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<h2>What Is A FICO Score?</h2><br />Denise Marston<p> The goal of any credit repair program is to improve your FICO score. A FICO score was developed by the Fair Isaac Co. to help determine the likelihood of you paying if a company agrees to loan you money. Fair Isaac s the only ones who know exactly what makes up their algorithm, which is the mathematical formula used to calculate your score FICO scores are calculated from five factors reported from the three major credit reporting agencies. These five factors are how well you pay, how much do you owe, how long have you had credit, how much new credit do you have, and what types of credit are you using. Seven additional factors are then added and using a “secret formula” Fair Issac determines your score. Included in your payment history are items like bankruptcies, judgments, suits, liens, wage garnishments, collection items and delinquencies. Credit availability, includes how much you owe, what types of accounts they are, and what percentage of all the credit you have that you are using. Under length of credit history the items that are considered are how long your accounts have been opened, what types of accounts they are, and and when did you last use them. New credit includes items like credit inquiries, inquiries due to credit application, how many new accounts have your opened recently and what types of accounts are they? Types of credits used includes credits cards, retail accounts, in store charges, installments loans, and mortgages. And it has even made a difference if you only have one brand of credit card. Here are the percentages for each part: 35% payment history, 30% amount owed 15% length of credit history, 10% new credit 10% types of credit What is not part of your FICO score is how much you make, how old you are, where you work, how long you worked, or what type of job you have, where you live, what race you are, your color, your religion, sex, or natural origin have no effect. It doesn't matter whether or not you are married. It also does not matter how much your interest rates are. Anything that has to do with alimony or child support, is not included. If you or your employer check your credit through one of the credit bureaus your score will not be affected. Finally if you are working in any kind of credit counseling program, that in and of itself will not affect your credit, however some credit counseling programs do suggest that you do things that will negatively affect your credit. If they negotiate any type of settlement for less than the full amount owed, or even if they negotiate a payment per month that is less than the minimum payment due each month it will most likely have a a negative effect on your credit score. The reason why credit counseling programs have such a bad name is that very few who start actually complete the program as agreed and a number of people who do use credit counseling programs go bankrupt anyways. About the author: Denise Martin is the President of Premier Legal Credit Repair in Washington, DC. Premier Legal Credit Repair is an expert in helping clients establish excellent credit.For more information go to <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.premierlcr.com">Premierlcr.com</a> <br /> Article Source : <a href="http://www.article-content-king.com/pro/?member=633">http://www.article-content-king.com/pro/?member=633</a></p>