5 Ways a Bad Credit Score Can Hurt Your Career Growth

Do you know how good your credit score is? According to Statistic Brain, only 35% of Americans checked their credit file at all last year, and the national average has plummeted to just 691. Despite that, 90% believe that they have a low or average level of debt - but does it really matter? 

Your credit score doesn't just decide if you can finance that new leather sofa, or if you'll get a good rate on your mortgage application. It can have a big impact on your everyday life, too, and having a bad credit score can even stop you being able to get promoted, or even get a job in the first place. So why does it matter, and what can you do about it?

You Can't Get A Job

According to Forbes, 6 in 10 employers now check the credit of their potential new hires. Failing the check can mean kissing goodbye to the job, even if you excelled at interview. Good credit shows the employer that you're a more responsible person. If your job will involved handling money, valuable items or locking up, it's even more likely to signal the end of the road. Financial gurus like Mark Weinberger are perfect to emulate when looking to get your finances on the right track. 

You Can't Get A Phone Contract

Most jobs will require you to be contactable, which means carrying a phone around with you. The best deals on handsets and air time are offered to contract customers who can afford bigger monthly payments: with poor credit, you are likely to be offered a higher rate, or be rejected completely. A pay-as-you-go phone can seem a good solution, but you are charged much more, so keep calls and texts to a minimum and make sure you've always got credit.

You Can't Get Insured

Whether it's getting to work in the morning or driving around as part of your job, chances are you'll need a vehicle. Not a problem if you can get a good finance deal, and some cheap insurance; but terrible if your credit is shot, or if the company can't insure you on a company car. If transport is essential, your only option is to join a car sharing scheme, or show your bosses that you've researched public transport and don't need to drive.

You Can't Move

Sometimes the best opportunities require sacrifice: including relocating. While the best companies will offer a relocation package and try to help you get on your feet, that's not normally an option unless you already work for the company, and they won't help with contracts. If your credit would stop you from renting or buying a new place, you may have to pass up the promotions and opportunities until its better. 

Solving The Problem

So what can you do if you find your credit score holding you back? Be honest. When you give permission for the check, mention any CCJs, DMPs or finance management. Offer an explanation if you have one, and show how you are trustworthy and reliable.If your credit history doesn't come as a surprise, you are much more likely to get the job.

Credit scores has a much larger impact on our lives than many people believe, so make sure that you aren't receiving the brunt of it for your past financial mistakes. 

Useful Things You Should Know to Boost Your Credit Score

When applying for loans, opening a bank account or even renting out an apartment, your credit report is required. It helps determine whether or not you have the capability to repay the loans that you have taken out. 

Of course these credit companies would like to know if you are a good risk or not. If you have poor ratings on your credit report, there is a lesser chance that your loan will not get approved or you will not get the interest rate that you want. 

More often than not, people with bad credit reports will run the chance of paying loans with high interest rates and shorter payment terms. If you want to improve your credit score, here are some useful things you should know: 

• Get a copy of your credit report from the credit bureaus. It will be difficult to improve your credit score if you don’t know your current standing. Credit reports are given free once each year, but if you want to know your credit score then you have to pay minimal amount for it. FICO credit score is the most commonly used by creditors. There are three credit bureaus that can supply you with this score namely Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. 
• Don’t accept all the pre-approved credit card offers. There are times when you will get this type of credit card offer in your mail and even online. Resist the temptation of responding to these offers because easily approved credit cards can affect your credit score. Whenever there’s an inquiry in on national credit bureaus, points are deducted from your score. Frequent and impulsive checking of your credit score can harm your score. 
• Avoid transferring from one credit card to another. You may think the transferring your balance will not hurt you because you will receive 0% interest rate for a particular period of time. However, it will be much better if you don’t close your old credit card because long-stand credit card will look good in your credit report and may give you a good credit score too. 
• Don’t miss out on due dates. Paying your bills on time and on a regular basis if you want to avoid credit score dings. For every late payment you make on your bills, it depicts a picture that you are not reliable. Keep in mind that a huge chunk of your credit score is based on your payment history. If creditors can see that you are a responsible in paying your bills, it can improve you credit score big time. 
• Raise disputes when necessary. If you see that something is wrong in your credit report, make sure that you dispute it. If you have been a bad person as far as your creditors are concerned, you can get one bad thing out of the report yearly. You just need to be consistent in improving your credit scores. If there are negative notations on your credit report, make sure that you dispute these things. Be patient because it is not easy to remove any negative information on your credit reports. 

About the Author: The article is done by Mackenzie Sulivan, technology, seo and finance copywriter, guest blogger and web developer. She likes covering seo, technology and finance articles and news via online edition. She contributes to this site: 12 Month Loans from eMoneyBuddy.

Why a Credit Score Still Means Something at 50+

Credit Scores (Photo credit: i am real estate photographer)

There are many consumers of fifty years of age and over whose credit scores have been damaged in recent years by the fickle financial climate. On average however, those of us who are over 50 still have better credit scores on average than many. As we head into our retirement years though, it’s possible to become a little complacent about our credit ratings. We are debt free and not interested in borrowing any more, so what’s the big deal if our credit score “ ain't what it used to be?” Well, the truth is, it does matter, and for some very specific reasons you may not have thought of. 

We Should Still Be Diligent About Identity Theft

Though great measures have been incorporated into our society in order to prevent identity theft, it still occurs. The fact is, as vendors and lenders implement strategies to combat identity theft, thieves exert as much energy into figuring out how to get around them. Almost 10% of American households have at least one member who has fallen victim to this heinous crime, which continues to increase. (US Bureau of Justice)

Monitoring our credit reports and credit scores on a regular basis is an effective means of protecting ourselves against identity theft. If we check our credit report on a regular basis there is a greater chance of catching any irregular transactions before they can do much harm. Look for any new accounts that you did not open, credit card transactions, even loan applications that are not of your doing. Even an increase in the number of inquiries can expose fraudsters trying to open accounts in your name.

The Possibility of Medical Emergencies

As we get older there is a greater chance of us becoming ill. Maintaining a healthy credit score will ensure that we can get the loan we need if saddled with huge medical expenses. Many accounts that are in collection are there because of unpaid medical bills, in fact it is one of the most common reasons for debt. Our insurance may not cover everything, and it is comforting to know that the funds we may need for ourselves or our loved ones will be available if we need them.

Take Advantage of Better Insurance Rates

Many of us who are over 50 still need to pay auto and home insurance. There is a 2:1 chance that our insurer uses our credit score in determining how much they charge us and what discounts we qualify for. The higher our credit score is, the better our chance of receiving the best possible rates, savings we can put towards our retirement and the amenities we’d like to go with it! 

Better Employment Opportunities

Unfortunately many people over 50 have been forced to return to work in recent years. Anyone in that position needs every advantage they can get, and a good credit score is an ace to have up your sleeve. Many employers factor an applicants credit score into their decision making progress of who to hire. They feel a good credit score is an indication of responsibility and reliability. Though they need your permission to view it, refusing them access could lead them to believe you have something to hide, even if that’s not true. Consequently your chances of securing a senior position, or employment in general, could be jeopardized.

Though we may be over 50, it doesn’t pay to be complacent about something that affects so many different areas of our lives. Paying attention to our credit scores can save us embarrassment, hardship, and most of all, money!

Credit Scores 101 - Your Credit Score Explained

Credit cards (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One of the most important tools for monitoring your financial health is your credit score. Whether you are in the market for a new home, car, or credit card, your credit score is the measurement used by creditors in making decisions on whether or not to extend you credit. Your credit score and credit report can also help you maintain a watchful eye on any red flags that may signal identity theft or credit fraud. Knowing what your credit score is and how it is comprised is essential knowledge for anyone wanting to stay on top of their finances. 

FICO Score

Your credit score, commonly referred to as your FICO score, is the industry standard used by more than 90% of creditors in determining a borrower’s credit-worthiness. Your FICO score is a composite of information derived from the three main credit-reporting agencies. It gets its name from the Fair Isaac Corporation, which introduced the scoring system in the 1960’s. It places individuals on a range from poor to excellent. The bottom of the range is a score of 300 and the top score possible is 850. Most individuals’ scores obviously fall somewhere in between. 

Deciphering Your FICO Score

According the myfico.com website, the FICO score has five main components: Payment History, Amounts Owed, Length of Credit History, Types of Credit, and New Credit. At 35%, Payment History makes up the largest factor of your score. As the name would suggest, it lists payment history on any agency account reporting to the credit bureaus. It tells lenders whether or not you've made past payments on time.

Amounts Owed comprises 30% of your score. This presents a picture of how much debt you have outstanding. Amounts Owed allows lenders to see red flags that indicate a borrower may be getting overextended and, as a result, could have issues making timely payments in the future.

Length of Credit History is 15% of the score. A longer history will typically have a positive effect on the score. By having a longer history, lenders are better able to gauge your ability to maintain good credit over a longer period of time.

New Credit and Types of Credit Used each comprise 10% of the score. New Credit takes into account how many recently opened accounts you have, and may penalize you if you are accessing too much credit. The Types of Credit Used category looks for a healthy mix of revolving credit, equity accounts, and long-term credit. Too much revolving credit (think credit cards) can be a red flag and result in your score being reduced.

How to Access and Monitor Your Credit Score

There are several ways to gain access and to monitor your credit score and your credit reports. You are entitled to pull your credit report once annually for free through the annualcreditreport.com website. You can use several free services to monitor your score; these include CreditKarma and Credit Sesame. Some credit cards or equity loans will even provide a credit monitoring service free of charge and you can always pay one of the credit reporting agencies directly to have access to both your score and your credit report. These are typically available for a monthly fee.


Your credit score is much more than just a number. A good score allows you access to lower interest rates that can save you hundreds, even thousands of dollars over the life of a loan. It can also help you avoid having to put down large security deposits or down payments. Credit fraud can be readily detected if you stay on top of your credit reports, and a good credit score provides you the flexibility to access your credit, and is an indication of your overall financial well being. Knowing your score is essential whether you use one of the paid credit monitoring options, or one of many free tools.

Alan Dock is an ardent finance buff, and gets many of his smart money tips from credit check sites and investment blogs.