CSF Syndrome: Credit Score Fears

Checking my credit history wasn’t an issue until I went to buy a house. It hadn’t really crossed my mind to do it before, well it had but there wasn’t a real need to. I’ll admit that I was scared. I mean I have been an over-achiever all my life and I really didn’t want to be graded in another aspect of my life. But eventually I realized that I needed to come to terms with whatever number was attached to my identity. I had had some financial trouble back in college when a best friend ditched me with his end of the rent by not showing up at school our senior year-but that’s a blog in itself. So I was kinda fearful.

This sudden interest in my credit score came about when I was going to make my first home purchase. I managed to buy a car without even asking what it was, even though I knew it was being conducted for my car loan. After doing all my homework on what needed to be done to get my own place I realized that I really needed to clear up anything that may be lurking on that report if there were any issues because I really wanted to get my own place.

My first credit report came from the bank that I wanted to have hold my mortgage. They conducted the report to get an idea of what I would qualify for. When I saw the numbers I was pleasantly surprised. It was pretty average. I don’t remember off hand what it was but I compared the numbers to other data I found online to determine what “average” really was. I did further research and realized certain things were not included in some credit score ratings. (chorus: Hallelujah) And I even started cleverly asking other intuitions I regularly pay, like Citibank for my student loans. One day I paid online and it hadn’t processed by the deadline so I got my friendly call from Citibank, when I had the operator online I asked her if this not showing up as paid would ruin my credit history; and she revealed to my priest like mannered voice that Citibank doesn’t report to the credit agencies! My immediate reaction was mixed. I had been paying religiously (so to speak) all these years thinking it was improving my score.

Its not as bad as it seems. I had paid off a small private loan I needed during some financial troubles in college, and paying it off actually helped my credit history. They may not have reported whether every payment was made on time but I get credit points for having a loan and paying it off. It shows I’m trustworthy.

Now that I got a car and a place to live, I figure I can mess up my credit score here and there because I’m not gonna need anything for another 7 years! Haha!!! Suckers!