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3 Changes In The VantageScore System

Authored By: knocon on 6/12/2017

3 Changes In The VantageScore System

You may have heard that the VantageScore is getting an overhaul. If you’re not sure what a VantageScore is, it’s a consumer credit-scoring model, which dictates the way credit bureaus — Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax — determine your credit score, and it is getting a shake-up this fall. It would be wise for you to learn all you can about these changes so you can make the necessary adjustments to your credit behavior.

Lucky for you, we’ve made it easy! Read on to learn all you need to know about the three main areas that will see change.

1.) Trended data and trajectories

Under the modified system, VantageScore will start considering trended data. This means the company will analyze the trajectory of your debts on a monthly basis. Are you gradually paying down your debt, or are you scraping by with the minimum payments as your balance slowly grows?

If you’re careful about making the monthly payment but your balance is increasing each month, your credit score will take a hit. Conversely, if you’re working toward paying down debt, your score will likely get a boost. Even small steps will be recognized and rewarded.

2.) Large credit lines

Having lots of available credit was once considered a mark of good credit. The new VantageScore will mark a borrower negatively for having excessively large credit limits. The theory behind this rationale is simple: Lots of open credit means the borrower can quickly rack up a huge bill.

If you have a large line of credit available, you will be negatively impacted by this change unless you take action. This change upends the advice that the more credit cards you have open, the better. The rationalization behind that maxim was to build your available credit, and thus improve your score. With the modified system, though, the opposite is true.

It’s best to use less than 30% of your available credit. If you have a large credit line open across several cards, consider closing some of your cards to lower that number. Also, if opening a new card, ask for a smaller credit limit over a larger one.

3.) Medical debt, tax liens and civil judgments

Medical debt, tax liens and civil judgments will no longer be factors at play in determining your credit score. Tax liens and civil judgments are being removed because they often harm a credit score and are later proven erroneous. Similarly, medical debt can hurt credit scores before insurance can reimburse the borrower for the payments.

If you’ve had any of the above dragging down your credit score, you have cause to celebrate. You might even see a jump of 20 points to your score! On the flip side, if you have negative marks from things like delinquencies and debts that have gone to collection agencies, this new rule won’t help you much, but we can! As a member of Sharon Credit Union, you have free access to our partner, Greenpath Financial Wellness’ financial experts. Learn about all of the ways Greenpath can help you here.

Your Turn: Do you think the new system encourages responsible use of credit? Why or why not? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!



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