What is Credit History and Why is it Important?

Sunday, February 16th

What is Credit History and Why is It Important?

From that first bank account to the latest credit card, an individual's credit history is the complete synopsis of how that consumer has managed their finances over their lifetime. For better or worse, it's all included in one handy document, which can be accessed by financial brokers, credit card companies and even potential employers.

A credit score - a three-digit number that is assigned through a mathematical algorithm which pulls data from a person's credit report - is partially determined by a consumer's credit history. A credit score, in conjunction with a person's credit report, is used to determine credit worthiness. It consists of 15 percent of a consumer's credit score.

Knowing how a credit history can affect everyday living is the best tool a consumer can possess. Landlords, insurance providers and even cell phone companies use a person's credit history to determine if they want to risk doing business with that person. Having a bad credit report - which is the result of not paying bills on time or forfeiting loans and other debt - will have lifelong repercussions for the potential borrower.

It's best to build a solid credit report from day one. The ways to create a positive report include:

• Pay on time. While this may seem like common sense advice, failure to make payments on time or to make them at all is the number one reason consumers have poor credit reports. In order to pay bills in a timely fashion, set a budget and establish a bill-paying routine so as not to miss any payments. Some online bill payment systems allow users to set automatic payments/deductions for bills that occur on a monthly basis. Using these features may be the best way to make sure bills are paid on time and not forgotten.
• Pay the balance. It's best to pay the entire amount due each month. However, if that is not possible, at least be sure to pay the indicated "minimum amount due" listed on the bill. Paying even a small amount on bills is better than skipping a payment altogether.
• Don't overextend available funding. While it may be easier said than done, creating and sticking to a monthly budget is the best way to prevent overspending, which can result in the failure to pay bills on time.
• Think before buying. Impulse spending is among the quickest ways to overextend available credit. Overextending credit almost always leads to failure to pay bills in full on time, which in turn results in a poor credit report. Establishing a monthly spending plan is the best way to know if there is wiggle room for additional spending on items that are non-essential.

If you're among the estimated 220 million Americans who have bad credit, all is not lost. There are steps to take to help repair credit damage and improve your credit rating. The best way to repair poor credit is to consult with a consumer credit consolidation service, which can help consumers consolidate monthly loans and other debt into more reasonable payments.