Credit score

Training 435 minutescredit score

You are 29, work in logistics and plan to apply for a mortgage next year. The bank looks at more than your salary: it checks your credit history. Every move now shapes your future rate.

Training goal: Get your record clean before you apply

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Situation

1. You have never looked at your credit report. With little debt, all must be fine?

Request the report and check every line
Skip it, the bank will figure it out
Pay a "fix your credit in 3 days" service

2. The report shows an old card with $40 owed, 60 days late. It slipped your mind after moving.

Leave it, the amount is tiny
Pay it today and update contact details
Close the card without paying

3. Your card limit is $2,000. You spend $1,800 a month on it and pay it off in full.

Change nothing, it is paid in full
Open two more cards for extra limit
Pay before the statement date, keep use under 30%

4. Six months before the mortgage. A friend suggests taking a couple of loans to "show activity".

Open nothing new, pay everything on time
Take two small loans and repay fast
Apply to five banks at once

What you will learn

Your credit record shows how you pay. It decides approval and the rate you get.
What matters most: on-time payments and using under 30% of your limits.
Check your report at least once a year. Rules and bureaus differ by country.

Your real-life step

Find out which credit bureau covers your country and request your report this week.

Questions and answers

What is a credit score?

A number built from your record of loans and payments. Lenders use it to judge risk and set your rate.

What hurts a credit score the most?

Late payments, debts in collections, high card utilization and many applications in a short time.

How long do late payments stay on a credit report?

Usually several years, the exact period depends on your country. Its weight fades as new payments arrive on time.

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Numbers are illustrative. A game, not financial advice.