Credit Rating 101

We have collected information from both of the consumer reporting agencies (credit bureaus), as well as our own research to provide a full picture on credit files and credit scores, including those little known “insider” secrets.

Topics at a glance:

1. What information is kept on my credit file?
2. How long is information kept on my file?
3. What is a credit “score”?
4. How can my credit score affect my life?
5. What factors affect my credit score?
6. How do I raise my credit score?

What information is kept in my credit file?

Your credit file contains information on all of your credit accounts submitted to the credit bureaus, including balances, limits, payment history, etc, as well as identification information such as your name, address, age, social insurance number, marital status, spouse’s name and age, number of dependents, occupation, and employment history.

 How long is information kept on my credit file?

What is a credit score?

In Canada, credit scores range from 300 (just getting started) up to 900 points, which is the best score. According to TransUnion, 650 is the magic middle number – a score above 650 will likely qualify you for a standard loan while a score under 650 will likely bring difficulty in receiving new credit.

Lenders who pull your credit bureau file may see a slightly different number than you see when you pull your own file.  This is due to the fact that each creditor applies a specific set of risk rules, giving and taking points for different purposes or preferences. This proprietary method of scoring will make a difference in the final calculation. The score you pull for yourself is calculated using an algorithm created for consumers that approximates these different formulas, and should still be in the same numerical range as the lenders’ scores.

Order your credit report from both credit reporting agencies in Canada – Equifax and TransUnion – at least once per year for free (when requested by mail, fax, telephone, or in person), and you can pay to see your credit score if you choose.

How can a low credit rating affect my life?

Credit scoring is used by lenders, insurers, landlords, employers, and utility companies to evaluate your credit behaviour and assess your creditworthiness.

1. Applying for a loan. Your credit score will be a big factor into the decision of whether you are approved or denied your application for more credit. Your credit score will also affect the interest rate and credit limit offered to you by the new credit grantor – the lower your credit score, the higher the interest rate will be and the lower the credit limit offered  – the reason for this is you are considered more of a credit risk.
2. Applying for a job. A potential employer may ask your permission to check your credit file and based on what they read, they may decide not to hire you due to your poor credit history. Yes, having bad credit could cost you a job!
3. Renting a vehicle. When you sign an application to rent a car, the rental company can check your credit history to determine what their risk may be when they loan you their property. So although you are not applying for credit, the application documents you sign provide your written permission to access your credit information.
4. The same is true when applying for rental housing – the landlord may assess your tenant worthiness and their risk by factoring in your credit rating and score, and they could pass you over for someone with a better credit rating.

What information is used to calculate my credit score, and what factors will lower my score?

If you have tried looking on the consumer reporting agencies’ (CRAs, also know as Credit Bureaus) websites, you have seen they provide VERY little information as to how your credit score is calculated. They believe this information is proprietary and therefore their “secret”. They do, however, provide a list of the main factors which affect your credit score:

1. Payment History
   Equifax says: “Pay all of your bills on time. Paying late, or having your account sent to a collection agency has a negative impact on your credit score.”
   TransUnion says: “A good record of on-time payments will help boost your credit score.”
2. Delinquencies
   Equifax lists: “Serious delinquency; Serious delinquency, and public record or collection field; Time since delinquency is too recent or unknown; Level of delinquency on accounts is too high; Number of accounts with delinquency is too high”
   TransUnion lists: “Severity and frequency of derogatory credit information such as bankruptcies, charge-offs, and collections”
3. Balance-to-Limit Ratio
   Equifax says: “Try not to run your balances up to your credit limit. Keeping your account balances below 75% of your available credit may also help your score.”
   TransUnion says: “Balances above 50 percent of your credit limits will harm your credit. Aim for balances under 30 percent.”
   Ok, so avoid maxing out your credit – because if you don’t really need more credit you’ll be able to get it, and if you do really need it then you are more of a risk. (Funny how that works)
4. Recent Inquiries
   Equifax says: “Avoid applying for credit unless you have a genuine need for a new account. Too many inquiries in a short period of time can sometimes be interpreted as a sign that you are opening numerous credit accounts due to financial difficulties, or overextending yourself by taking on more debt than you can actually repay. A flurry of inquiries will prompt most lenders to ask you why.”
   TransUnion says: “Avoid excessive inquiries. When a lender or business checks your credit, it causes a hard inquiry to your credit file. Apply for new credit in moderation.”
   There are two types of Credit Bureau file inquires: “hard inquiries” such as an application for new credit, which will lower your score; and “soft inquiries” such as requesting your own credit report, and businesses checking your file for updates to your existing credit accounts for approving credit limit increases, for example – these will not appear on your file or lower your credit score.
   Although a “flurry of inquiries” may indicate financial difficulties, it could also be that you are moving to a new city, and will need to apply for a new mortgage, a new electric/gas account, cable, phone and other utilities accounts. These “inquiries” into your account will deduct points from your score, so you may take a rather large hit (points wise) on your credit rating for moving houses.
   Also of concern is that inquiries for non-credit purposes (such as utility companies and car rentals), will cause your credit score to drop without adding points for having credit in good standing, as with a credit card that you pay off every month. So be careful to only apply for credit you really need.
5. Length/history of Accounts
   Equifax says: A “common negative score factor… [is the] length of time accounts has been established is too short”
   TransUnion says: An established credit history makes you a less risky borrower. Think twice before closing old accounts before a loan application.”
   Having a longer history on your credit accounts earns you more points, so avoid closing your accounts if you may need them in the future. A good credit history is built over time – sorry, but there is no quick fix for this one.
6. Variety of Credit Accounts
   TransUnion says: “A healthy credit profile has a balanced mix of credit accounts and loans.”
   Having a mix of credit products (credit card, retail store card, line of credit, car loan, etc) will procure more points on your file than having only one type of credit, such as only credit cards.
7. Too many accounts
   Having a lot credit accounts, especially if many of them carry balances, is another warning sign of financial distress, so if the Credit Bureaus think you have too many, they will deduct points.

Other “derogatory” factors which negatively affect your credit rating and the Credit Bureaus don’t like to mention to you are:

1. Errors
   One of the major causes of point loss to your credit rating are bureau reporting errors. (They can also cost you financially as shown in the CBC report on credit reporting mistakes) Errors can be delinquent accounts reporting on your file that do not belong to you, late payments that were not late, and credit that is created from identity fraud  – therefore not your credit. The Credit Bureaus are paid by the creditors who pull credit bureau files and in turn who report to them. Credit reporting is done electronically, and Credit Bureaus accept the information they are sent without any investigation into the accuracy of the information. Therefore, is it critical that you pull your credit bureau file at least once every year. Only you will know when there is an error on your file, and it is up to you to have the credit bureaus fix it.Order your file here: TransUnion and Equifax

   Look for these common errors:
   – Wrong mailing addresses
   – Incorrect Social Insurance Number
   – Signs of identity theft
   – Errors in your credit accounts
   – Late payments
   – Unauthorized hard inquiries

   If there is an error on your file you must contact the Credit Bureau, then it is up to the Bureau to investigate your complaint and to verify the information contained in your file by contacting the reporting creditor. When contacted by the Credit Bureau, the reporting creditor will have to verify the item they have placed on your file. You are entitled to be part of that process.

   Check your credit again 30-60 days after disputing errors. If any of the disputed inaccuracies remain, contact the creditor to further your dispute and determine if the item can be taken off your credit profile. If you want to tell your side of the story, forward a written request to the credit reporting agency to have a consumer statement added to your credit file.

2. Moving/Time at Address As previously discussed, a large number of credit file requests within a short period due to moving will lower your credit score. But on top of that, the length of time at your current address will influence your score, so try not to move a lot as it will affect your credit rating. The longer you remain at one address, the more points you receive.
3. Changing jobs/employers frequently The longer you stay at a job, the higher points your credit score receives. You are seen as having a secure job and therefore being a secure, less risky credit consumer.
4. Having no mortgage, or no housing information on your file The Credit Bureaus assign certain points for those who have mortgages and those who rent, and deduct points for those whose housing situation is unknown to them. As soon as you pay off your mortgage, the reporting account is removed from your file and you are in the unknown category, which will actually remove points from your credit rating! Credit card and other credit account history will remain on your account even after being paid off and closed, but unfortunately a paid mortgage does not benefit your credit rating. Imagine, you own your own home and that does not benefit your credit rating – does that even make sense? Also, not all mortgages report to the Credit Bureaus.
5. Having high revolving credit balances When you have high balances that are rotating between different credit accounts, this is a warning sign that you could be in financial trouble and therefore you could be considered a credit risk.
6. Having no debt Believe it or not, having no debt is bad for your credit score! Here we go again – if you don’t need to borrow money creditors will be trying to throw it at you. If you do need to borrow money and have no debt or debt history well, you will have a harder time of it. If you do not have a history of credit use on your file to provide something for creditors to evaluate, they will see that as a risk, and you will be deducted points on your score for not having credit accounts.

Raise your credit score:

1. Correct errors, and track your report for future errors. Order your credit file from each bureau at least once per year.
2. Lower your balances. If your debt levels are above 50% of your available limit, create a payment plan to reduce your balances.
3. The biggest “tip” to having a good credit rating and a high credit score is to continually use credit and to repay that credit on time all the time. Set up automated payments to help with this.
4. If you have no credit history, or need to rebuild your credit, open a secured credit card account. You pay a deposit, which sets the limit of your card, then use it like a regular credit card. The secured credit card provider reports your payment habits to the credit bureau(s), so you will be able to gain points with an account in good standing. Choose from a Home Trust Secured VISA.
5. Look over our list, read your credit report, and identify any areas that could be improved for a higher credit rating. Remember, “your credit rating is not a reflection of your personal worth – it is merely a credit reporting tool” – Margaret H. Johnson. The good news is your credit rating is like your self-esteem, sometimes in your life it will be high and sometimes it will be low – however, you can always rebuild it over time!