Why Did My Credit Score Drop 80 Points? (2024)

FAQs

Why Did My Credit Score Drop 80 Points? ›

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.

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.

For your credit score to drop 100 points at once, you're most likely talking about being 90 days late or more on a loan or credit card payment you're on the hook for. Believe it or not, a single late payment could cause damage in that ballpark, especially if your credit score is higher to begin with.

It's possible that you could see your credit scores drop after fulfilling your payment obligations on a loan or credit card debt. Paying off debt might lower your credit scores if removing the debt affects certain factors like your credit mix, the length of your credit history or your credit utilization ratio.

One of the biggest reasons for a credit score drop is a missed or late payment. If you have perfect credit and hit a financial roadblock, a 30-day late payment can drop your credit score by up to 100 points. Typically, creditors won't report a late payment until it's at least 30 days late.

Your credit score may have dropped by 75 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.

As someone with a 650 credit score, you are firmly in the “fair” territory of credit. You can usually qualify for financial products like a mortgage or car loan, but you will likely pay higher interest rates than someone with a better credit score. The "good" credit range starts at 690.

If you identify an error on your credit report, you should start by disputing that information with the credit reporting company (Experian, Equifax, and/or Transunion). You should explain in writing what you think is wrong, why, and include copies of documents that support your dispute.

Why did my credit score drop 70 points? ›

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.

Things like new credit applications and missed payments may impact your credit score. You may be able to improve your credit score in a number of ways, including making sure you're on the electoral register, managing accounts well and limiting new credit applications.

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 depends on your starting point. Generally, significant improvement can happen within a few months with dedicated effort (like paying down debt). Reaching 700 itself might take longer (12-24 months), depending on your credit history. Consistency is key!

In fact, some consumers may even see their credit scores rise as much as 100 points in 30 days. Steps you can take to raise your credit score quickly include: Lower your credit utilization rate. Ask for late payment forgiveness.

The most likely reasons are: your balances increased, you recently closed accounts, you applied for new lines of credit, or there is inaccurate or fraudulent information on your account. If your credit score dropped by 40 points, this is likely due to late payments that continue to compound on past-due bills.

Closing accounts

If you've held an account for a long time, closing it will reduce the average age of your credit accounts. It may also change your credit utilisation ratio and the mix of credit types you use and manage on a regular basis. All of this could result in a lowering of your credit score.

If your credit score drops before your loan is finalized, you could end up with a higher borrowing rate or even lose your new mortgage altogether.

According to FICO data, a 30-day missed payment can drop a fair credit score anywhere from 17 to 37 points and a very good or excellent credit score to drop 63 to 83 points. But a longer, 90-day missed payment drops the same fair score 27 to 47 points and drops the excellent score as much as 113 to 133 points.