Article about credit scores and what affects them

allisolm

Elite Member
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Jan 2, 2001
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I've seen many threads here about credit reports and how inquiries do or don't affect credit scores, so I thought the following article in my newspaper today might be of interest. The quotes in it are from the public-affairs manager of Fair Isaac, creators of the FICO credit-scoring model.

Borrowers want to know if inquiries harm credit
Some excerpts:
?...multiple auto or mortgage inquiries in any 14-day period are counted as one inquiry.

? In the newest formula used to calculate FICO scores, that 14-day period has been expanded to any 45-day period...

? The FICO score ignores all mortgage and auto inquiries made in the 30 days before scoring.

? Each "hard" credit inquiry (meaning the consumer has applied for some form of credit) that is counted normally subtracts no more than five points from a person's score. Often, no points are subtracted.

? The formula doesn't count inquiries made by a lender reviewing an account you already have with that lender.

? Inquiries that come from employers are not counted. Nor is it counted when you ask to see your own report or score.

Stuff that might affect your score:
? taking an unusually long time (several months) to shop for a new mortgage or auto loan.

? shopping around in the same year for several different lines of credit not associated with a mortgage or auto loan.

? knowing before beginning to apply for credit - presumably from conversations with creditors - that your credit score barely qualifies you for the desired credit offering.



 

Kishan

Platinum Member
Jul 2, 2004
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thanks! the morgatge and auto 14 day statute was interesting. I thought it would be an inquiry for every dealer though?
 

kranky

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Oct 9, 1999
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Good post.

All of the points mentioned make sense. Yet I'm sure for the next year we'll see people spouting incorrect information about credit scores that directly contradicts the above as people try to game the system.

People worry wa-a-a-a-y too much about their credit score.
 

bernse

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Aug 29, 2000
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Originally posted by: allisolm
Stuff that might affect your score:
? taking an unusually long time (several months) to shop for a new mortgage or auto loan.

Wonderi what the reasoning is for that?
 

Plasdom

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Jul 17, 2004
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Originally posted by: bernse
Originally posted by: allisolm
Stuff that might affect your score:
? taking an unusually long time (several months) to shop for a new mortgage or auto loan.

Wonderi what the reasoning is for that?

Probably means no-one is willing to give you a loan
 

bernse

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Aug 29, 2000
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Originally posted by: Plasdom
Originally posted by: bernse
Originally posted by: allisolm
Stuff that might affect your score:
? taking an unusually long time (several months) to shop for a new mortgage or auto loan.

Wonderi what the reasoning is for that?

Probably means no-one is willing to give you a loan
I don't think so. Those would be credit inquiries if your looking for approval. That's not what this says... it's only saying the time factor.