This guide clears up common falsehoods about how a three-digit number affects loan decisions and money choices Many people mix up soft and hard checks balances and utilization or think income and marriage change what lives on a report Understanding the truth helps you take smart steps that actually move the number lenders see Accurate negative items age off over time and firms cannot legally wipe valid entries Most entries fall away after seven years Chapter shows up for ten Checking your own file is safe and won t lower a score You can monitor reports at AnnualCreditReport com and many card issuers offer free scores and alerts to help guard your finances This piece will show which things matter most why multiple scoring models cause different results and how to focus on on-time payments low balances and smart card use to build durable credit health Key Takeaways Learn what truly affects a credit score and what does not Checking your own report is safe and wise for monitoring Balances and utilization matter more than paying interest Income and marriage don t merge or alter your files automatically Negative entries age off over time focus on steady legal actions Why credit score myths persist and how they affect your money today Misunderstandings about how reports and numbers work keep affecting everyday money choices Old ideas spread because terms are technical and lenders use different models The present-day impact approvals interest rates and renting Lenders rely on reports and scores to... Login to read full