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.

Boost Your Borrowing Power: A Guide to Loans, Repayments and Finance Options in Australia

Borrowing can feel complex, especially when loan options, interest rates, fees and eligibility requirements vary so widely. This plain-English guide helps Australian consumers, households, self-employed borrowers, sole traders and small business owners understand how borrowing power is assessed and what may influence loan outcomes. Inside, readers will explore personal loans, business loans, home loans, vehicle finance, equipment leasing and debt consolidation, along with practical guidance on repayment planning, comparison rates, credit checks, documentation and loan calculators. With checklists, examples and common questions, it is designed to support more confident research before applying for finance.

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

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Knowledgebase

Interest Rate Lock:
An agreement between a borrower and a lender that allows the borrower to lock in the interest rate on a mortgage for a specified time period.