credit score?

[KarenCee 3]

I got my actual number, including my number from three different companies...

it was awesome

free

Hmmm....this site says I have to pay for my score...although the report is free.

[Fuzzness 2]

checking your credit score has absolutely nothing to do with your ability to pay off a loan or a credit card so if your score gets knocked down because of it, i suggest calling the credit score company and ask them to fix it for you. can't hurt to try i guess.

unfortunately i can't get a credit report because they seem to think that anyone who lives in the US and has a credit score will automatically have a state issued drivers license.

ahhhh how wonderful it is

[CarolineM 0]

Well shoot! Ican't find the stupid free one

[jordanianprincess 0]

checking your credit score has absolutely nothing to do with your ability to pay off a loan or a credit card so if your score gets knocked down because of it, i suggest calling the credit score company and ask them to fix it for you. can't hurt to try i guess.

unfortunately i can't get a credit report because they seem to think that anyone who lives in the US and has a credit score will automatically have a state issued drivers license.

ahhhh how wonderful it is

Soft hits (checking your credit score) don't affect your credit. Hard hits (applying for loans, credit cards, etc) do affect your credit and it takes 2-3 years for a hit to come off of your credit report.

[mawilson 2,133]

I thought by checking your credit score, it's bad for your credit?

There are two different types of checks -- "soft checks" and "hard checks".

When you pull your own credit report, it's considered a soft pull and your

credit score is not affected. When you apply for credit, the creditor usually

does a hard pull which lowers your score.

[KarenCee 3]

I thought by checking your credit score, it's bad for your credit?

There are two different types of checks -- "soft checks" and "hard checks".

When you pull your own credit report, it's considered a soft pull and your

credit score is not affected. When you apply for credit, the creditor usually

does a hard pull which lowers your score.

Sigh....why does it lower your score? And does it really take 2-3 years for a hard check to come off your score? Geez...when it comes to getting a mortgage it seems like your credit score will take a severe beating, after all, how many people go with the first lender they come across? I thought getting a mortgage was like shopping for a car...don't you want the best deal?

[jamrok 0]

I got my actual number, including my number from three different companies...

it was awesome

free

Even though a numerical score does not tell you exactly weather a score is good

or bad BUT 671 in my view (being a Banker by profession) is a pretty decent score.

Again, it depends if it's the highest, middle or the lowset score. Many components to consider.

Key to high scores are: low balances on credit card debt, age of items on credit etc.

[jordanianprincess 0]

I thought by checking your credit score, it's bad for your credit?

There are two different types of checks -- "soft checks" and "hard checks".

When you pull your own credit report, it's considered a soft pull and your

credit score is not affected. When you apply for credit, the creditor usually

does a hard pull which lowers your score.

Sigh....why does it lower your score? And does it really take 2-3 years for a hard check to come off your score? Geez...when it comes to getting a mortgage it seems like your credit score will take a severe beating, after all, how many people go with the first lender they come across? I thought getting a mortgage was like shopping for a car...don't you want the best deal?

Well you can pull your own credit before shopping for rates and ask them what kind of rate you can get based on your score.

[mawilson 2,133]

And does it really take 2-3 years for a hard check to come off your score?

Hard enquiries stay on your credit report for exactly 2 years (not 3), but after

6 months they will no longer affect your score.

[KarenCee 3]

And does it really take 2-3 years for a hard check to come off your score?

Hard enquiries stay on your credit report for exactly 2 years (not 3), but after

6 months they will no longer affect your score.

Whew....that's good to know (I guess). I didn't think about pulling my own credit score though...that makes more sense.

[jordanianprincess 0]

And does it really take 2-3 years for a hard check to come off your score?

Hard enquiries stay on your credit report for exactly 2 years (not 3), but after

6 months they will no longer affect your score.

Whew....that's good to know (I guess). I didn't think about pulling my own credit score though...that makes more sense.

6 months? My adviser told me differntly, but hey if its 6 months great!!!!! My divorce left me with bad credit and I have been repairing for 2 years now. My score is up ALOT and went up alot after those darn inquiries came off.

[*Robert* 2]

I thought by checking your credit score, it's bad for your credit?

Yes it lowers it.. but not significant.. unless its for home purchase

And if you have all the checks done within a 14 day period, they only count as one.

[jordanianprincess 0]

Holy cow people! we actually learned something from VJ today! Ok where is the juice and cookies, im ready for a nap

[sparkofcreation 0]

You don't have to pay. You get a once a year FREE credit check.

I posted the website in a thread a few days ago...google "Free annual credit report"

it's free

Yes, they have to give you a free annual report; however, the FICO score itself is protected intellectual property and Fair Isaac doesn't have to give it to anyone they don't want to, and they certainly don't give it to you for free. What you get for free is all the data that goes into your credit score (so you can dispute it if there's any errors), but not the score that's calculated based on the data.

I have a formerly Providian (now WaMu) card also that I keep solely for free access to my credit score.

ETA: Since there seem to be knowledgable folks on here: how fast does a credit score improve if you pay off debts on time? I've done everything I can to fix mine and paid off all my credit cards, and my score's gone up 115 points in the last year and a half, but I'm still just outside a top-tier score and we're trying to decide if it's worth it to put off buying a house until my score improves another 15 points or so, or whether that would take too long since there's nothing left for me to do but keep paying my car and student loans regularly.

Edited July 26, 2006 by sparkofcreation

[samir_shannon 0]

no. thats good!