Top 5 Mistakes That Damage Your Credit Score and How to Avoid Them

This article aims to help you understand the most common mistakes that can damage your credit score. By identifying these pitfalls and learning how to avoid them, you can work towards improving your score and achieving greater financial stability. Whether you're just starting on your credit journey or looking to repair past mistakes, this guide is tailored to offer practical advice and insights.

In particular, individuals who suspect they might have potential credit issues or concerns. If you're worried about your credit, or simply want to ensure you're on the right track, you've come to the right place. Let's dive into the common errors that could be impacting your score and explore how you can avoid them.

Mistake 1: Missing or Late Payments

One of the most significant factors that can negatively impact your credit score is your payment history. Lenders view a consistent record of on-time payments as a good indicator of financial reliability. Conversely, missing payments or routinely paying late can be a red flag for potential lenders, suggesting financial instability or forgetfulness.

People miss payments for various reasons. Sometimes, it's an honest oversight; at other times, financial constraints might make it challenging to keep up with obligations. It's important to understand that missing even a single payment can affect your score, with late fees or penalties adding further financial strain.

To avoid missing due dates, consider setting up reminders on your phone or calendar. Many banks and credit institutions also offer automatic payment options, which can ensure your bills are paid on time. By taking these proactive steps, you can safeguard your credit score and maintain a positive payment history, ultimately leading to better financial opportunities in the future.

Mistake 2: High Credit Card Balances

Credit card balances that remain high in comparison to your credit limit can hurt your credit score more than you might expect. This is because of something known as the credit utilisation ratio, which represents the amount of your credit card limit that you are using. A lower ratio is generally seen as positive by lenders and credit bureaus.

When your credit card balances approach or exceed the recommended 30% utilisation of your credit limit, it signals to potential lenders that you may be over-reliant on credit. This can make you appear as a higher-risk borrower, which can, in turn, negatively impact your score. Striving to keep your balances low can help improve this ratio and, consequently, your credit health.

To manage and reduce credit card debt effectively, consider creating a budget that allows for regular payments above the minimum required. Prioritize paying down high-interest cards first, or explore balance transfer options to lower-interest cards. Establishing these habits can help lower your credit utilisation ratio, which will improve your credit score and provide more opportunities for favourable financial terms in the future.

Mistake 3: Frequent Applications for New Credit

It's common for people to consider opening new credit accounts, whether it's a credit card, personal loan, or financing for a big purchase. However, frequent applications for new credit can have unintended consequences on your credit score. Each application often results in a "hard inquiry," which is when a lender checks your credit report to make a lending decision.

While a single hard inquiry typically has a minimal impact on your score, multiple inquiries in a short period can add up. This can signal to lenders that you're either aggressively seeking credit, which might suggest financial distress, or that you might overextend yourself. Both scenarios can increase your perceived risk as a borrower.

Instead of frequently applying for new credit, explore alternatives like asking for a credit limit increase on existing accounts or using a personal budget to manage expenses. If you must apply frequently, try to concentrate applications within a brief period. Credit scoring models often consider multiple inquiries for the same type of credit within a short timeframe as a single inquiry, which can lessen the impact on your score and help keep your financial health on track.

Mistake 4: Neglecting to Check Your Credit Report

Regularly reviewing your credit report is a crucial habit that many consumers overlook. Your credit report is essentially a detailed history of your borrowing activity and indicates how well you manage your financial responsibilities. Knowing what's on your report can help you understand the factors affecting your credit score and identify areas for improvement.

It’s not uncommon for credit reports to contain errors. Such inaccuracies could include incorrect personal information, accounts that don't belong to you, or mistakes in the report of your payment history. These errors can unjustly lower your credit score and impact your ability to obtain credit under favorable terms.

To protect your credit score, it's important to check your credit report regularly. In Australia, you are entitled to one free report per year from each of the major credit bureaus. If you spot any errors, act swiftly to dispute them. Contact the credit bureau that issued the report, provide evidence to support your claim, and request a correction. Correcting any inaccuracies promptly can improve your credit score and strengthen your financial profile for future opportunities.

Mistake 5: Closing Old Credit Accounts

Many people don't realise that part of what makes up your credit score is the length of your credit history. This component reflects how long your credit accounts have been active, considering the age of your oldest account, the average age of all accounts, and the age of specific types of accounts. Essentially, a longer credit history is seen positively, as it provides more data for lenders to assess your creditworthiness.

Closing old credit accounts might seem like a responsible decision, especially if you're not actively using them, but this can inadvertently hurt your credit score. When you close an account, it reduces the average age of your credit accounts, making your credit history appear shorter. Additionally, closing a credit account can impact your credit utilisation ratio by reducing the total amount of credit available to you.

To manage old credit accounts effectively without negatively impacting your credit score, consider keeping them open, even if they aren't in active use. If annual fees are a concern, contact your credit issuer to discuss a fee waiver or downgrade options to a no-fee card. Maintain a minimal level of activity on these accounts by setting small, recurring charges on them that you pay off entirely each month. This strategy helps preserve your credit history length and utilisation ratio, ultimately supporting a healthier credit score.

Conclusion

In conclusion, maintaining a strong credit score requires awareness and proactive financial management. We've explored five common mistakes that can severely impact your credit score. These include missing or late payments, maintaining high credit card balances, frequent applications for new credit, neglecting to check your credit report, and closing old credit accounts. Each of these pitfalls has the potential to reduce your creditworthiness in the eyes of lenders and could result in more expensive borrowing terms.

Understanding how these mistakes affect your credit score is the first step towards avoiding them. By taking timely and informed actions, such as setting payment reminders, keeping credit utilisation low, checking your credit report regularly, and maintaining open credit accounts, you can safeguard and even improve your financial profile.

If you're looking for more ways to enhance your credit score or need support in navigating your financial journey, we invite you to explore the additional resources and expert advice available on our website, financialservicesonline.com.au. Let's work together to achieve a healthy credit score and secure better financial opportunities for your future.

Published: Saturday, 17th May 2025
Author: Paige Estritori