Are You Aware of the Most Common Credit Threats?
The Associated Press reports a new finding by FICO, Inc. that 25.5 percent of consumers, or nearly 43.4 million people, currently have a credit score of 599 or less. With a quarter of the nation suffering from credit card debt and poor credit scores, it’s obvious that many are not aware of the number of factors that can lower their credit scores.
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You can probably list several things you know can contribute to decreasing your credit score, but it’s unlikely you can name them all. In fact, a list of different things that impact your credit score negatively has been compiled by CreditReport.com, and among them are late or missed payments, bankruptcy and periods of unemployment.
Did you know that these common occurrences harm your credit? Here’s a closer look at how these situations are a threat to your credit.
Missed or Late Payments
You may be willing to pay that late fee every now and then if it lets you skip another bill for a few extra days. For some people, $20 or $30 isn’t a big deal. Plus, the Fed is making it even easier to rationalize paying a late fee by approving new credit card restrictions, including a late fee cap of $25.
So why not pay bills late and fork over the extra fee when budgeting gets a bit messy at the end of the month? Go ahead if you don’t care about your credit score.
If you do care, you need to pay every bill on time. Linda Stern of CBS Money Watch details some of the additional regulations that go into effect on August 22, 2010 as part of the CARD Act, but advises that you still need to protect your credit even if the new laws make it easier to skip payments. Stern writes, “Even with new limits on late fees…Late payments will hurt your credit score and that, in turn, will cost you more on everything you borrow.”
Bankruptcy
Filing for bankruptcy is a huge decision that will have a lasting effect on your credit. As Consumer Credit Couseling Services (CCCS) explains, “Credit that you are able to obtain may be from sub-prime lenders that carry very high interest ...
