Has the credit score system changed recently?
968444
yes its changed. The so called credit score is not even used by most lenders now they have a modified version of the fico it being phased out for a while now. \n\nThe lenders changed it because of the ineffeciencies in the credit score and wildly reporting innacuracies from the three top guns. \n\nI would not sweat it the "credit score" is now pretty much meaningless.
1086827
They do affect your credit FICO Scores but lenders generally ignore medical collections...\nNeed more info contact me through my E-mail\njonnylender@yahoo.com
259647
FICO is 350 to 850 but there is a new company called vantagescore that will be traking scores. vantage score is owned by equifax, experian and transunion. to help improve your credit score (and they guarantee it) please check out www.entrustsystems.com/wow
682787
Yes. This is a good tip (probaby the best use of 5 points on Yahoo! Answers I've seen yet!).\n\nThere are 3 credit bureaus. I'd recommend separating the 3 free credit reports over the year (rather than getting them all at once) to keep an eye on your credit. With so much identity theft out there, this is one great tool to try to stop it early if it happens to you.\n\nThanks!
77657
Many companies that deal with lots of monies or goods check your credit nowadays.  This has become a common practice.  Also, companies that deal with other individuals sensitive information (SSN and such) do credit checks.  They use this to weed out those with bad credit because they feel that they are more likely to be tempted to do illegal activities for money.\n\nHowever, I do not then that there is a way to get around it.
885180
I have been dealing with peoples credit reports for almost 10 years and I have never seen al 3 bureaus the same. I have seen over a 100 point difference so take a look at all of them. I know that mortgage companies will use the mid score and car dealerships will use the highest score.
503827
I am not exactly sure what you mean. If 1170 is your score under the old system, the current equivalent would be 1755. If 1170 is your score under the new system, the old equivalent would be 780.
475640
It changes from year to year.  I haven't seen it yet this year, but they made a big change to it last year.
1187486
your score dropped because you have too much available  credit\nget rid of some of it
559890
I would search on there name on the internet too see if anyone has posted having any problems.  You can also check with your state attorney general to see if there on the up and up.\n\nThe BBB is ok but if they are members of the BBB and pay there dues they let some pretty lousy companies get away with bad practices way longer then they should.\n\nIf you are trying to repair your credit have you gotten a copy of your credit report from one of the 3 reporting agencies?  Alot of times they have programs to help you learn what effects your credit and give advice on clearing it up.
850549
With years in the business:\n\nNo.  You can pull your credit as much as you want through a pay site (or www.anualcreditreport.com) and it will not affect your score.  You will actually be able to see three different sections of credit pulls:  1. Pulls that are public and affect your credit, 2. Pulls that are by your current creditors to monitor your credit and that are not public, and 3. Marketer's pulls and your own pulls that are private and only viewable by you.  \n\nOnly the public pulls affect your score.  The three items above are not in order, and some under number 2 can appear as public, depending on your creditor.  Generally, however, you only get a hit when a pull occurs.\n\nAlso, the affects on your credit due to credit pulls are generally overstated by most people.  Unless you are going to open 10 new accounts in one week, a pull here and there will not drastically decrease your score.  The idea here is that if you open may new accounts, you are getting desperate for credit are are more likely to default on it.  With a big (non-mortgage) cluster, you could be going gang buster before filing for bankrutpcy, or something along these lines.\n\nAs for mortgage pulls, you have a 15 day window to have numerous mortgage pulls before your credit decreases.  However, use caution, as I have sometimes seen many mortgage pulls to affect a score by 5-10 points, even though it is "not supposed to".  I think this may have to do with they way the company is coded by the bureaus.\n\nIf you miss one credit card payment, talk to your credit card company about it.  If you were less than 30 days, it likely wasn't even reported.  If it was, they might be willing to remove it under extenuating circumstances - but don't hold your breath!\n\nIf the late payment is already on your credit report, it likely won't have a bad impact on your scores if you have other longer-term established credit.  Also, and very importantly, the affect it has on your score dramatically decreases with time.  By one year out, it's impact will be much less than when it was a current late.  After 2 years it will only have a signifigant impact if you have other bad debt.  Overall, if this was 2 years old and your score should be 750, it might only be 725 or 730.  If you score two years out is in the mid-600's, you'll need to pay attention to paying the other debt down.\n\nGood luck.
1018948
The most commonly used credit score in US is the FICO score. Scores can range between 300 and 850, depending on your credit history (on-time payments, debt ratios, etc.). According to an ad that runs frequently on Yahoo's home page, 678 is the average score across the entire US.
978354
Your credit score won't be affected unless you make late payments.  You're okay.\n\nGood Luck!
1014680
there is no need to wait that long.  go to creditreport.com and you can have a full report from al three agencies today.
849651
If I just graduated from high school, I don't have credit history. How would that help College/University. For graduate school, may be. They want to know where you stand. Nowadays, everyone is using credit score for everything. Yesterday, WSJ had full page ad from a well known insurance company that sells life and auto insurance to state why we check your credit score before we decide your premium. Their study found that applicants with good credit score are better drivers. I don't know about better health. My credit score is in 800 and I have BP and high cholestrol. But I am not applying for any life insurance either.
457465
I am in the same boat and have the same questions.  Be patient.  I started this last fall (around Oct 2005) and found that my credit score increased about 10 points within the first couple of months and now it sits there, unchanging, even though I pay off in full on my one credit card on time every month.  There is no definitive answer.  But it can happen.  And it will happen.  Keep doing the right thing.\n\nBy the way, if you can get a PayPal Visa credit card, and you probably can, once you get it, you can check your "credit profile" for free as often as you want.  It will list a summary of your credit standing.  Again, I like this because there is no charge.
458443
If you check your own credit it has absolutely no affect on your credit score at all. If you apply for a loan or new credit card once in awhile (say once every 6 months or so) that shouldn't affect your score either. Its when you apply for too much at one time that it hurts your FICO score. It makes you look like a risk. (That you might take out too much in credit cards or other unsecured debt)