Credit report scores

Credit Report Scores

Borrowers today have it easy. With credit report scores, they can get loan approvals much faster than they used to. Lenders use credit report scores to determine how likely you are going to pay your bills on time. The higher you credit report scores, the better chance youll have to get approved for a loan. Moreover, high credit report scores often mean better loan rates (e.g., lower interest).

So considering how great an impact your credit report score has on your financial life, it is therefore only natural that youd want to learn as much as you can about it. So what are credit report scores? And who is responsible for coming up with these three digit figures? Here, you will find answers to such questions as well as other common inquiries regarding credit report scores.

What is a Credit Report Score?

This is a number three-digit number that is generated by a mathematical algorithm or formula. Such formula is based on information found in your credit report, such as payment history, available credit, existing debts, new credit lines, etc. This information is then compared to information from tens of thousands of individuals to come up with a number that more or less reflects your future credit performance.

Why is it important?

It is the most precise information that lenders can depend on to make decisions regarding your credit application. Thus, if your credit report scores reveal that you pay your bills on time and have decent amount of credit available in your account, the lenders would be all too happy to accommodate you in your request for new loan or mortgage.

On the other hand, if you have a credit report score that is below average (normal range is 300 to 800 with 720-above considered as desirable scores), then lenders may hesitate to let you borrow more credit. Or, if they approve your application, it would be for less favorable loan terms.

Who Calculates Credit Report Scores?

The first company to ever develop a system of assigning value to your credit standing was called Fair Isaac Corp. The score was called the FICO score and to date, it remains to be the most trusted credit report score used by all three major credit bureaus, namely, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

What Other Companies Calculate them?

Other private companies offer their own system of calculating your credit report scores based on different valuation schemes. This means that you actually have more than one credit report score. When you apply for a loan or a mortgage, lenders would request to access your credit report score from any of these private companies and sometimes they may even request from more than one credit bureau.

 

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