Michael Strauss asked:




Your credit score and credit card use are closely intertwined, with both effecting each other profoundly. The way you use your card can affect your credit rating for good or for ill, depending on how responsibly you use it and how prompt your payments are, but in this article we’ll be looking at how things work in the opposite direction, that is how your current credit score influences the kind of credit card you can expect to be approved for.

If you have an excellent credit rating then the whole range of cards on the market is available to you, providing that you meet minimum acceptance criteria such as salary level or residential status. You can expect to achieve a headline grabbing low interest rate, even within the single figure range, and you’ll be showered with extras such as cash back, rewards programs, balance transfer deals, and interest free shopping periods.

These kinds of deals are aimed at the financial elite among the population, and as you’d expect, most of us will have to settle for something a little less luxurious. If you have a decent but not outstanding credit score, with no major black marks such as defaults, then you’ll be able to choose from one of the mid-range cards. These cards will tend to offer generally unexciting features across the range, while boasting one or two stand-out features to attract attention. An example would be a card with a great cash back rate but a fairly high standard APR, or a card with an outstanding balance transfer offer but nothing in the way of rewards or cash back.

As we go further down the range of credit scores, the number of attractive features gets less while the standard APR gets higher. It also becomes harder to be approved, and applications for the cards in the best buy tables become more or less pointless. That’s not to say that there are no decent cards at this level, but you will have to look around a bit harder to find attractive features and low rates.

At the bottom rung of the credit card ladder we have cards specifically aimed at people with poor or no credit ratings. These cards charge extremely high interest rates, often in the region of 30% or even higher, and offer no extra inducements such as balance transfers. They will also tend to have a low credit limit, but with such high rates this is no bad thing – you’d want to avoid running up a debt in any case.

These cards are mainly beneficial for enjoying the convenience of a credit card while using it responsibly to build up a more positive credit profile for future applications for a better card.

If even these specialist cards are out of your reach because of a severely damaged credit rating, then this doesn’t have to mean you can’t carry plastic at all – there’s still the option of a secured or prepaid card which you need to load with funds before you use it. This of course means that they are not actually credit cards at all, but as they can be used in more or less the same way, they have many of the benefits in terms of payment convenience.

Regina

W. M. Blake asked:




Anyone who has checked into their credit score has probably found the rating scale to be somewhat confusing. There are a bunch of numbers, each meaning something different. Understanding how this rating works will help you to read your credit score effectively.

There are several pieces of information reviewed by companies when they build your credit score. These factors include the following:

- Your past payment history

- When you pay your bills

- The amount of outstanding debt you have

- The length of your credit history

If you have a great deal of debt or you don’t have a very long credit history, you will receive a lower credit score even if there are no “black marks” against you.

Recent credit applications also factor into your score. If you have made too many applications recently, this will cause you to receive a lower score. As will too much debt at high interest rates, such as high rate credit cards.

A score of 700 or higher is considered a good credit score. At this level, you shouldn’t have any problems getting credit, and at a low rate of interest.

If your score is between 450 and 650, it indicates that your credit needs some work to improve it. At this level you’ll likely have a harder time finding a loan or qualifying for a credit card without some type of security. You will also likely be paying a higher interest rate because you are considered a higher risk.

If your score is below 450, your credit is in need of some serious help. At this level you likely won’t be able to qualify for a loan or credit card until you pursue some form of credit counseling to improve your score.

If your credit score needs improvement, there are a number of sources that can help. There are many credit counseling services available, many of which are free to use. They will be able to assess your financial situation and offer advice as to the best route to improving it – and your credit score along with it.

Margaret

Bloomberg asked:

Your credit can be the difference in getting that loan, credit card or even the job you want as employers are looking more at credit history. Knowing what goes into your credit score and practicing good borrowing habits has never been more important.

Norma

asdfgh asked:


ive only had a credit card for two months and i was curious about credit score and got a free one done it said my credit score is 814 is that even possible?

Yolanda

Josh Ramos asked:




Do you remember back in school when used to receive a letter grade as an evaluation of your work?

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Mike Singh asked:




You may find yourself asking what does your credit score mean exactly? This is a valid question, many people ask themselves what does a credit rating mean. It is a score that determines how responsible you have been in handling your credit and debts. When asking about credit score, it signifies you should also know it helps in getting accepted for a loan or a credit card so it is important to keep it in good standing. Also when looking at your credit rating means you should do everything you can to improve it if need be.

Not only should you know what does your credit mark mean, but you should also know the parts that it is made up of. This is because there are many numbers and names all over it. It is important in determining what your credit mark mean to look at it at least once a year in order to avoid any problems and to resolve any that do arise as quickly as possible. This will mean you must look at it carefully and make sure everything is correct from your address to the balances on each account.

Something else that you need to do when trying to figure out what does your credit score signify is making sure you are ready to dispute anything that is wrong on it. You should also be aware of how to go about this. There are ways and the creditors must oblige within a certain amount of time.

A good thing to do before attempting to find out about your credit rating is to get a free copy of it for your records. This can be done online and at least once a year needs to be done. If it is too low for your own comfort you can work on improving it by curbing spending, paying on time and transferring balances. Do not buy anything you really cannot afford.

When trying to figure out your credit rating mean you should look at the interest rates of different credit cards. These interest rates can greatly affect your credit score and your ability to pay credit cards off. Get rid of any cards with high interest rates as soon as possible and you will be better off.

Most of the time when you are looking at what does your credit score mean, you are trying to figure out if something is wrong with it and looking for a way to improve it. By following these simple suggestions you can be on your way to doing a lot better financially. As long as you understand your credit mark mean, you are well on your way to being debt free.

Kathy

Lala O asked:


I’ve been in college for several years, and I’ve never had a credit card. Quite frankly, I really don’t want one because I don’t need one. Do I NEED a credit card to help improve my score, and if so, what are the best cards out there for students.

Mitchell

wyfftv asked:

FICO officials answers whether canceling a credit card hurt your credit score?

April

dancingcorpse asked:


I have 2 credit cards. And I have student loans from the government, and a student line of credit. I have a poor credit score and I want to improve it. Will cancelling one of my credit cards improve my score (after I have payed off the balance of course) ?

Alma

Quicken asked:

quicken.intuit.com Learn these five tips for creating and maintaining a healthy credit score. Pay bills on time, keep credit card balances well below the maximum, and more.

Duane