Credit History Definition

Credit history is a reflection of your financial responsibility and capacity to repay loans. It is a record of your debt and repayment behavior. For instance, it might reveal information on the number of credit cards and loans you have, as well as whether or not you’ve made on-time payments on your bills. Any negative actions, such as missed payments, bankruptcies, or if you have any debts in collections, are revealed by credit record. In addition, your credit reports provide information regarding your credit record.

Now, let’s go over what you should learn regarding your credit record and how gaining a better understanding of how it functions will aid you in your efforts to establish credit.

What Exactly Is a Credit History?

In essence, your credit record is a record of your credit usage. Creditors look at this history to get a sense of how you’ve handled money and credit responsibilities over time, and it plays a big part in calculating your credit ratings. Your credit record will depend on how you have previously utilized credit, and it may include:

• How many active and inactive accounts do you have.
• What kind of accounts they are—revolving or installment credit.
• how much each account’s balance is.
• The payment history, reveals whether you made on-time payments to your creditors as well as any adverse marks like delinquencies or accounts that are in collections.

Creditors may decide whether to accept you for a financial product, like a loan as well as a credit card account, based on the credit record details included in your credit reports. It’s crucial to know what details your reports contain and how it’s presented because, depending on your state, prospective employers, insurance providers, and landlords might also check your credit reports.

Every consumer is entitled to one free credit report per credit bureau per year and is given access to his credit record (through a credit report). The government-approved website AnnualCreditReport.com provides access to it.

Credit Score vs. Credit History: What’s the Difference?

Credit score and credit record are not the same. 

A credit rating is a numerical value. Your credit record forms the basis of it. But unless you pay for it, it does not include your free credit report. One has good credit if your credit rating is high. You have terrible credit if your credit rating is low. Scores for various businesses vary. Low scores are in the 300 range. High scores fall between 700 and 850.

On the other hand, your credit record provides a financial usage assessment. It includes the number of credit cards you have, any outstanding loans you may have, and if you make your bill payments on time?

In short, the details inside your credit record have an impact on your credit ratings. Your credit rating provides details about your credit usage and history, including how effectively you’ve handled past debt repayment.

Why Credit History Is Important?

Your credit record is used by prospective creditors to make decisions about whether to grant you credit, including mortgage creditors as well as credit card issuers. Your FICO score is also determined using data from your credit record. The length of time credit accounts was accessible and active, the patterns and consistency of payments over longer durations, as well as recent activity, are all taken into account by creditors when reviewing your credit record.

The majority of the aforementioned elements that affect your credit ratings are determined by your credit record information, as you may have thought previously. Therefore, whether a creditor qualifies you for a credit card or a loan as well as the rate of interest and terms you’re provided may ultimately depend on your credit record.

Excellent credit record is a result of timely payments and a low credit use rate, both of which can enable you to get favorable rates. On the other side, it may be more difficult to get authorized for credit or even to be given competitive rates or terms if your credit record includes delayed payments or other negative marks.

How to Establish a Good Credit History

Unfortunately, establishing a credit record requires effort and takes time. But as we’ll discuss below, there are some actions you can do to improve your credit record.

1. Focus on what you can afford

To build a credit record, you may have to apply for a loan or any other form of credit. Follow the general guideline that you shouldn’t take on more debt than you can handle. You might wish to think about the following loan options, which can be used to establish credit by those with little or no credit record:

• Credit cards for students. You can request a student credit card if you’re still a college student. A student credit card often has lesser credit limits and fewer rewards but is a smart place to start when trying to establish credit.

• Secured credit cards. To open an account for a secured credit card, cash must be deposited. As a result, the credit card provider faces less risk.

• Credit-builder loans. Credit-builder loans are being used to pay a creditor regular fixed installments. You have accessibility to the loan at the conclusion of the loan term.

• Authorized user of a credit card. You may utilize a primary account holder’s credit card as an authorized user. Your personal credit card that is linked to the primary user’s account would be available to you.

• Co-signed loans. Anyone who co-signs a loan is agreeing to assume liability in the event that you are unable to make your payments.

2. Settle your bills promptly

The extent to which accounts are paid on time is heavily influenced by credit histories. Regardless if you can only afford the minimum payment each month, settle your bills promptly.

Your credit record will reflect any late payments, which may lower your credit rating. The effect of the delayed payment lessens over time, but they can remain on your credit record for up to 7.5 years.

3. Don’t close any accounts.

One’s credit record will be stronger the longer you maintain accounts. whenever feasible, keep credit lines open. Your credit utilization—the percentage expressing the ratio of your overall credit to your total debt—can rise as a result of this move. Maintaining open accounts might indicate a longer credit record, however closing them will immediately result in a shorter credit record.

4. Read through your credit reports

It’s crucial to check your credit reports because mistakes might lower your score. Your credit report may contain inaccurate personal information, false accounts opened as a result of identity theft, and inaccurate account status information.

Bottom Line

Creditors want to know how you’ve managed debt previously whenever you request for a loan. Creditors can quickly determine if they wish to lend to clients by looking at their credit record.

However, as a debtor, you could also be interested in learning more of your credit record. When debtors are prepared to purchase a home, their credit histories make it easier for them to obtain a mortgage and help them receive loans with favorable terms. Your credit rating data is gathered and kept up to date by credit bureaus.