How to Achieve an Excellent Credit Score

A credit rating of 900 is not possible or not very relevant. The number you should focus on is 800. In the standard 300-850 range used by FICO and VantageScore, a credit rating of more than 800 is considered “perfect.” This means that higher scores won't save you money. In Canada, your credit rating ranges from 300 to 900, with 900 being a perfect score.

If your score is between 780 and 900, that's excellent. A score between 700 and 780 is considered a solid score and you shouldn't have too much trouble getting approved at a good rate. When you start hitting 625 or lower, your score is dropping and you'll find it increasingly difficult to qualify for a loan. FICO creates industry-specific credit rating models tailored to certain credit products, such as credit cards, car loans, and mortgage loans. Higher credit limits also allow you to maintain a large separation between your balance and what is available, which is your credit ratio.

Other services, such as credit repair, can cost you up to thousands and only help eliminate inaccuracies in your credit report. Both proudly displayed computer screenshots demonstrating that they had reached the top of the credit rating. If you're worried about taking on more debt or if you know you're struggling to pay your credit cards and you're worried that a higher credit limit may be more harmful than beneficial, these are valuable signs to look out for. One of the easiest ways to improve your credit score or increase it from scratch is to make consistent and regular payments on time over time. Of the five basic credit rating factors, making payments on time and keeping your credit utilization rate low tends to be the most important thing in determining your ratings.

Fair Isaac is not a credit repair organization as defined in federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. Ulezheimer says you don't need a FICO score of 850 to get the best interest rates or APR on credit cards and loans. One of the first things insurance providers look at during the approval process is the credit ratings of applicants. When you have a strong credit score, your interest rates will be lower when you apply for personal loans, credit cards, mortgages, and car loans. But Ulezheimer says obsessing over how close your FICO credit score is to 850 isn't necessarily worth it. There's no such thing as a perfect credit score, but you can always work to improve your credit and make it as high as possible.

Your credit score is often the first thing landlords look at when reviewing rental applications. You can use this personalized information to help focus your efforts as you work toward a better credit score. Unlike Ulezheimer, Stevens says accumulating a perfect FICO credit score of 850 has been his goal for a few decades. Improving your credit score requires dedication and consistency. You should start by checking your current score so that you know where you stand.

Then create a plan for how you can improve it over time by making timely payments and keeping your debt-to-credit ratio low. You should also consider using services like Experian Boost or Credit Karma to help boost your score quickly. Finally, make sure that all of the information on your report is accurate so that there are no errors dragging down your score. Achieving an excellent credit score takes time and effort but it's worth it in the long run. With an excellent score, you'll be able to get better interest rates on loans and other financial products which can save you money in the long run.

Jeffery Sheinbein
Jeffery Sheinbein

Hipster-friendly food specialist. Certified pop culture geek. Certified music aficionado.