by Gary Foreman

If you no longer have a mortgage or car loan, does your credit report and score matter as much as you age? We explore how good and bad credit can affect those 50+ and why reviewing your credit report periodically is important.

Dear Gary,
I am not a financial whiz. Never was and never will be. Therefore, I respect the advice of those who seem to be knowledgeable about financial matters. However, when it comes to knowing what is in your credit report, I have one question. Who cares?

I am 54 years old, have purchased several vehicles and two houses, and can write checks anywhere in the town where I live or the surrounding smaller towns without any hassle. I have never been turned down for credit. In fact, if I sign up for a new credit card for a minimum balance, I can assure you that within three years, my credit limit will have increased considerably. Given the above situation, when a bill collector threatens me (I don’t pay for things just because someone says I owe them money) that they are going to “ruin” my credit, I just laugh at them and say, “Go right ahead” because it doesn’t matter to me.
Betty

Betty is certainly an independent individual! I suspect that most of us admire that. But, if she’s not careful, she could needlessly paint herself into a financial corner.

Your Good Name Around Town Is No Longer Enough

There was a time when having a good reputation in your town was enough to get you credit when needed. And no stranger could destroy a good reputation simply by making a claim against you. But, somewhere along the way, companies began to collect information about borrowers. And they sold that information to potential lenders. It’s progressed to the point that virtually every adult in the U.S. has a credit score.

Understanding FICO Scores and Credit Reporting Agencies

The Fair Isaac Company created the credit score, also known as FICO. Your score will be a number between 300 and 850. A higher number indicates a better credit risk. So higher is better. Most people have scores between 600 and 700. Not surprisingly, lenders want to get their money back. And the best indicator of a borrower’s ability to repay a loan is their credit score. Over 75% of mortgage lenders and 90% of credit card lenders consider your FICO score when determining whether to make a loan and how much interest you should be charged.

Three major companies report credit information: TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. They collect and maintain credit information and resell it to other businesses as a credit report. These companies will track Betty.

A Good Credit Score Is Used for More Than Just Getting More Credit

Now, let’s look at Betty’s situation. It appears that she has had some disagreements over bills and refused to pay them. That, plus the fact that she continues to get credit, tells her that her credit score is unimportant. Is that true?  (Related: 50 Things Anyone Dealing With a Debt Collector Should Know.)

Betty’s credit score affects not only her ability to get credit but also the amount that she pays for it. So, unless she pays her credit card bill in full each month, a low score will affect what she pays. She might want to check the fine print on her original credit card agreement. In some, if your FICO score drops below 600, you’ll be charged the penalty rate on the outstanding balance. Those rates can be as high as 29.99%!

But, the biggest potential hit from a low score comes when you finance a home or auto. MyFico.com is a website subsidiary of Fair, Isaac and Company. They estimate that a 200-point drop in your credit score could add 3.5% to the interest rate on a 30-year mortgage. Over the life of the loan, that works out to over $80,000 in extra payments.

And unfortunately, even if Betty never runs a credit card balance and has her home and auto paid off, she’s still not completely independent of a bad credit score. Auto insurers and potential employers can access your score. A low score can affect whether you get auto insurance or that new job. Even utility companies and potential landlords are using credit scores.

The Importance of Checking Your Credit Report

So, should Betty just give up and pay bills that she doesn’t feel she owes? Nope. But if the disputed bill is entered into her credit report, she needs to contact the credit reporting agencies and have her side of the story entered.

Even if you don’t have disputed bills, it’s a good idea to check your score annually or before you apply for a mortgage or auto loan. Recent studies have shown that 29% of credit files had errors significant enough to cause a 50-point swing in the score.

To check or correct your score:

• Equifax, 800-685-1111, Equifax.com
• Experian, 888-397-3742, Experian.com
• TransUnion, 800-888-4213, Transunion.com

If you report an error, the agency must investigate your claim and respond within 30 days.

Related: Disputing and Correcting Credit Report Errors

Philosophically, I agree with Betty. I dig in my heels when someone threatens me. She doesn’t need to pay a bill that she doesn’t owe. But unless she’s unusually self-sufficient, she probably needs to periodically check her credit score and share her side of the story on any disputed bills.

Related Articles

• The Right Steps To Take To Rebuild Your Credit Score
• Your Emergency Fund In Retirement: A Comprehensive Guide
• Managing Your 401k In Your 50s
• Legal Documents You Need in Your 50s

Reviewed February 2024

About the Author

Gary Foreman is the former owner and editor of the After50Finances.com website and newsletter. He's been featured in MSN Money, Yahoo Finance, Fox Business, The Nightly Business Report, US News Money, Credit.com and CreditCards.com.