Credit scores, also known as FICO scores, refer to an individual’s creditworthiness. In short, it refers to an individual’s ability to repay loans. People are gifted differently in terms of financial capabilities. Some can afford to repay a loan of 1000 USD, while others can only manage to take and repay a loan of 100 USD. The loan you get, therefore, depends on your credit scores. But how often does your credit score update?
We shall be checking the time it takes to update your scores by the concerned bodies. Financial companies usually report your loan repayment to the credit bureaus. That way, your scores will remain updated now and then to take loans and lines of credit. You should confirm with your creditor if they report loan repayment to the concerned agencies since it is crucial to help you build your scores.
Three main bodies deal with the calculation of credit scores. They include Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. They all use the same score calculation criteria to come up with scores and credit reports of all reported borrowers. Every American should get a free credit report about borrowing from each credit bureau annually. That way, you can analyze your borrowing patterns and see where you went wrong.
How do credit bureaus come up with credit scores
Most people usually wonder how credit bureaus calculate credit scores. Since you are here, you will be able to learn about how the process goes. Various pieces of data assist in calculating FICO scores. They include the following.
i) Payment history
The payment history occupies 35% of your total scores. The bureaus check how you have been making your payments in the past. You will likely have excellent scores if you have made your payments on time and submitted the right amount. However, if your payment patterns are not good, you will likely have poor scores. Late payment and defaulting on loans are significant causes of poor scores.
ii) Amount owed
If you borrow so much within a given period, that can negatively affect your scores. The amount owed takes 30% of your overall scores. You will likely lower your scores if you borrow so much with your credit card. However, that should not be confused with having many credit cards or different loans.
iii) Length of credit history
The length of your borrowing history is also a major determining factor. If you have a long borrowing history, you will likely score high. Furthermore, financial companies can trust you with their money. The length of your loan repayment history helps only if you have been repaying your loan. If you default, the long history of loan repayments will not help you.
iv) New credit
If you take too many credits within a short time, it leads to poor scoring. That is because every hard inquiry you make hurts your overall scores. The portion takes 10% of your scores. The less you apply for loans for a given time, the more your scores and vice versa.
v) Credit mix
The credit mix occupies 10% of your overall scoring. You will likely have good scores if you mix various kinds of loans. There are various kinds of loans that you can take to mix credit. You can have personal loans, auto loans, credit cards, mortgage loans, and so on.
How do I know my credit scores
You can check your scores from any of the credit bureaus. Usually, you have to pay something small to get your scores. You should open an account with the bureau you want to check scores, then pay to check the FICO scores.
Alternatively, you can get the scores for free from your online banking platform. Most financial companies offer free scores to those having accounts with them. Therefore, you do not have to spend money buying scores from credit bureaus. Other firms also offer free scores to those who request them. Credit Karma allows you to get your scores for free.
How often does your credit score update
Credit scores are usually updated every month. That is because financial institutions report to the credit bureau every month. The law requires financial companies to report at least every 45 days to the credit bureaus.
The update can see an increase or decrease in your credit scores. Remember, financial companies report negative and positive aspects of your loan repayment. If they report good repayment of your loan, you will see an increase in your scores. However, if you do not make repayments as per the agreements, your scores will be lower.
How do you increase FICO scores
There are various ways you can increase your scores. They include the following.
1) Dispute any wrong information
Suppose incorrect details in your credit report indicate that you defaulted on a loan. Therefore, you should complain about it and have the details removed. It could be a case of identity theft that has led to your poor scoring.
2) Pay all your debts
Paying all your outstanding loans is the most effective trick to increasing your scores. If you default on a particular loan, you must clear it. After that, you can make timely repayments of your loans. By doing so, you see a positive change in your scores within a few months.
3) Mix your credit
When you take various types of loans, you can grow your scores within a short time. As I mentioned, you can take auto loans, credit cards, personal loans, mortgage loans, student loans, and so on. When you mix your credit and make your payments well, financial companies see you as a responsible person.
4) Become an authorized user
If there is someone in your family or friend’s circle with good credit scores and using a credit card, you can request them to allow their card issuer to authorize you to use their card. By doing so, you will see increased scores within a few months.
Bottom line
Credit scores show your creditworthiness. They show your ability to repay a loan per the creditor’s expectations. Credit scores are also known as FICO scores. Your creditor must report to the bureaus for you to grow your scores. Data such as payment history, the amount owed, credit mix, new credit, and the length of your credit history determine your overall scoring. You can get your scores from credit bureaus, financial companies, or other firms.
