Why Did My Credit Score Drop 40 Points?

Jack Prenter, Founder of Dollarwise

Discovering a 40-point dip in your credit score can be unsettling. Your credit score is a crucial measure used by lenders to understand your creditworthiness, and changes in this score can have significant implications for your borrowing ability.

A drop of this magnitude typically indicates that a substantial change has occurred in your credit report.

It's important to realize that credit scores fluctuate based on several factors including your payment history, credit utilization, and the types of credit you hold.

Recognizing the causes behind a score decrease is essential for taking proactive steps to manage and potentially improve your credit standing. By pinpointing what's behind the drop, you can address the issue directly and map out an effective strategy for credit recovery.

Key takeaways

• Examining your credit report can clarify the reasons behind a sudden score decrease.





• Maintaining timely payments and managing debt ratios are essential for a healthy credit score.





• Regularly monitoring your credit can help identify errors or fraudulent activities that impact your score.

Understanding credit scores

Your credit score is a crucial number that lenders use to evaluate your financial health. It can fluctuate based on your financial actions, and understanding the factors that affect it can help you improve it or maintain a good score.

Factors affecting credit scores

1. Payment History: This is the record of how punctually you pay your bills and is the most significant factor in your credit score. Even a single late payment can cause a notable drop in your score.





2. Credit Utilization Ratio: This is how much of your available credit you're using. It's recommended to keep this ratio under 30% to avoid negatively impacting your score.





3. Length of Credit History: The longer your credit history, the better it is for your score. It shows that you have experience managing credit.





4. Credit Mix: Having a variety of credit types, such as a mortgage, car loan, and credit cards, can reflect positively on your creditworthiness.





5. New Credit: Frequently opening new credit accounts can suggest financial instability, causing your score to dip temporarily.

Credit bureaus and credit reports in canada

• Equifax





• TransUnion





• Experian

These bureaus compile your credit reports, which are summaries of your credit history, including accounts and payment records. It's crucial to check your credit report regularly for errors that could harm your score.

Remember, you're entitled to one free credit report from each bureau per year. Keeping an eye on your credit report and understanding your score's components are key to managing your financial health.

Common reasons for a credit score drop

Your credit score is a crucial part of your financial identity, and understanding why it might drop is important. A sudden decrease by as many as 40 points can be concerning, but here are common reasons why this might happen.

High credit utilization

If you're using a lot of your available credit, this can significantly impact your score. Your credit utilization ratio—which is your credit card balances divided by your credit limit—should ideally be below 30%. Going over this percentage tells lenders you might be a higher-risk borrower.

Late or missed payments

Your payment history is the most important factor for your credit score. Even one late payment can harm your score. Banks and lenders report late payments typically after they’re 30 days past due, and this negative information can stay on your report for up to seven years.

Derogatory credit entries

Events like bankruptcy, foreclosure, or collections can cause serious damage to your credit score. These are considered derogatory entries and can remain in your credit history for several years, indicating to lenders that you’ve had significant trouble repaying debts.

Impact of inquiries and new credit

Every time you apply for new credit, a hard inquiry is recorded on your credit report. If you're doing this frequently, it can seem like you're in financial distress, which worries lenders. Also, opening several new credit accounts in a short period can lower your score, as this behaviour is often associated with increased financial risk.

Errors and disputes

When monitoring your credit score, identifying any errors on your credit report is essential. Errors can have a significant impact, and it's up to you to challenge any incorrect information you find.

Identifying errors on your credit report

It's possible that your credit score dropped because of errors on your credit report. You should regularly check your reports from the major credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

Mistakes can occur, ranging from simple input errors to signs of identity theft. Be on the lookout for accounts that you don't recognize, which could mean you've been a victim of identity fraud.

• Check for accuracy: Make sure your name, address, and accounts are correct.





• Spot identity theft: Are there any accounts or transactions you didn't authorize?





• Look for fraudulent activity: Keep an eye out for any unknown or suspicious entries.

Steps to resolve errors

If you do find a mistake, you'll need to take immediate steps to solve it.

1. Write a dispute letter: Send a letter to the credit bureau that filed the error. Clearly spell out each mistake and why it's wrong.





2. Gather evidence: Provide copies of documents that support your position.





3. File a fraud alert: If you suspect identity theft, add a fraud alert to your credit profile and contact identitytheft.gov.





4. Submit your dispute online or by mail: Most bureaus offer both options.





5. Follow up: Credit bureaus usually review disputes within 30 days.





6. Check with the creditor: Reach out to any creditor listed alongside the inaccurate information to ensure they correct their records too.

By tackling errors on your credit report proactively, you can help protect your credit score and ensure it reflects a true picture of your financial history.

Improving your credit score

Knowing how to improve your credit score is important for better interest rates and getting approved for various credit products. Here's how you can manage your credit effectively and strategies to rebuild if your score has dropped.

Effective credit management

To maintain a good credit score, you need to keep a few key practices in mind. Always pay your bills on time; even one missed payment can hurt your creditworthiness.

Credit utilization rate—the amount of credit you're using compared to your limit—should ideally be below 30%. So if your credit card has a $10,000 limit, try to keep your balance under $3,000.

If you have a student loan or an auto loan, make sure you are on top of those payments too, as they also affect your score. Avoid applying for new credit products too often; each application can result in a hard inquiry that may lower your score.

Strategies to Rebuild Credit

To rebuild your credit, start with getting a copy of your credit report to understand where the issues are. If you’re dealing with collections, work with the collection agency to settle any outstanding debts or negotiate a payment plan. Sometimes, setting up automatic payments can help you avoid delinquency and ensure bills are paid on time.

Consider getting a secured credit card, which is backed by a deposit and has a limit typically equal to that deposit.

This can show lenders that you can handle credit responsibly if you're recovering from chapters 7 or 13 bankruptcy, or if you lack income history. Keep the balance low and pay it off each month to gradually improve your credit score.

Using a variety of credit products responsibly, over time, can positively impact your score. Just be cautious with rate shopping; when looking for the best interest rates on a loan, try to do it within a short window of time, as multiple hits to your credit in a short period can be treated as a single inquiry.

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