Typically, only people over the age of 18 have a credit score — but it is possible for minors to have a credit report. A person under 18 can have a credit report if: Their identity was stolen and used to open one or more credit accounts. A credit agency erroneously created a credit profile in the minor's name.
To start building credit at 17, you would need to be listed on a credit-related account like a credit card or loan. Contrary to popular misconceptions, you can't build credit with a regular bank account like a checking account, savings account, debit card, or just getting a job. It takes credit to build credit.
Credit scores using the FICO® scoring model typically have a range of 300 to 850. For students—or anyone—a score of 700 or above is generally considered a good score. Your credit scores will depend on your credit history and how you've managed past debt.
The base credit scores of the most popular credit-reporting models start at 300. Starting with a score of around 300 is possible only if you've managed your finances poorly. You may start to build a credit history or improve your score without using any type of credit.
Yes, adding children as authorized users can help their credit scores. It's up to the primary cardholder to maintain a healthy credit score so the authorized users can reap the benefits.
Kids can't open their own credit card account until they turn 18, and will need to prove independent income until they're 21. But even before then, minors can benefit from becoming authorized users on a family member's credit account.
Unfortunately, a debit card typically will not help you build your credit. Despite similar looks, it can help to think of debit cards more like cash than like credit cards. And because debit card activity isn't traditionally reported to credit bureaus, it likely won't help with your credit scores.
The short answer is that 18 is the minimum age for financial products such as loans and credit cards. But anyone can potentially start building credit before 18 if they're an authorized user on an account.
You can begin building your child's credit whenever you want to by making him or her an authorized user on your credit card. Usually, you have to be at least 18 and have an income to take on a credit card or loan, which are the conventional ways that people start building credit.
And a good place to start is by opening a credit card at 18, so you can start building credit at an early age and developing good money habits. Below, we review why it's important to get a credit card at 18 and what you can do to protect your credit score as a new cardholder.
Minors under the age of 18 cannot open their own credit cards by law (or get approved for other forms of credit), so adding children as authorized users is a simple workaround many parents use to give their kids access to the convenience and benefits of a credit card.
Getting a student credit card now (and using it wisely) can help you build your credit score so that it's in good shape by the time you graduate. That's because you'll be adding positive information (e.g., on-time payments) to your credit report, which can increase your credit score.
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You can get a credit card at 17 as an authorized user, but you have to be at least 18 years old to open a credit card account in your own name. And when you turn 18, you'll need to show that you have your own independent income to qualify.
Children 13 and older can check their credit the same way adults do. By visiting AnnualCreditReport.com – the only website federally authorized to provide credit reports from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion for free – your child can enter his or her personal information to receive a copy of each report.
It will take about six months of credit activity to establish enough history for a FICO credit score, which is used in 90% of lending decisions. 1 FICO credit scores range from 300 to 850, and a score of over 700 is considered a good credit score. Scores over 800 are considered excellent.
Your score falls within the range of scores, from 670 to 739, which are considered Good. The average U.S. FICO® Score, 711, falls within the Good range.
FICO® score ranges vary — they can range from 300 to 850 or 250 to 900, depending on the scoring model — but higher scores can indicate that you may be less risky to lenders.
Just getting your credit score over 800, officially an excellent credit score, gives you the same advantages and benefits that come with a perfect credit score. Experian reports that 21 percent of all consumers have achieved excellent credit, compared to just 1.6 percent with a perfect 850 credit score.
Does paying rent build credit? Simply paying your rent will not help you build credit. But reporting your rent payments can help you build credit — especially if you are new to credit or do not have a lot of experience using it. Having rental payment information in your credit report can be useful if you rent again.