The first thing you need to know is the basics of how the FICO system works and what qualifies you for good or bad credit. The highest score you can get in 850. This should be common knowledge but I have been surprised time and time again at the number of people that don’t know this basic thing. If you did not know, don’t worry. After today, you’ll know a lot more than most. The ideal range for your credit score is 720 to 850. This is extremely good. Again, don’t worry if this isn’t you. If you score is about 675, you are still in very good shape. If it’s below 675, there may be some trouble borrowing money in the future. 300 is the lowest.

This FICO score is compiled by many different factors. 35% of your credit has to do with your punctuality of making your payments. Any payment that is more than 30 days late is reported to the credit bureaus and a lower score is the result. 30% of the FICO score is dependent upon your total debt. This means the ratio of your revolving debt. Still confused? Revolving debt is a credit card. Debt that is always available in a certain range. The ratio is how much debt you still have in comparison to the limit on that line of credit.

Another fifteen percent of your credit score is based on the length of your credit history from the time you first borrowed money to the present. Ten percent is based on the kinds of credit you use. Some kinds are weighted more heavily. The final ten percent of your FICO score is determined by how much credit you have used recently.

There are also a couple of unique things that can affect you credit score such as how much money you owe to a court judgement or money you owe on a tax lien. These have much larger penalties, as does any kind of bankruptcy as you could imagine. The number of accounts you have open also affects your score even though it may improve the debt/credit ratio. Each time you make an inquiry on your credit, it also affects your score. Some pulls hurt more than other though. For example, if you are checking your personal credit, this is considered a soft pull and won’t really affect your score.

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FICO scoring is a system that lenders and underwriters use to determine what your interest rate on a loan is going to be. If you buy a house or car, the mortgage or the loan is determined by you credit report and your FICO score.

The score is based on the system developed by Fair Isaac Company (FICO) and the interest you pay, as well as monthly payments that are based on your personal credit history and score as well.

Just as with a car loan or house loan, you FICO score determines your interest rate. Something most people do not know however, is that a FICO score can also affect your chance of finding new employment, which is increasingly important in the current economy.

The different methods used to determine your FICO score can be divided into about five different categories.

In each category, we will include a percentage that reflects the importance of each when determining personal credit and calculating a score.

History (35%)

Your payment history is the largest factor in determining FICO scoring. This includes the number of unpaid bills you have, any bills sent to collection, bankruptcies etc. The more recent the problem, the lower your score.

Debt (30%)

How much of the total credit line is being used on credit cards and other revolving charges? High balances or more precisely, balances that are close to your credit limit can negatively affect your credit score. Most lenders think 40%-60% of maximum is ideal.

History of Credit (15%)

This was a surprise to me. If you have a car loan, and you pay it off immediately, it is not as good as if you have a car loan drawn out for a long period of time and you make payments regularly. However, keep in mind that the difference you pay in interest may not be worth the higher FICO score.

Inquiries (10%)

Whenever you apply for credit, there is always an inquiry on your report and they will negatively affect your score. Some inquires are considered soft pulls of credit. A soft inquiry would be checking your personal credit or your report. Some insurance companies will do a soft pull also so as to not harm your report.

Type of Credit (10%)

How much is your current amount on your loan in comparison to the original amount due? Is that amount for a car loan or a mortgage? This is what is meant by type. Also, how many account do you have open? If you have three accounts already open, it would probably not be wise to add another line of credit just to get a higher limit. This will hurt this category more than it will help your credit/debt ratio.

Having a FICO score and knowing what it is is essential to managing your finances. The is the number that every credit bureau will use to determine if you have good or bad credit and they will assign you a credit score. The system used to find this number is very in depth and can be quite confusing but if you know how it all works, it can also be used very much to your advantage. Knowing how the FICO system works is the key to keeping you credit above par.

Before anything, you need to know the basics of the FICO system. The first place to start is understanding the FICO ladder. A FICO score is somewhere between 300 and 850. Didn’t know that? You should. If you didn’t, that’s okay, because after today, you will know a lot more than most people do about FICO scores. The best spot to be is somewhere between 720 and 850. This is wonderful. Again, if you’re not in this range, it’s okay, anything above 675 is still good. If it’s below that, then… you can worry a little. But just a little because there are still ways to bring it up. The lowest score is 300 and if this looks like yours then you are in trouble, you should worry, and I cannot help you.

A FICO score is comprised of many different parts. To determine your FICO score a bureau looks 35% at your paymnet history, meaning how many payments are delinquent or late. If a payment is past thirty days late, it is reported to a bureau and they will then lower you FICO score. Another 30% of you FICO score depends on you credit/debt ratio. Not know what this means? That’s ok too. Let’s say you have a credit card with 10,000 dollar limits. If you have used 4,000 of that, your debt-credit ratio is 40/60. This is ideal.

Another fifteen percent of your credit score is based on the length of your credit history from the time you first borrowed money to the present. Ten percent is based on the kinds of credit you use. Some kinds are weighted more heavily. The final ten percent of your FICO score is determined by how much credit you have used recently.

There are also a couple of unique things that can affect you credit score such as how much money you owe to a court judgement or money you owe on a tax lien. These have much larger penalties, as does any kind of bankruptcy as you could imagine. The number of accounts you have open also affects your score even though it may improve the debt/credit ratio. Each time you make an inquiry on your credit, it also affects your score. Some pulls hurt more than other though. For example, if you are checking your personal credit, this is considered a soft pull and won’t really affect your score.