| Do you know what your credit score really means? | | | | score. |
| Most people do not. | | | | "… Keep the two credit cards that you have had the |
| What it means is your likeliness to pay off a loan. | | | | longest and cancel the rest. It may take time to see |
| These scores are very important when it comes to | | | | positive changes but if will go up if you work on it. Look |
| qualifying for a mortgage or getting a car loan. A bad | | | | at the interest rates on your credit cards also, these |
| score can prevent you from getting things as simple | | | | rates can also affect your score, get rid of the cards |
| as a phone. You should know you score since it has a | | | | with the high interest rates…" P. de la Torre added. |
| large influence on your life. | | | | The state of the economy in constant turmoil these |
| Paula de la Torre Editor of the "Best Credit Reporting | | | | days everyone's score is really constantly changing. |
| Services" website -- -- pointed out; | | | | The national average score was 665.25 points. The |
| "… Businesses are using credit scores as sort of | | | | actual scale goes from 300 to 850. Your score can |
| background checks today. Because of this, it is very | | | | vary slightly from bureau to bureau because of their |
| important to keep your score in good standing, at least | | | | equations and the information they have on you. |
| at the national average level if you can. Of course, the | | | | You are able to get one free credit report from each |
| higher the better…" | | | | of the three major credit bureaus each year. This is a |
| Wondering how to improve your score? First, reduce | | | | good idea but they do not have your actual score on |
| any outstanding debt you may have and stop applying | | | | them. There are services available for a monthly fee |
| for new credit. Try not to add to any balances you | | | | that will give your actually score in numbers and also |
| have outstanding, avoid having creditors check your | | | | alert you if there are any changes good or bad on |
| report to often, each check adversely affects your | | | | your credit report as soon as it happens. |