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William Doom
License:89412
Vice President of Mortgage Lending
Guaranteed Rate
Phone: 808.791.9861
Cell 808.636.5268
william.doom@guaranteedrate.com
www.guaranteedrate.com/WilliamDoom

My Credit Score Just Dropped - What Happened?

You've been working really hard to increase your credit score. You've done everything you thought you were supposed to do to present yourself as a creditworthy individual. So, why did your score suddenly drop? What happened?

The following are just a few examples of seemingly innocent actions that could cause your score to suddenly and dramatically drop.

I paid off my biggest credit card debt and closed the account, but my score dropped anyway. This is one of the most frustrating situations for many borrowers. You would think that paying off your biggest debt and closing your account would be a good thing - and it is. But, because of the five factors of credit we discussed in a previous article, this action could reflect poorly on your credit score because you chose to close the account. Depending on your situation, the account you closed could've been your oldest credit account with the highest credit limit, two major factors in calculating your score.

I maxed out my card, and even though I paid it off completely when I got my statement, my score still dropped. By maxing out your card, your overall credit ratios were adjusted. And even though you paid it off, your statement reflects your current status. In other words, your credit report shows that your account is maxed out, even if you pay it off the next day. The best thing you could've done here was to pay your bill before your statement arrived.

I was only one day late on my payment but I still received a 30-day late on my credit report. Unfortunately, your creditors do not distinguish the difference between one day and 30 days late. You must pay your monthly bills on time every time to avoid this penalty. Depending on which credit cards you have, you could suffer an additional penalty for being late on your credit card payments, even just one time. It's called the universal default clause, which could increase your interest rates on all your credit cards up to 28-30%, even if you're in good standing with your other accounts!

I paid off an old collection and my score dropped significantly. While it might seem illogical or even unfair, sometimes paying off a collection account can actually cause more harm than good. Remember, credit scoring models typically lend more weight to your recent activity than to the mistakes you might've made in the past. By paying off this old account, you may have inadvertently added more weight to this mistake from the past by making this item current.

Don't be shy about asking for help when it comes to your credit score. Remember, your credit is the most valuable financial tool you have at your disposal. Feel free to contact us with any credit questions you may have.

NMLS (Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System) ID 2611 • AL - Lic# 21566 • AK - Lic#AK2611 • AR - Lic#103947 - Guaranteed Rate, Inc. 3940 N Ravenswood, Chicago IL 60613 866-934-7283 • AZ - Guaranteed Rate, Inc. - 14811 N. Kierland Blvd., Ste. 100, Scottsdale, AZ, 85254 Mortgage Banker License # BK-0907078 • CA - Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight, Division of Corporations under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act #413-0699 • CO - Regulated by the Division of Real Estate, 773-290-0505 • CT - Lic #17196 • DE - Lic # 9436 • DC - Lic #MLB 2611 • FL - Lic# MLD618 • GA - Residential Mortgage Licensee #20973 - 3940 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60613 • HI - Lic#HI-2611 • ID - Guaranteed Rate, Inc. Lic #MBL-5827 • IL - Residential Mortgage Licensee – Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation, 3940 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60613 MB.0005932 • IN - Lic #11060 & #10332 • IA - Lic #MBK-2005-0132 • KS - Licensed Mortgage Company - Guaranteed Rate, Inc. – License #MC.0001530 • KY - Mortgage Company Lic #MC20335 • LA - Lic #RML2866 • ME - Lic #SLM1302 • MD - Lic #13181 • MA - Guaranteed Rate, Inc. - Mortgage Lender & Mortgage Broker License MC 2611 • MI - Lic #FR-0018846 & SR-0018847 • MN - Lic #MO 20526478 • MS - Guaranteed Rate, 3940 Ravenswood, Chicago, IL 60613 - Licensed by the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance, Lic # 2611 • MO - Guaranteed Rate Lic # 10-1744 • MT - Lic#2611 • NJ - Licensed in NJ: Licensed Mortgage Banker - NJ Department of Banking & Insurance • NE - Lic #1811 • NV - Lic #3162 & 3161 • NH - Guaranteed Rate, Inc. dba Guaranteed Rate of Delaware, licensed by the New Hampshire Banking Department - Lic # 13931-MB • NM - Lic #01995 • NY - Licensed Mortgage Banker — NYS Department of Financial Services - 3940 N Ravenswood, Chicago, IL 60613 Lic # B500887 • NC - Lic #L-109803 • ND - Lic #MB101818 • OH - Lic #MBMB.850069.000 and Lic #SM.501367.000 - 3940 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60613 • OK - Lic # MB001713 • OR - Lic #ML-3836 - - 3940 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60613 • PA - Licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities Lic #20371 • RI - Rhode Island Licensed Loan Broker Lic # 20102681LB • SC - Lic #MLS-2611 • SD - Lic# ML.04997 • TN - Lic #109179 • TX - Lic #50426 & Lic # 47207 • UT - Lic #7495184 • VT - Lic #LL6100 & MB930 • VA - Guaranteed Rate, Inc. - Licensed by Virginia State Corporation Commission, License # MC-3769 • WA - Lic #CL-2611 • WI - Lic #27394BA & 2611BR • WV - Lic #ML-30469 & MB-30098 • WY - Lic#2247

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