The first step in learning to responsibly manage your credit score is to understand exactly which items affect it and how. Commonly asked questions about credit scores include:
- Do utility bills impact my credit score?
- Does paying my rent on time impact my credit score?
- What about insurance payments?
There’s a lot of confusion out there about how certain payments impact scores, so we set out to answer those questions in this post entitled “Does that impact my credit score?” Take a read, and if you have any other questions, feel free to contact Mariner Finance and ask! We’re here to help.
Age
Answer: No
Explanation: Your age does not impact your credit score. It is worthy to note that the length of open credit does impact your credit score. The longer you’ve had credit open, the better your score. So, generally speaking, while age does not directly impact your score, older individuals usually have longer standing lines of credit which do have a positive impact.
Income
Answer: No
Explanation: Like age, income does not directly impact your credit score. However, the more income you make, the more money you will likely have to pay down bills. The better you pay your bills, the better your credit score. So, it is key to establish responsible spending habits.
Child or Family Support
Answer: Maybe
Explanation: Child support payments or family support payments do not impact your score unless you don’t pay them and a collection agency gets involved. Collection activity does negatively impact your credit score.
Insurance Payments
Answer: No
Explanation: While your credit score is something an insurance company may use when deciding on coverage, insurance payments do not impact your credit score. Even if they remain unpaid, your policy is likely to be cancelled rather than going to collections.
Utility Bills and Cell Phone Bills
Answer: Maybe
Explanation: Your credit score is not positively impacted by timely payments on your utility and cell phone bills. These companies do not regularly report your payment history to the credit bureaus. However, if you are past due and are sent to collections, they can negatively impact your credit.
Rent
Answer: Maybe
Explanation: Most likely, no. Paying your rent on time doesn’t favorably impact your credit. Not paying rent and being evicted can impact your credit and the ability to get a new lease, though. Certain bureaus also have services that landlords report to. For example, Experian has a product called RentBureau which property owners/managers, electronic rent payment services, and collection companies send in updated rental payment history data.
Medical Bills
Answer: Maybe
Explanation: Paying your medical bills does not positively impact your credit. Not paying your medical bills and being sent to collection does, however. For a detailed explanation of exactly how medical bills impact your credit, read this blog which gives a more in-depth look at exactly how medical bills affect your credit and recent changes around their impact.
Closing a credit card
Answer: Maybe
Explanation: Many people think that closing a credit card will positively impact their credit. However, closing a credit card can decrease your overall credit available. Credit scores are affected by debt utilization, or how much of your available credit you have used. So, if you have less credit available, your utilization can go up, which could negatively affect your credit score.
Business Credit Cards
Answer: Yes
Explanation: If you are the primary account holder on your business credit card, and you pay late, it will negatively impact your personal credit even if the card is for your business.
Checking your credit yourself
Answer: No
Explanation: If you are inquiring about your credit score from a reputable source like AnnualCreditReport.com, it is logged as a soft inquiry and will not negatively impact your credit score.
Credit Counseling
Answer: No
Explanation: There are rumors that credit counseling could be just as bad for your credit score as bankruptcy. While credit counseling may show up on your credit report, it does not negatively impact your score.
Paying cash and using bank cards and checks
Answer: Yes
Explanation: Many people assume that by always using cash and not taking advantage of credit cards, they have a better credit score because they are not using credit cards irresponsibly. However, lack of credit history can be viewed as even risker than having credit history. Lenders want to see that you are using credit and managing it well.
Tax liens
Answer: Yes
Explanation: The IRS will absolutely report tax liens to credit bureaus. In fact, if left unpaid, this record can remain on your credit report for 15 years; that’s longer than bankruptcy.
Mistakes
Answer: Yes
Explanation: Incorrect information can hurt your credit score. Sometimes, people with a common name will find inaccurate information on their credit report. It is important to check your own credit from time to time and correct any mistakes you see.
This material was prepared for general distribution. Although all blog posts are intended to be accurate, the information and third-party links provided in the Mariner Finance’s blog are intended for general knowledge and educational purposes only without any warranties, implied or express, of any kind. The posts do not constitute investment, financial or other advice. Authors may or may not be licensed financial professionals; for specific advice, seek the input of a licensed and trained financial expert.