My big problem with credit scoring is that it's so secretive....ask what exactly goes into your credit score and the bureaus will tell you that it's proprietary information.  If you're going to be judged by a set of criteria, shouldn't you have the right to know what that criteria is? 

I had one client who only made limited use of credit.  She only had two charge cards..both with low limits.  In an average month she would generally used each card a couple of times and generally ran a small balance on each one.  

When we pulled her credit report she scored in the low 500's!  Even though she had never had a late payment!  

We called her charge card companies and asked if they would raise her limit (which they did) and with no other changes, her credit score went to over 700!  That ain't right!

Bob Mitchell

ValueList Real Estate Services, Inc. 

Good points Dwayne.

I also find it interesting that so many people find it unusual when I tell them not to close their credit accounts out when they reach a zero balance or no longer have any use for that account. 

Zach, you're telling me.  Everyday, multiple times a day, I tell my clients that and they had no idea that it's good to have an open account in good standing for a long period of time.  Makes sense when it's put that way.  They also don't understand the point in keeping the balances below 30% or lower on the revolving accounts.

I can't really fault them.  The amount of effort and money that is put into suppressing this information is astronomical!