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What is a credit score?
How is it calculated?
Credit bureaus analyse your entire credit history – all payments, missed payments, late payments; everything you owe and to whom. They make your score available to banks, credit card companies and other lenders, to enable them to assess what their risk is in lending money – or offering a contract – to you. Your score will also determine how much you can borrow and at what rate.
Do you know your score?
Credit bureaus allow you to draw your credit report, at a fee. It's a good idea to check your score, as a small missed payment from years ago may bring your score down, and if you settle that account, you'll have a better credit rating. A second, equally important, function of a credit report is that it shows exactly which companies or institutions have checked your credit-worthiness and when. If this happens and you have never applied for credit with one of them, it is a clear indication that someone has tried to open an account in your name. As identity theft is a very real concern these days, this is an invaluable service which will allow you to alert the creditor immediately to protect yourself and them.
How to check your score:
What’s My Credit is a brand-new online service that allows anyone to check their credit status and get a detailed credit report. A What’s My Credit credit report will set out your complete financial history, detailing borrowing and spending habits, payment history and contact details. It tracks every account in your name, every payment you skip, every judgment taken against you and every cent you owe your creditors. To get started, click here: www.whatsmycredit.co.za
