by: Peter Kenny
There are a number of factors that will effect the credit card rates you will be offered by credit card providers. Credit card providers never offer the same credit card interest rate to all of their customers, but using complex calculations of risk assessment and credit worthiness, they set a number of different rate bands, and then place each applicant for credit in the appropriate rate band depending on the factors they used. The main method they use to assess the rate they wish to place you at is your credit score. This is a rating calculated by credit reference companies and is based on factors such as:
-Your Income
-The length of time youve held your job
-The length of time youve lived at your present address
-The value of your home
-Whether you own or rent your home
-The amount you currently owe
-Whether or not you pay your bills on time and in full.
There are othe
r factors too that will be taken into account. These will all be added up to paint an overall picture of you and your financial habits and health. If this score is then deemed to be good, you will fall into one of the lenders low risk bands and will be offered credit on favourable terms and with lower rates of interest. If your score is low you will be offered a less favourable credit card rate or may be denied credit completely. Therefore it is important that you try to maintain a healthy credit rating if you wish to be offered the best credit card rates possible.
Every time you apply for credit your credit score will be used in this way, so it is a good idea to check your report and make sure it is accurate and that there are no mistakes on it that could make it more difficult for you to receive credit on favourable terms and at good rates. If you wish to view your report, you can contact the reporting company and they will send you a free copy of the report. You can receive one free copy of your report from each reporting company per year. This should be enough as it is unwise to request your credit report too often. This is because every time someone views your report, this is recorded and too many views may indicate to lenders that you are desperately seeking credit from a variety of sources.
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