What is the single worst thing you can do to your credit score?

Asked by: Mrs. Yoshiko Herzog  |  Last update: January 31, 2026
Score: 4.2/5 (1 votes)

Making a late payment Even one late payment on a credit card account or loan can result in a credit score decrease, depending on the scoring model used. In addition, late payments remain on your Equifax credit report for seven years. It's always best to pay your bills on time, every time.

What is the single biggest factor affecting your credit score?

1. Payment History: 35% Your payment history carries the most weight in factors that affect your credit score, because it reveals whether you have a history of repaying funds that are loaned to you.

What are 5 reports that can ruin your credit score?

7 Behaviors That Hurt Your Credit Score
  • 1) Making Late Payments. ...
  • 2) Ignoring Collection Activity. ...
  • 3) Maxing Out Credit Lines. ...
  • 4) Skipping an Annual Credit Report Review. ...
  • 5) Closing Credit Accounts. ...
  • 6) Relying on a Single Major Credit Card to Build Your Credit. ...
  • 7) Opening Multiple New Accounts.

What can negatively impact your credit score?

Late or missed payments hurt your score. Amounts Owed or Credit Utilization reveals how deeply in debt you are and contributes to determining if you can handle what you owe. If you have high outstanding balances or are nearly "maxed out" on your credit cards, your credit score will be negatively affected.

What would drop a credit score the most?

Payment history has the biggest impact on your score, followed by the amounts owed on your debt accounts and the length of your credit history. There are other elements, too, that could affect your credit scores, such as inaccurate information on your credit report.

The Worst Thing You Can Do For Your Credit | Kristen's Cash Tips | NowThis

16 related questions found

What is the biggest killer of credit scores?

Making a late payment

Your payment history on loan and credit accounts can play a prominent role in calculating credit scores. Even one late payment on a credit card account or loan can result in a credit score decrease, depending on the scoring model used.

Why did my credit score drop 40 points after paying off debt?

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.

What is the number one credit killing mistake?

Not Paying Bills on Time

Your payment history is the most influential factor in your FICO® Score, which means that missing even one payment by 30 days or more could wreak havoc on your credit.

What habit lowers your credit score?

Late or missed payments can cause your credit score to decline. The impact can vary depending on your credit score — the higher your score, the more likely you are to see a steep drop.

Does cash now affect credit score?

Utilizing cash now pay later schemes can enhance your credit limits as consistent usage and timely payments can positively affect your credit score, indicating your strong creditworthiness.

What is the lowest possible credit score a person can have?

Generally, credit scores range from 300 to 850, making 300 the lowest possible credit score. But it's important to note that you typically have more than one credit score.

What's the most income you should use on monthly credit card payments?

Generally, you never want your minimum credit card payments to exceed 10 percent of your net income. Net income is the income you take home after taxes and other deductions. You use the net income for this ratio because that's the income you must spend on bills and other expenses.

What are the 5 cs of credit?

The 5 Cs are Character, Capacity, Capital, Collateral, and Conditions. The 5 Cs are factored into most lenders' risk rating and pricing models to support effective loan structures and mitigate credit risk.

What has the largest impact on your credit score?

Payment history is the most important factor in maintaining a higher credit score as it accounts for 35% of your FICO Score. FICO considers your payment history as the leading predictor of whether you'll pay future debt on time.

What are the four C's of credit?

Character, capital, capacity, and collateral – purpose isn't tied entirely to any one of the four Cs of credit worthiness. If your business is lacking in one of the Cs, it doesn't mean it has a weak purpose, and vice versa.

What are 5 things you could do to hurt or even destroy your credit?

Here are 10 things you may not have known could hurt your credit score:
  • Just one late payment. ...
  • Not paying ALL of your bills on time. ...
  • Applying for more credit. ...
  • Canceling your zero-balance credit cards. ...
  • Transferring balances to a single card. ...
  • Co-signing credit applications. ...
  • Not having enough credit diversity.

What are two mistakes that can reduce your credit score?

Credit Mistakes That May Be Costing You Money
  • Making late payments.
  • Making only the minimum credit card payment each month.
  • Maxing out your credit card.
  • Misunderstanding introductory credit card interest rates.
  • Not reviewing your credit card and bank statements in full each month.
  • Closing a paid-off credit card account.

What brings up your credit score the most?

If you want to improve your score, there are some things you can do, including:
  • Paying your loans on time.
  • Not getting too close to your credit limit.
  • Having a long credit history.
  • Making sure your credit report doesn't have errors.

What move can lower your credit score?

Not paying your bills on time or using most of your available credit are things that can lower your credit score.

What is the poorest credit score?

VantageScore credit scores
  • Very Poor: 300-499.
  • Poor: 500-600.
  • Fair: 601-660.
  • Good: 661-780.
  • Excellent: 781-850.

What is one of the largest hits that drops a credit score?

Missed Payments: Late or missed payments hurt your score the most. High Credit Use: Using over 30% of your credit limit can lower your score. Short Credit History: The longer you manage credit, the better. Frequent New Applications: Applying for too many credit accounts quickly can be harmful.

Should I pay off my credit card in full or leave a small balance?

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.

Why is my credit score going down if I pay everything on time?

Using more of your credit card balance than usual — even if you pay on time — can reduce your score until a new, lower balance is reported the following month. Closed accounts and lower credit limits can also result in lower scores even if your payment behavior has not changed.

Is 650 a good credit score?

A FICO® Score of 650 places you within a population of consumers whose credit may be seen as Fair. Your 650 FICO® Score is lower than the average U.S. credit score. Statistically speaking, 28% of consumers with credit scores in the Fair range are likely to become seriously delinquent in the future.