You might have heard about the importance of having a good credit score. But if you aren’t applying for a mortgage, does it really matter if your credit score is less than stellar?
It turns out, having “bad” credit can affect a lot of your life, including where you live, what car you drive and even what jobs you can get.
Knowing the side effects of a low credit score can be a powerful incentive to understand how and why your credit score matters. If your credit score isn’t as high as you’d like, it can cost you in different ways. Check out these side effects of having a low credit score and the simple things you can start doing today to improve your score.
9 ways a ‘bad’ credit score can hold you back
Understanding ways bad credit can affect your life can help you avoid unwelcome financial surprises.
1. You may not qualify for best the credit cards
A poor credit score can keep you from qualifying for the best credit cards. Top-tier credit cards can offer:
- 0% introductory APR.
- Generous rewards.
- Welcome bonuses.
- No annual fee.
- Travel perks (such as travel insurance, free TSA PreCheck and free Global Entry).
If you can’t qualify for a card that provides these benefits, you may pay more over time for the privilege of borrowing money. People with poor credit may incur interest rates of 29% or higher, more than 8 points higher than the current average credit card interest rate of 20.75% in March, according to CNET’s sister site Bankrate.
2. Your insurance premiums may be higher
You’ll also feel the financial crunch of a low credit score when it comes to applying for car insurance. Many states factor your credit score into your car insurance premiums, under the premise that drivers with low credit scores are more likely to file claims.
You may still be able to reduce your premiums by shopping around for auto insurance and signing up for automatic payments, but improving your credit score can also help.
3. You may pay more for auto and personal loans
While some car dealers advertise they can get a car loan for borrowers with bad credit or no credit, you likely won’t qualify for the best auto loans that offer lower interest rates.
Car loan rates for borrowers with scores lower than 660 can pay 9% more on average for new cars than super prime borrowers, and nearly 14% more on average for used vehicles, according to a study done by Experian.
Likewise, if you can secure a personal loan, the interest rate will likely be higher if you have bad credit. However, if you’re trying to pay down high-interest credit card debt, the best loans for those with bad credit will still typically offer a better interest rate.
4. Buying a home may be out of reach
For most people, buying a home requires a mortgage. Conventional mortgage lenders typically require a credit score of at least 620, while government-backed loans, such as FHA or VA mortgages, require a score of at least 580, although some VA lenders will accept as low as 500.
You might be able to buy a home with bad credit by making more than a 20% down payment, which can be pricey, or by finding a person willing to co-sign the loan, which puts your co-signer at risk if you can’t make the payments.
5. It could be harder to rent a place
Before they rent out an apartment, landlords typically check your credit score to see how well you manage your finances and as an informal measurement of how responsible you are. If you have a low credit score, they might view this as a red flag and be less likely to rent to you.
You may be able to convince your landlord to circumvent the credit check by offering a larger security deposit, finding a co-signer or showing proof of consistent income. You’re more likely to find a landlord willing to forego a credit check if you work with a private landlord rather than a large property management firm.
6. You may need to pay a deposit for utilities
Companies ranging from the electric company to your cable and internet or wireless phone provider may check your credit to decide how likely it is you’ll pay your monthly bill. If you have bad credit, providers of essential services like the electric or water company might require a deposit or a co-signer to your account.
7. Starting a business could be more difficult
Starting a business can be expensive, especially if you need to invest in specialized equipment, merchandise or web development services. Lenders, vendors and business credit cards will evaluate your creditworthiness based on your personal credit score. If your score is subpar, you may have to put up your personal savings when you’re starting out.
8. It could cost you a new a job
Many businesses check a candidate’s credit report as part of a background check before hiring. If you refuse the credit check, according to the Fair Trade Commission, the employer can use that as a reason not to hire you.
9. Saving is harder
Life can become more expensive with poor credit. Whether you’re paying more in interest on loans and credit cards or missing out on juicy cash-back credit card rewards, having poor credit can make it more difficult to save money. Instead of earning 5% interest annually with a high-yield savings account, for example, you might need to put that money toward paying a credit card balance that’s accruing interest at 29% annually. It’s harder to save money or take advantage of investment opportunities when your money is going toward interest payments.
What is a ‘bad’ credit score?
Despite owing a collective $1.13 trillion in credit card debt, Americans have an average FICO credit score of 715, according to data released by Experian. That falls into the range of “good,” whether you use the scale determined by FICO or the newer VantageScore model.
There’s no official definition for a “bad” credit score, but your credit score can be considered below average if it falls in the “fair,” “poor,” or “very poor” range, depending on which scoring model you’re using.
FICO tiers are as follows:
| 800 – 850 | Exceptional |
| 740 – 799 | Very good |
| 670 – 739 | Good |
| 580 – 669 | Fair |
| 300 – 579 | Poor |
VantageScore introduced a new credit model that uses the same 300 to 850 range as FICO, with slightly different tiers:
| 781 – 850 | Excellent |
| 661 – 780 | Good |
| 601 – 660 | Fair |
| 500 – 600 | Poor |
| 300 – 499 | Very Poor |
Tips to improve your credit score
Your credit score is directly tied to the information on your credit report. That’s why it’s important to check your credit report monthly to find out if there are mistakes, as well as track any late payments and accounts in collections.
You can obtain your credit report for free every week from each of the three major credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. You are also entitled to receive a free copy of your credit report if you are denied credit.
Checking your credit report is the first step toward improving your credit score, since you can find out where you stand and how you can improve.
After that, follow these steps.
Fix any errors on your credit reports
If you spot errors on your credit report, you can dispute the inaccurate information and reach out to the bureau with a letter and request to have them fixed. Errors can include accounts that belong to someone with a similar name toyours, as well as incorrect reporting of late payments or delinquent accounts.
Make on-time payments
Your payment history accounts for 35% of your FICO score. Raising your credit score with on-time payments can be a slow and arduous process, but once you reach six to 12 months of consistent on-time payments, you can start to see your credit score go up.
Keep your credit usage low
If you have a credit card, you can increase your credit score by reducing your credit utilization ratio -- the percentage of your available credit that you’re using. Experts recommend keeping your credit utilization at or below 30% -- and even lower if possible. The best way to reduce your credit utilization ratio is to pay down existing revolving credit card debt.
It’s not always easy to pay down debt. Look at areas in your life where you can save money, from dining out to cutting subscriptions. Then put that money toward your credit card debt.
Alternatively, you can lower your credit utilization ratio by increasing your available credit. One way to do this is to apply for a new credit card, but only if you can manage a new card responsibly. Also keep in mind your score will drop by a few points due to the hard credit pull when you apply.
Open a secured credit card
Opening new lines of credit to reduce your credit utilization ratio can quickly boost your credit score. But if your FICO credit score falls under 580, it might be difficult to obtain an unsecured credit card.You might consider opening a secured credit card to boost your credit score.
You’ll typically need to deposit money, which acts as your line of credit. Make sure the secured card reports your on-time payments to the three major credit bureaus. Some cards offer the opportunity to return your deposit and convert to a regular credit card after a history of on-time payments.
The bottom line
Having a low credit score can affect more than just your interest rates. Your score can factor into what loan products you’ll be approved for, how much you pay for insurance, where you live and even where you work. If your credit score isn’t as high as you’d like, start working to improve it now to save money today and in the future.
FAQs
Poor credit can keep you from qualifying for a mortgage, an auto loan and the best rewards credit cards. And if you do qualify for these products, your interest rate will likely be higher. Having poor credit may also affect your ability to rent an apartment or land a job and may force you to pay higher insurance premiums.
You can view your credit score in real time or on a monthly basis with any number of free or paid credit monitoring services. Many credit card companies offer services that let you check your credit score for free. Credit Karma, Experian and Equifax also offer free options for checking your score.
Whatever service you use, it’s important to find out which credit scoring model the organization uses. Lenders typically rely on FICO scores, although the VantageScore is gaining in popularity.
Other scores can be a useful gauge of your progress and overall trends in your credit score, but may not accurately reflect the actual number that lenders will use to evaluate your creditworthiness.
Recovering from bad credit is a process. The time frame to recover from bad credit depends on a number of factors, including the length of your credit history, how low your credit score is and what you’re doing to improve it. The best ways to improve your credit score are consistently making on-time payments, which could improve your credit score within a few months or years, and reducing your credit utilization, which could improve your score even faster.
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