Wouldn’t it be great if all Canadians had an excellent understanding of credit scores? Unfortunately, that isn’t the case. With financial literacy lacking in the school system, most of the knowledge we receive about credit scores is secondhand from family and friends. Sometimes that information is right, sometimes it’s not.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common Canadian credit score myths and help dispel them once and for all.
Myth #1: I’ll Hurt My Credit Score by Checking It
This is false in most cases. If you’re checking your own credit score or credit report using a free or paid service, then it won’t affect your credit score. However, if you’re applying for a new credit card and the bank pulls your credit report, that can drag down your credit score.
That’s because there are two main types of credit inquiries, “soft” and “hard” credit inquiries. Soft inquiries like checking your own credit report aren’t noted on your credit history and therefor don’t affect your credit score, while lenders and credit card companies do a hard inquiry, which is tracked on your credit history, to determine how much credit they can offer you.
Too many “hard” inquiries can make it look like you’re shopping around for credit – which can be a red flag for lenders.
This brings us to Myth #2…
Myth #2: All Credit Reports Are The Same
In Canada we have two different credit bureaus: TransUnion and Equifax.
Consumers are typically listed with both, though the information can vary between the two depending on how the companies you do business with report credit and payment histories. You can get your free TransUnion credit report online here and your free Equifax credit report here. Both companies also offer credit monitoring, which can be a good investment if you’re concerned about identity theft or fraud.
Both companies also offer several different views or versions of an individual credit report to businesses. Depending which view a business is using, they may see a different score. This is true for free online credit scores as well, as Marketplace reported in October 2019.
Myth #3: I’ll Improve My Credit Score by Lowering My Credit Limit
Again, this is false in most cases. One important factor that determines your credit score is your credit utilization. That’s a fancy way of saying how much of your available credit you’re using.
A good rule of thumb is to keep your credit utilization below 35%. For example, if you had a credit card with a $10,000, you’d want to keep it below $3,500 (35 percent) at all times. When it gets above 50 percent lenders tend to get nervous that you could be running into financial difficulties.
Giving yourself some breathing room makes sense for most people, but if you’re someone who knows you’ll spend right up to your limit if it’s available, you might be better off with a lower credit limit. Just be aware it’s likely to hold back your credit score – although that’s better than having a large balance on your credit card next month!
Myth #4: I’ll Help My Credit Score by Closing Old Accounts
Do you have a credit card in your wallet that you haven’t used for a while? Your first instinct may be to close it, but did you know that could actually hurt rather than help your credit score? That’s right, if you have a long history of making your payments on time and in full, by closing this credit card, your credit score is likely to take a hit.
You may be wondering why. The reason is simple. The length of credit history is another factor that comes into play with your credit score. When you close an old credit account, you’re shortening the length of your credit history, so it’s best not to do in most cases. The only time it may make sense is if you’re barely using a credit card and it comes with a hefty annual fee. Otherwise, you’re most likely better off keeping it open.
Myth #5: When Does An Old Bill go into “Collections”?
Everyone knows that having an item in collections will have a seriously negative impact on their credit report. But we recently helped a client who had an item in collections – and she didn’t even realize it.
Because the debt was with an internal collections team and hadn’t been transferred to an external agency, she didn’t realize the overdue bill was now considered as “in collections”. But that was what the credit bureau was reporting, and what was holding her back from getting more credit when she needed it.
If you want to learn more about which credit myths might be holding down your credit score, contact one of our credit consultants for a free consultation. They can review your credit report with you and help you find the right tools to grow your score.
About the Author
Sean Cooper is the bestselling author of the book, Burn Your Mortgage: The Simple, Powerful Path to Financial Freedom for Canadians. He bought his first house when he was only 27 in Toronto and paid off his mortgage in just 3 years by age 30. An in-demand Personal Finance Journalist, Money Coach and Speaker, his articles and blogs have been featured in publications such as the Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, Financial Post and MoneySense. Connect with Sean on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
