Why Credit Scores May Drop After Paying Off Debt | Equifax (2024)

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Why Credit Scores May Drop After Paying Off Debt | Equifax? ›

If you pay off a credit card debt and close the account, the total amount of credit available to you will decrease. As a result, your overall utilization may go up, leading to a drop in your credit score.

If you pay off a credit card debt and close the account, the total amount of credit available to you will decrease. As a result, your overall utilization may go up, leading to a drop in your credit score.

Lenders like to see a mix of both installment loans and revolving credit on your credit portfolio. So if you pay off a car loan and don't have any other installment loans, you might actually see that your credit score dropped because you now have only revolving debt.

Even though nothing has changed yet, your credit score can go down a bit as a warning to other lenders that you are considering other lending options. If you feel that nothing has changed, you might be overlooking a hard inquiry from an account that is already on your report.

You paid off a loan

Paying off something like your car loan can actually cause your credit score to fall because it means having one less credit account in your name. Having a mix of credit makes up 10% of your FICO credit score because it's important to show that you can manage different types of debt.

Reasons why your credit score could have dropped include a missing or late payment, a recent application for new credit, running up a large credit card balance or closing a credit card.

If you're already close to maxing out your credit cards, your credit score could jump 10 points or more when you pay off credit card balances completely. If you haven't used most of your available credit, you might only gain a few points when you pay off credit card debt.

Credit utilization — the portion of your credit limits that you are currently using — is a significant factor in credit scores. It is one reason your credit score could drop a little after you pay off debt, particularly if you close the account.

A FICO^® Score of 650 places you within a population of consumers whose credit may be seen as Fair. Your 650 FICO^® Score is lower than the average U.S. credit score. Statistically speaking, 28% of consumers with credit scores in the Fair range are likely to become seriously delinquent in the future.

Your credit score may have dropped by 30 points because a late payment was listed on your credit report or you became further delinquent on past-due bills. It's also possible that your credit score fell because your credit card balances increased, causing your credit utilization to rise.

Why did my credit score drop 40 points when nothing changed? ›

You recently applied for credit

If you applied for a credit card or are shopping around for a loan, a hard inquiry can appear on your credit report, which temporarily lower a score. Hard inquiries happen when a lender or company reviews your report with the intent to make a lending decision.

For most people, increasing a credit score by 100 points in a month isn't going to happen. But if you pay your bills on time, eliminate your consumer debt, don't run large balances on your cards and maintain a mix of both consumer and secured borrowing, an increase in your credit could happen within months.

You can send the credit reporting company a letter stating you don't agree with the outcome. The credit reporting company has to clearly note that the information has been disputed and provide your explanation on any future reports. You can also submit a complaint with the Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.

Similarly, if you pay off a credit card debt and close the account entirely, your scores could drop. This is because your total available credit is lowered when you close a line of credit, which could result in a higher credit utilization ratio.

It's a good idea to pay off your credit card balance in full whenever you're able. Carrying a monthly credit card balance can cost you in interest and increase your credit utilization rate, which is one factor used to calculate your credit scores.

It takes up to 30 days for a credit score to update after paying off debt, in most cases. The updated balance must first be reported to the credit bureaus, and most major lenders report on a monthly basis – usually when the account statement is generated.

The Cons of Aggressively Paying Down Debt

Over time, aggressively paying down debt is very difficult to maintain. Debt fatigue can slip in and throw you off course. You begin to hate the new lifestyle choices you must make to become debt-free.

Your credit score may have dropped by 47 points because a late payment was listed on your credit report or you became further delinquent on past-due bills. It's also possible that your credit score fell because your credit card balances increased, causing your credit utilization to rise.

Will you hurt your score if you pay off your entire credit balance in full every month? ›

Carrying a balance on a credit card to improve your credit score has been proven as a myth. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) says that paying off your credit cards in full each month is actually the best way to improve your credit score and maintain excellent credit for the long haul.

Although ranges vary depending on the credit scoring model, generally credit scores from 580 to 669 are considered fair; 670 to 739 are considered good; 740 to 799 are considered very good; and 800 and up are considered excellent.

For a score with a range between 300 and 850, a credit score of 700 or above is generally considered good. A score of 800 or above on the same range is considered to be excellent. Most consumers have credit scores that fall between 600 and 750. In 2022, the average FICO^® Score^☉ in the U.S. reached 714.

If your credit score dropped 100 points or more, it could be due to a late payment, collection account, tax lien or other reasons. While this big drop is alarming and significant, you can recover with time, responsible credit use, on-time payments and by speaking with any creditors or collection agencies.

Only about 1.6% of the 232 million U.S. consumers with a credit score have a perfect 850, according to FICO's most recent statistics.

According to a report by FICO, only 23% of the scorable population has a credit score of 800 or above.

Your credit score may have dropped by 35 points because a late payment was listed on your credit report or you became further delinquent on past-due bills. It's also possible that your credit score fell because your credit card balances increased, causing your credit utilization to rise.

Your credit score may have dropped by 70 points because negative information, like late payments, a collection account, a foreclosure or a repossession, was added to your credit report. Credit scores are based on the contents of your credit report and are adversely impacted by derogatory marks.

Why did my credit score go up 70 points? ›

Common reasons for a score increase include: a reduction in credit card debt, the removal of old negative marks from your credit report and on-time payments being added to your report. The situations that lead to score increases correspond to the factors that determine your credit score.

A score of 661 – 720 is fair. And an excellent score is in the range of 781 – 850. Think of these rankings and ranges as guides, not hard-and-fast rules for what good credit is. Some people want to achieve a score of 850, the highest credit score possible.

TransUnion has one general support number that you can use to talk to a human. This includes help with your credit report (such as to dispute information, freeze your account, or report fraud), your credit score or any general questions. That customer support number is (800) 916-8800.

Think of it as a moving target. It is calculated based on the most recent and up-to-date credit information available. It could change every day because lenders, collection agencies and public records are reporting new data. Even the passage of time could cause your credit score to fluctuate.

Credit scores help lenders decide whether to grant you credit. The average credit score in the United States is 698, based on VantageScore^® data from February 2021. It's a myth that you only have one credit score.

In fact, some individuals' credit scores may increase by as much as 200 points in just 30 days.

Your credit score may have dropped by 33 points because a late payment was listed on your credit report or you became further delinquent on past-due bills. It's also possible that your credit score fell because your credit card balances increased, causing your credit utilization to rise.

Why did my FICO score drop after paying off debt? ›

Paying off debt can lower your credit score when: It changes your credit utilization ratio. It lowers average credit account age. You have fewer kinds of credit accounts.

Here's the short answer: The credit scores and reports you see on Credit Karma come directly from TransUnion and Equifax, two of the three major consumer credit bureaus. The credit scores and reports you see on Credit Karma should accurately reflect your credit information as reported by those bureaus.

Credit scores can drop due to a variety of reasons, including late or missed payments, changes to your credit utilization rate, a change in your credit mix, closing older accounts (which may shorten your length of credit history overall), or applying for new credit accounts.

Pay Your Bills on Time

So paying all of your bills on time each month can go a long way toward boosting your credit scores. It's also a good idea to catch up on any past-due payments. Consider setting up automatic payments or reminders to help you make payments on time.

Your score falls within the range of scores, from 580 to 669, considered Fair. A 600 FICO^® Score is below the average credit score. Some lenders see consumers with scores in the Fair range as having unfavorable credit, and may decline their credit applications.

It's recommended you have a credit score of 620 or higher when you apply for a conventional loan. If your score is below 620, lenders either won't be able to approve your loan or may be required to offer you a higher interest rate, which can result in higher monthly payments.

A zero balance on credit card accounts does not hurt, but it certainly does not help increase a credit score either. Ask first if you really need to borrow as lenders are out to make a profit on the funds they lend you.

It is not bad to have a lot of credit cards with zero balance because positive information will appear on your credit reports each month since all of the accounts are current. Having credit cards with zero balance also results in a low credit utilization ratio, which is good for your credit score, too.

Paying off all your credit cards or installment loans quickly could raise your credit score because this behavior shows lenders that you can handle different types of credit. As long as you are paying these types of debts as quickly as possible, you could see your credit score rise.

Credit utilization — the portion of your credit limits that you are currently using — is a significant factor in credit scores. It is one reason your credit score could drop a little after you pay off debt, particularly if you close the account.

How long does it take for your credit score to go up after paying off credit cards? ›

It usually takes up to 30 days for your credit to improve after paying off a credit card. The exact timing depends on when your billing cycle ends and when the credit card issuer reports the payment to the major credit bureaus. Lenders typically report once a month.

Credit scores can drop due to a variety of reasons, including late or missed payments, changes to your credit utilization rate, a change in your credit mix, closing older accounts (which may shorten your length of credit history overall), or applying for new credit accounts.

Similarly, if you pay off a credit card debt and close the account entirely, your scores could drop. This is because your total available credit is lowered when you close a line of credit, which could result in a higher credit utilization ratio.

A 50 point jump in your score is likely due to errors on your credit being successfully disputed and removed. While you can dispute mistakes yourself, it can be difficult and time-consuming. The fastest (& easiest) way to do it is with help from a credit professional like Credit Glory.

The credit scores and credit reports you see on Credit Karma come directly from TransUnion and Equifax, two of the three major consumer credit bureaus. They should accurately reflect your credit information as reported by those bureaus — but they may not match other reports and scores out there.

For most people, increasing a credit score by 100 points in a month isn't going to happen. But if you pay your bills on time, eliminate your consumer debt, don't run large balances on your cards and maintain a mix of both consumer and secured borrowing, an increase in your credit could happen within months.