Essential Tips to Avoid 5 Common Credit Killers and Boost Scores

5 Credit Killers

What are the top factors that can damage your credit score?

The information on this website is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Consider seeking personal advice from a licensed adviser before acting on any information.

A good credit score speaks volumes about your financial habits. It's the evidence most creditors need to evaluate your credit worthiness.

Interestingly, there are some credit killers that even people maintaining good credit scores would unwittingly be a part of, which will be their undoing when applying for credit facilities in the future.

These mistakes may seem to be insignificant, but when the time comes, you may face more problems than you expect.

Avoiding Debt

Creditors need to evaluate your financial history to approve any credit facilities.

If you have no previous or existing debts, it might adversely affect your case, as creditors have no way of checking out how you'll handle the credit you get from them.

Shopping For Rates

Looking around for the best rate may actually turn out to be bad.

Too many inquiries within a short period could damage your credit score.

Usually, if you do more than 3 or 4 inquiries within a single month, you are likely to scare the lenders. For the same reasons, transferring the balances on your credit cards could be a bad idea as well.

Assuming There's a Grace Period

If you are late on a payment by even one day, you are late, period.

Never assume there's a grace period for late payments, because it only affects your credit score negatively.

Closing Old Accounts

Because your relevant transaction history also gets erased when you close your old accounts, your credit history is shortened and it may lower your credit score.

If you want to close your old accounts, close everything except the oldest account, which will leave a longer history.

Co-signing Loans

The obvious problem here is that the primary borrower's mistakes will end up on your credit report as well.

Published: Sunday, 1st Aug 2021
Author: Paige Estritori

Rate this article

0 Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.

Finance Articles

Debt Management Tips to Keep Your Credit Score Healthy

Debt management involves strategies and practices designed to help individuals control their debt and maintain a healthy financial standing. It includes everything from budgeting and tracking expenses to negotiating better terms with creditors and consolidating debts for easier repayment. - read more

Borrower Rights and Responsible Lending in Australia

Australian borrowers have important protections when applying for and managing loans, but they also have responsibilities. This guide explains responsible lending, loan hardship assistance, credit reporting rights, complaints pathways and practical steps to help borrowers stay informed. - read more

Comparing Loan Options in Australia: The Role of Loan Calculators

Loan calculators are powerful tools that assist borrowers in estimating their potential loan payments. By inputting variables such as loan amount, interest rate, and loan term, these calculators provide insight into what one's monthly repayments might look like. This can be invaluable for budgeting and financial planning purposes. - read more

What to Do If Your Loan Application Is Denied

If you're here, you've likely faced the disappointment of having your loan application denied. - read more

Debt Consolidation Loans: A Tool for Smarter Repayment Planning

Debt consolidation loans serve a crucial purpose in the financial toolbelt of individuals juggling multiple debts. At its core, consolidation is the process of combining several loans or liabilities into one single loan. This technique is not just a clerical convenience but a strategic move that can transform repayment chaos into manageable order. By merging debts, borrowers can often secure better interest rates, lower monthly payments, and a more transparent repayment timeline. - read more

Finance News

What the August RBA Decision Means for Borrowers

19 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

The Reserve Bank of Australia’s August decision to leave the cash rate unchanged at 4.35% keeps a familiar message in place for Australian borrowers: relief may come eventually, but loan decisions still need to be made on today’s numbers. For households, sole traders and SMEs, the practical issue is not only where rates sit now, but how lenders assess affordability while policy remains restrictive. - read more

Why June Credit Trends Matter for Business Borrowers

12 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

The latest Reserve Bank financial aggregates extend a pattern that has been building for several months: Australian businesses are still leaning on credit, even while borrowing costs remain elevated and lenders continue to scrutinise applications closely. Private sector credit continued to grow over the month and across the year, with business lending again a key contributor to overall momentum. - read more

What APRAâ€™s 3% Buffer Means for Borrowing Power

23 Jul 2026: Paige Estritori

APRAâ€™s decision to keep the mortgage serviceability buffer at 3 percentage points is a timely reminder that loan approval is still being judged on resilience, not just todayâ€™s advertised interest rate. The buffer requires regulated lenders to test whether borrowers could still manage repayments if rates were materially higher than the loan rate being offered. - read more

Why the RBAâ€™s Latest Signals Matter for Your Next Loan

22 Jul 2026: Paige Estritori

The Reserve Bank of Australiaâ€™s latest policy commentary has reinforced a message that borrowers cannot afford to ignore: interest rate relief is not something to build a budget around too early. While inflation has eased from its peak, the central bank remains alert to price pressures, wage growth, productivity challenges and the possibility that demand may prove more resilient than expected. - read more

Why Personal Loan Borrowers Need to Look Past the Advertised Rate

21 Jul 2026: Paige Estritori

Australian borrowers comparing personal loans in July are facing a market where the headline rate can tell only part of the story. Canstarâ€™s latest personal loan update, published on 21 July 2026, shows some competitive rates remain available, but the gap between the cheapest and most expensive unsecured offers is still substantial. - read more

Click for more Finance News

Need Help Finding a Loan?

Find out now if you qualify and compare rates, offers and options from multiple lenders - without a credit check!

All finance quotes are provided free (via our secure server) and without obligation.
We respect your privacy.

Knowledgebase

Fixed Income:
A type of investment that pays regular interest or dividends, such as bonds or preferred stocks.