How to Increase a Credit Score Quickly
Presented by Craig Tashjian Fairway New England Mortgage
144 Gould St. / Needham, Ma. 02494 Direct: 781-719-4677 email: [email protected]
What is a Credit Score?
3-digit
numbers used by lenders to evaluate the risk associated with lending money. Scores range from 300-850 What is a good score?
Above 720 = 680 = 620 = Below 620 = excellent Good Fair Poor
Where do the scores come from?
3
Credit Bureaus / 3 scores Equifax, Experian, Trans Union All Bureaus use the FICO scoring model Scores vary because of the data getting reported to that specific bureau. Approximately 51% of consumers have a score below a 720
The Cost of a Low Score
Home Financing A 30 year fixed loan with a loan amount of $350000 5 year period
SCORE
Monthly payment Total interest paid
<600 $2329
<620 $2155
720+ $2098
$119,174 $105,981 $101,596
Five Factors of Credit Scoring
Payment
History 35%
Delinquent payments Collections Charge offs Repos Judgments Bankruptcies Tax liens Foreclosures
Five Factors of Credit Scoring
Amounts Owed 30%
Credit cards Mortgage loans Auto loans HELOCs Installment loans
Length of History 15%
Time account opened Time account active
Five Factors of Credit Scoring
Types
of Credit Used 10%
A mortgage loan An auto loan 2-3 major credit cards
New
Credit 10%
Soft inquiries Hard inquiries
Amounts Owed 30% What to look for...
Amounts Owed 30%
Credit card balances
Are they correct? Ratio of unpaid balance to credit limit on the card Over the limit on your credit card
Installment account balances
Autos report every 90+ days (get updated) Mortgages that have been transferred but are reported incorrectly
Past due amounts
Bring current
AMEX high credit balance can make you look maxed out HELOC being reported as revolving, change to HELOC Deletion of incorrect items, not just updated
Payment History 35% What to look for
Positive tradelines reporting within the last 6-12 months
Get a secured credit card immediately. It will report in 30 days. Become an authorized user (add as a signature) on someone elses credit card account. Make sure good tradelines reporting to all 3 bureaus Recent 30 day late payments if not 100% accurate, dispute immediately Derogatory accounts that are over 7 years old Bankruptcy; if debts supposed to be included update credit report so that they are included Past due amounts pay past due immediately
Length of History 15% What to look for
Make
sure (older) positive tradelines are active New credit users can add themselves to another persons credit card as an authorized user to generate a score. (grandmas Visa card) Complete applications consistently, too many addresses, or AKAs can cost points
Inquiries 10% What to look for
Unauthorized (if you didnt make the inquiry, dispute it, and get removed) No more inquiries wait to get that new sofa or car
Mix of Credit 10%
Must have a credit card Types of credit does matter; bank card better than store charge. Secured credit card.
Top Myths About Credit
Payment history is the only factor to get points quick (see the five factors) Paying off and closing out a credit card will increase your score
Available credit does not hurt your score
Paying off collections and judgments will increase score immediately
If they are paid then have the bureaus update that they are paid, but if not, see if it effects your ability to get a mortgage loan
Having too much available hurts
The more you have available that you are not using reflects better on your credit score
Some Common FAQs
My credit report only shows two scores Whats the best way to quickly bring up my score? How quickly can a credit score change after moving money from one credit card to others to keep the credit limit ratio under 30% If I have 6-10 cards Im not using should I close them.
No, available unused credit looks good Almost immediately A secured credit card Could be an identification issue Not enough data reporting to that bureau
Top Dos and Donts of Disputing
Only dispute to the bureaus with the top two scores. You want the bottom sore to stay the same. Certified mail only Only dispute to the bureaus that are reporting the derogatory information Get deletion letters for Collections from creditor, you want deleted off the report altogether, not just updated Dont pay off installments loan in advance to lower total debt amount Dont close out credit cards unless for identity theft reasons
Web Site Resources
Federal Trade Commission Site on Credit Consumer Federation of America My FICO
www.consumerfed.org www.myfico.com www.privacyguard.com Secured credit card www.orchardbank.com www.thecrcgroup.com www.ftc.gov/credit
Privacy Guard Orchard Bank
Credit Resource Corporation From loantoloan
www.fromloantoloan.com
