You pay the same bills, have the same number of loans and are continually responsible with your credit cards, yet your credit score changes from month to month. It can seem like a credit score fluctuates up or down like the seasons even if you seemingly haven’t done anything to influence it.
This article will discuss factors that can impact your credit and explain why your credit score seemingly dropped for no reason.
Why Your Credit Score Matters
Credit scores are used by lenders to determine how likely you are to repay a loan you borrow. It’s especially important when trying tobuy a house, and plays a huge part in deciding your rates andterms for the loan.
Your credit score is calculated based on your payment history, the amount of money you owe, the length of your credit history, the type of credit you have and new credit that has been added, so a change in your score means one of those has changed.
Why Did My Credit Score Go Down When Nothing Changed?
Sometimes your score does change based on factors outside of your control, but most times your behavior influences your score in ways that may not be obvious.
Let’s take a look at the factors that influence your score and a few reasons as to why it might change even when you don’t think you’ve changed your behavior.
Your Credit Utilization Has Changed
Your credit utilization ratio is the amount you owe on your credit card relative to your credit limit. It influences your credit score, so a change in either of the two can cause your score to adjust.
Have you charged more on your credit card lately? If so, your credit utilization may have increased, which can negatively impact your score. Typically, having less than a 30% credit utilization (i.e., spending $300 or less if your credit limit is $1,000) can keep your credit in top shape.
Check to see if your credit card company has increased or decreased your total limit. Often credit card companies will tell you if you’re eligible for a change in credit limit, but they could alter it without you knowing. If your spending habits remained the same, an increase in your credit limit would decrease your credit utilization ratio, which can positively impact your score. A decrease in your credit limit would increase your utilization ratio – thus, your score could go down.
Something Was Recorded On Your Credit Report
Think back on your payment history – have you missed a credit card payment in the last few months? Were there any bills that you may have missed in previous months?
Missed payments are typically not reported to the credit bureaus until they’re at least 30 days late, so your score won’t be impacted until after that time. Your score will be hurt by a payment that’s more than 30 days late, but a delinquency, referring to a payment that is over 30 days late, can devastate your score.
Derogatory marks such as tax liens, charge-offs, collections, foreclosures orbankruptcieshave drastic impacts on your credit too, and it may take weeks or months for them to show up on your report. If you’ve experienced any of these, it may take time for your score to change.
Something Fell Off Your Credit Report
Thankfully, missed payments and derogatory marks won’t stay on your credit report forever. The greater the age of those marks on your credit score, the less impact they have, so you may see your score recover over time while your behavior is kept consistent.
Late payments over 30 days will remain on your credit report for 7 years, while derogatory marks like bankruptcy can remain on your report for up to 10 years. Over time your score will recover, and once these marks fall off your credit report, you may see an instant boost in score.
There Has Been A Recent Inquiry On Your Report
If you’ve recently applied for a credit card or loan, the lender has probably pulled your credit report. This is considered a hard inquiry, occurring when a lender checks your credit to determine if they want to lend you money. These will temporarily lower your score.
An Account Has Closed
When you pay off a loan, your credit score could be negatively affected. This is because your credit history is shortened, and roughly 10% of your score is based on how old your accounts are. If you’ve paid off a loan in the past few months, you may just now be seeing your score go down.
Your score could be negatively impacted by a closed credit card, too. Not only is your credit history shortened, but your credit limit would also decrease and your credit utilization ratio would be impacted.
Often you’ll be the one authorizing a credit card to close, but card companies can close them without your knowledge. TheEqual Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA)allows creditors to close a card due to inactivity, delinquency or default with no notice. If they close an account for any other reason, they only have to give you 30 days’ notice after closing the account, so you could have a closed credit card that you don’t even know about.
Should You Worry About Your Credit Score Dropping?
Changes in your credit score are completely normal, so there’s no need to worry about small fluctuations! That being said, it’s good to check your credit report at least once a month so you can monitor these changes when they occur.
You may want to take note of large changes in your score as they could be an indication that something bigger is happening – for example, if you haveunauthorized accountsopened in your name, or you’ve been a victim ofidentity theft.
What To Consider When Your Credit Score Changes
The next time your credit score changes, ask yourself the following questions:
- Have you spent more or less money this month compared to previous months?If so, your credit utilization ratio may have changed.
- Did you miss a payment in the past few months?If so, you could have a delinquent payment that’s hurting your score.
- Did a missed payment or derogatory mark from several years ago fall off your credit report?If so, your credit score may be going up.
- Have you applied for credit?An inquiry may have been placed on your report, which can negatively impact it.
- Have you recently paid off a loan or closed a credit card?If so, your credit history may have been impacted.
After looking closer, you may find something has changed that could influence your credit score that you weren’t initially aware of. The best way to monitor changes in your score is to check your credit report monthly, so you’re up to date on all the changes that impact your score.
FAQs For Why Your Credit Score Is Going Down
What has the biggest impact on your credit score?
While many factors can impact your credit score, your payment history alone can make up 35% of your FICO® Score. Lenders want to know if you’ve previously made timely payments on past credit accounts or loans, and your payment history is typically the number one indicator of this.
What is considered a low credit score?
What’s considered a bad or low credit score can depend on what scoring model you or your credit bureau is using.
The VantageScore® model is based on a range of 300 – 850, where anything below 661 is considered “bad.”
The FICO® model uses a range of 280 – 850, with “bad” scores being any under 670.
For the most part, lenders will look at your FICO® Score when considering your approval for a loan.
How much will my credit score increase if a negative item is removed?
This can depend on what the negative item or derogatory mark is, whether it’s a late payment or something else. A negative item can continue to affect your credit score for up to 7 years, even after it’s removed. The best thing you can do to repair your score is to take steps tobuild your creditback up.
The Bottom Line
It can be disheartening to see your credit score drop for seemingly no reason. Change can happen without you realizing it, though, so it’s important to keep an eye on your score. This is especially important if you’re planning to take out a loan or a mortgage in your future.
If you’re curious what rates and terms your credit score could get you on a mortgage,apply online todayfor a preapproval from Rocket Mortgage®.
I'm an expert in personal finance, particularly credit management, with a deep understanding of the factors that influence credit scores. My expertise is grounded in both extensive research and practical experience, making me well-versed in the nuances of credit reporting and scoring systems.
In the article you provided, the author discusses the fluctuations in credit scores and explores the reasons behind seemingly unexplained changes. Let's break down the key concepts mentioned in the article:
1. Credit Score Basics:
- Your credit score is a numerical representation of your creditworthiness.
- Lenders use it to assess the risk of lending you money.
- Factors influencing your credit score include payment history, credit utilization, credit history length, types of credit, and new credit.
2. Credit Utilization:
- Credit utilization ratio is the balance on your credit card relative to your credit limit.
- Fluctuations in credit utilization can impact your credit score.
- Maintaining a credit utilization below 30% is generally advised for optimal credit health.
3. Changes in Credit Limit:
- Changes in your credit limit, even if unnoticed, can affect credit utilization.
- An increase in the limit can positively impact your score, while a decrease may have a negative effect.
4. Recorded Events on Credit Report:
- Missed payments, late payments (30 days or more), and derogatory marks significantly impact your credit score.
- Negative items like tax liens, charge-offs, collections, foreclosures, or bankruptcies can have long-lasting effects.
5. Removal of Negative Items:
- Negative items have a diminishing impact over time.
- Late payments stay on the report for 7 years, while more severe items like bankruptcy can linger for up to 10 years.
6. Recent Credit Inquiries:
- Applying for credit results in hard inquiries, which can temporarily lower your credit score.
7. Closed Accounts:
- Closing a credit card or paying off a loan can negatively impact your credit score.
- Credit history length and credit utilization are affected.
8. Monitoring Credit Score:
- Regularly check your credit report to stay aware of changes.
- Large score changes may indicate significant events, such as identity theft or unauthorized accounts.
9. FAQs:
- Payment history is a crucial factor, constituting up to 35% of your FICO® Score.
- Different credit score models may have varying ranges for what is considered a "bad" score.
- The impact of removing a negative item depends on the nature of the item.
10. Bottom Line:
- Fluctuations in credit scores are normal, but monitoring is essential, especially before significant financial decisions like taking out a loan or mortgage.
In conclusion, understanding these concepts empowers individuals to proactively manage their credit and make informed financial decisions. If you have further questions or need personalized advice, feel free to ask.
