 850.
If you want to know what your score is, you can do this and that too free. There are many credit report monitoring services of the credit bureaus, and you will need to subscribe to any one of them. The credit bureaus supply this information to the lenders as well so that they can arrive at a conclusion as to your credit worthiness. Actually this is what the lender considers when deciding whether to approve the loan or reject it.
Why is it important for you to find out what your credit score is? That is because, it is possible that there is an error in the report. Your credit report may be there for as long as 7 years and so you have to verify about its accuracy for your benefit. So go ahead and find out how you can get your three credit scores and also learn whom to approach for this. Yes, this information is absolutely essential for you.
Please visit www.ThreeFreeCreditScoresOnline.com where you can get access your credit scores and reports from all the bureaus.
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My “credit score” as seen when i order a credit report is in the low 700s. But when i went to buy a car, they declined me stating that my score was “640″ from what they calculated, based on the fact that my “credit file” is thin and i had credit card balances. Well, in conclusion, i am not credit worthy, because i have managed to not have too much credit in the past! How can responsible behavior be penalized! That to me is bad financial decision making! I am a Physician resident and have a great career ahead, but unfortunately even with all of the credentials, i am not credit worthy! I am not surprized that the financial institutions are going bankupt!