Credit Score · Guide
Factors affecting your credit score
Bureau scoring models are proprietary, but the five ingredient buckets and their approximate weightings are widely disclosed. Understanding them lets you focus improvement effort where it actually matters.
By FinancePaisa Editorial Team · Research & editorialUpdated · 1 min read
On this page (4 sections)
The five factors
| Factor | Approx weight | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Payment history | ~35% | Never miss an EMI or card due |
| Credit utilisation | ~30% | Keep card usage below 30% of limit |
| Length of credit history | ~15% | Don't close your oldest card |
| Credit mix | ~10% | A blend of secured + unsecured is best |
| New credit enquiries | ~10% | Space out applications; avoid bursts |
Payment history
- Approx weight
- ~35%
- What to do
- Never miss an EMI or card due
Credit utilisation
- Approx weight
- ~30%
- What to do
- Keep card usage below 30% of limit
Length of credit history
- Approx weight
- ~15%
- What to do
- Don't close your oldest card
Credit mix
- Approx weight
- ~10%
- What to do
- A blend of secured + unsecured is best
New credit enquiries
- Approx weight
- ~10%
- What to do
- Space out applications; avoid bursts
Payment history in depth
A single 30+ day late payment can knock 50-80 points off your score. A default (90+ days) can drop the score by 150 points and remain on the report for 7 years even after settlement.
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Credit utilisation in depth
Utilisation is calculated on your statement date, not the due date. So paying the full bill before the statement is generated (rather than just before the due date) can keep reported utilisation low, boosting the score.