8 Min Read | June 14, 2021

Credit Score Myths vs. Facts

Myths persist about what a credit score is, how scores can be improved, and who can see them. It pays to separate fact from fiction.

Credit Myths and Facts

This article contains general information and is not intended to provide information that is specific to American Express products and services. Similar products and services offered by different companies will have different features and you should always read about product details before acquiring any financial product.

At-A-Glance

Despite easy access to information about credit scores, myths persist.

Making financial decisions based on credit score myths can be costly, so it pays to separate fact from fiction about what your credit score is, how you can improve it, and who sees it.


Which of the following is not true of credit scores?

    A. Maintaining a balance on your credit cards helps your credit score.

    B. Your credit score is assigned to you at birth to establish your priority at financial institutions.

    C. If your credit score is poor now, it will always be poor.

    D. Paying off past-due debt will immediately help your score.

    E. Checking your credit report will ding your score.


The answer is actually secret response “F” – all of the above are false!

 

Even if you knew that answer, consider that all of these misconceptions – and numerous others – are accepted as credit score facts by enough people that they have risen to the level of credit score myth. For example, a 2018 study found that nearly one in four Americans falsely believe that carrying a balance on their credit cards boosts their score.1

 

Of course, such gaps between myth and reality would be little more than fodder for water-cooler chitchat except for the fact that making financial decisions based on credit score myths can cost you money. Maxing out your cards could damage your credit score, likely make it harder for you to borrow money, and might take money right out of your pocket in the form of higher interest payments over time.


No wonder a wide spectrum of experts advise that people who want to make smart financial decisions would be wise to understand the difference between credit fact and fiction. Let’s look at the myths you might encounter most often – and the reality.

The Basic Credit Score Facts

Your credit score is a number between 300 and 850 meant to represent the potential risk lenders face if they choose to lend you money. It’s based on your credit report, which is essentially a report card of your history of borrowing money and repaying it. A good credit score is typically 700 or better and suggests you’re a low risk to the lender. A poor score, typically 600 or less, suggests higher risk. That’s a pretty straightforward concept, but several myths complicate it.

Credit Score Myths About What a Credit Score Is

I have only one credit score. Nope – you can have many credit scores. To start with, there are two leading scoring systems, FICO and VantageScore – and there are several variations of the FICO score. For example, mortgage lenders and auto dealers typically use different versions. Plus, the three major credit reporting agencies rely on data from creditors, and the scores they produce vary based on what data they get and when they get it – so it’s highly likely those scores will differ. There also are educational scores that you see if you use a credit monitoring service. These scores are intended to give you a sense of your standing but are not necessarily the same as what creditors see. To learn more, see “What is a Credit Score and How is it Defined?


Only rich people and people with good jobs can have really high scores. Nope. Credit scores assess your history of managing debt, period, so the amount of money you have isn’t necessarily a factor. If rich people have a good score, it’s because they borrowed carefully and repaid as promised. It’s not because they have a large savings account or an impressive stock portfolio because those aren’t considered in credit scores. Likewise, a credit score does not reflect where you got the money to pay back what you borrowed – so you can have a great job or no job at all and it’s all the same to your credit score. What matters is whether you pay your bills on time.  


My race and gender affect my credit score. Despite the persistence of credit score myths that education level, age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, and marital status influence your score, it’s just not so. None of these influence your credit score.


My spouse and I have the same score. You and the love of your life may share toothpaste, a streaming video service password, and the blanket, but you each have your own credit score. That’s true even if you have some joint bank accounts. That said, keep in mind that if you have joint loans and fall behind on payments, it will take a toll on both your credit scores.

Myths About How to Improve Your Credit Score

Once I have a poor score, I’ll always have a poor score. One of the most stubborn myths about improving your credit score is that it can’t be done at all. But your credit score is not written in the stars. If you change the behavior that hurt your score in the first place, it will improve. For example, two key things you can do to rebuild your credit score are to make payments on time and pay down your total debt. It’s true that fixing your score takes time, in part because late payments and other negatives can stay on your report for up to seven years. But those negatives have progressively less impact over time.

 
When I pay off a delinquent debt, it comes right off my credit report. Eventually, yes – seven years after it first became delinquent. Until then, it will still show on your report. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay it off. An account showing the debt as paid is better than one still unpaid.

 
Paying cash for everything will boost my score. Nope. To have a good credit score you have to use credit wisely. Paying cash may make sense if your balances are high and you want to keep them from getting higher. But someone who has used their credit card responsibly for a long time will usually have a higher score than someone who has never had a credit card or rarely used it.


Using my debit card boosts my score. Not even a little. Sure, a debit card looks like a credit card. But your debit card is simply a way to access your checking account – you don’t incur debt when you use it. And since your credit score is all about how you manage debt, debit transactions don’t affect it. For the same reason, any checks you write don’t affect it, either.

 
Paying off and closing accounts boosts my score. Not so much. Paying down credit card balances can definitely help your score. Paying off car loans or mortgages also helps but typically to a smaller extent. And closing accounts is likely to hurt your score because doing so negatively affects two elements of your credit score: your credit utilization ratio, which goes up if your debt is spread over fewer accounts, and your credit history. Closing an account you’ve had for a long time reduces the average age of your credit history.

 
I can buy my way out of a bad credit score. Credit repair companies want you to believe this is true. But it isn’t. Only time and good behavior can erase accurate negatives that hurt your score. A key word here, though, is accurate. A credit repair company can help remove errors from your report. But you can do that yourself, too, for free. Read “How to Dispute Your Credit Report at All 3 Bureaus” to learn how.

Myths About Who Can See Your Credit Score

My employer and landlord can see my credit score. No one except you can see your credit score without your permission or a legally valid reason, like a judge deciding an amount for child-support payments. This myth probably started because credit checks have become a routine part of many renter and employment background checks, particularly for certain jobs. But employers and potential employers can’t pull your credit report without your permission. And credit reports don’t even include your score. For more, read “What is a Credit Report and Why is it Important?


Every time you check your credit, it costs you points. Not true – there’s never a penalty for checking your own credit score. And any review of your credit report that’s not tied to a lending decision is known as a soft pull and doesn’t affect your score. However, reviews that are used for lending decisions, known as hard pulls, typically do ding your score a few points. It’s a good idea to check your credit report at least several times a year to look for errors and accounts you don’t recognize – which could be evidence of identity theft.


The Takeaway

Many credit score myths live on, widely accepted as fact. But separating credit score fact from fiction can save you money and help you build a much stronger financial future. If you’re not sure what’s true and what isn’t, make time to get the truth before you make important decisions about your credit.


Allan Halcrow

Allan Halcrow is a freelance writer concentrating in business, human resources, and diversity and inclusion. He is also the author of four books on management.

 

All Credit Intel content is written by freelance authors and commissioned and paid for by American Express. 

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