The information that impacts a credit score varies depending on the score being used. Credit scores are only affected by elements in your credit report, such as:

* Number and severity of late payments
* Type, number and age of accounts
* Total debt
* Recent inquiries

If a business card/corporate card or gas card does not appear on your credit report, it will not affect your score.

Credit scores do not consider:

Your race, color, religion, national origin, sex or marital status. U.S. law prohibits credit scoring from considering these facts, as well as any receipt of public assistance, or the exercise of any consumer right under the Consumer Credit Protection Act:

* Your age
* Your salary, occupation, title, employer, date employed or employment history. However, lenders may consider this information in making their approval decisions.
* Where you live
* Any interest rate being charged on a particular credit card or other account
* Any items reported as child/family support obligations or rental agreements.
* Certain types of inquiries (requests for your credit report). The score does not count "consumer disclosure inquiry” requests you have made for your credit report in order to check it. It also does not count "promotional inquiry" requests made by lenders in order to make a "pre-approved" credit offer – or "account review inquiry" requests made by lenders to review your account with them. Finally, inquiries for employment purposes are not counted.

One major impact on your credit score is how much in debt you have versus how much of a limit you have on your debt. It is ideal to keep your revolving debt balances at 20 to 40 percent of your credit limits to help maximize your credit scores.

 

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