{"id":355634,"date":"2017-12-22T09:00:22","date_gmt":"2017-12-22T16:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.creditrepair.com\/blog\/?p=355634"},"modified":"2022-01-20T19:25:48","modified_gmt":"2022-01-21T02:25:48","slug":"what-doesnt-affect-my-credit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.creditrepair.com\/blog\/credit-score\/what-doesnt-affect-my-credit\/","title":{"rendered":"What Doesn\u2019t Affect My Credit?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"What<\/p>\n

We all strive for good credit, but how does one achieve it? It\u2019s not a matter of chance. Your credit score is determined by a number of factors pertaining to your personal financial behaviors.<\/p>\n

But that doesn\u2019t mean every detail about your finances influences your credit.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re worried about any of the following factors harming your credit score<\/a>, rest easy: they have no influence on your credit health.<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0 Checking your own credit<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Many people fear that checking their own credit can lower their credit score. As a result they remain in the dark and uninformed about their own credit report and credit score. It\u2019s true that hard inquiries<\/a> can marginally lower your credit score, but checking your own credit is considered a soft inquiry, and won\u2019t bring your score down. In fact, it\u2019s imperative to keep an eye on your credit report, so that you can make sure all the information is accurate and initiate a credit report dispute<\/a> if anything isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0 Your spouse\u2019s credit score<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When it comes to marriage, \u201cWhat\u2019s mine is yours and what\u2019s yours is mine,\u201d right?<\/p>\n

Not necessarily, and luckily, this isn\u2019t the case with your credit score. Everyone\u2019s credit report is unique to them, regardless of marital status. The only caveat is if you co-sign a loan or open joint credit accounts with your spouse, those activities will appear on both your credit reports \u2014 and you\u2019ll both be accountable for making payments.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0 Money in the bank<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Your credit has nothing to do with the number that appears on your monthly bank statement. The only accounts that matter are the ones on which you\u2019ve been extended lines of credit (credit cards, loans, etc.) \u2014 not your bank accounts. As such, using your debit card also doesn\u2019t impact your credit. When you use a bankcard, you\u2019re using your own money, not money being loaned to you by a creditor.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0 Your salary<\/h2>\n

Like your bank accounts, your salary is your personal money and thus doesn\u2019t impact your credit score. So whether you just got laid off or got a promotion, don\u2019t expect to see your credit change for the better or worse.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0\u00a0 Late payments \u2014 IF you pay within a certain timeframe<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re a little late paying a bill, as most of us have been once or twice, it won\u2019t affect your credit score. Unless your payment is 30 days or more past due the late will not be reflected on your credit report. If you pay within that 30-day timeframe, you\u2019ll likely only be charged a late fee. But if you do exceed it, you are risking harm to your credit. In general, it\u2019s better to make consistent, timely payments by the due date.<\/p>\n

With all that said, you may be wondering what factors DO impact your credit score<\/strong><\/a>. Here are the most important ones:<\/p>\n