You might think the phrase credit score means a specific number that everyone uses, but really it is a very general term.  It actually is very generic, just think of what was stated above that there is 1000 different credit score models.  So in a lending situation you should ask what scoring model the creditor is using.

But the question is which ones or one should you really care about?  If there is an answer it would be your FICO score, which is the most widely used and trusted score today.  Chances are if you are going to a large purchase such as a home, your FICO score will be what your lender uses.  Now, this is a rule of thumb and there are exceptions.  And if you are not sure what they are using it is ok to ask.

So beyond the fact the FICO score is the most popular credit score model, it also makes up the general basis for the reasoning behind credit scores.  Meaning the same general areas of the FICO score calculation are found in other score.  So your payment history will carry the largest weight followed by your debt to credit ratio.  Etc..

Also, since a FICO score is just a brand of credit score, it is open to re branding.  This is the case with other scores you might of heard of such as the Beacon Score.

That leads to the fact if know where you are at on the FICO score scale you should have a pretty good idea where you fall with the other scores.  But it always does hurt to ask what your lender is using for a credit score model.

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The first step on how to dispute a credit report error is to get a copy of each of your credit reports. You have three and each can have different information on it. Since the info can be different this it can create a different result for your credit score.

The second step on how to dispute a credit report error is to go through each report and record anything you believe to be incorrect. This is important because you will need some type of reference so can research each item and follow up on it.

You also need to know what you are looking for. The first section of your credit report will be your personal information. This information will not be included in the actual calculation but is still worth a look. Common errors could be a misspelling of your name or a scarier sign of identity theft such as an address you have never lived at.

The next section is your accounts and it will include your credit limit, balance, account information, and payment history to that account. The most common negative entries here are going to be late payments and anything over seven years you can dispute to be removed. Also, again look for any accounts that you don’t know about which is another sign of identity theft.

This will be followed by your credit inquiries. These are anytime your credit report has been checked. You mainly care about those checks by creditors which you applied for a loan with. These are known as hard inquiries and will factored into the credit score calculation. Any of these over two years old can be disputes and removed from your credit report.

Another section you need to check is to look at any public records you might have such as potential tax liens, collections, bankruptcies, and judgments. Bankruptcies over 10 years old can be disputed to be removed. Also, you want to check for double collections. These can be possible if you have defaulted on an account and they resell the debt to a new company which you don’t pay either. And new company and the old company have both have sent you to collections for non payment. These can also be disputed to be removed.

I hope these help answer the question: How to dispute a credit report error? But these are only a few methods and there are a few more. Furthermore, these do not guarantee a credit score boost or even if they will be removed. The process of the actual error dispute is a completely new post

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With both scales the higher the number the better the score you have.  The FICO score range is broken down usually as:

• 750 – 850 excellent credit score
• 700 – 749 good credit
• 680 – 699 good
• 620 – 679 fair
• 580 – 619 low
• 350 – 579 poor

The VantageScore assigns grades to different ranges on their credit score scale.  Here is the break down:

• 901 – 990 A credit
• 801 – 900 B credit
• 701 – 800 C credit
• 601 – 700 D credit
• 501 – 600 F credit

An important note to what is considered a good credit score is it is the lender who really decides what is good.  And since each lender has their own guidelines that they follow, it does not mean you will get the same deal or approved by every lender.

To make things even more complicated is the fact your credit score can and will vary on the information found on your credit report.  Since you have three credit reports you could possibly fall in three different areas of the credit score scale.

The general groupings above are always subject to change.  Also, depending on which group you fall in you qualify for similar interest rates and approval rate of everyone else in the group.  To see real benefit from improving your credit score you must make it into the next higher group.  Once again these are often set by the lenders and will vary lender to lender.

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