About Your Credit (2024)

Learn all about credit and credit scores from the resources below.


Why Your Credit Score Is Important

Your credit habits, which are reported by credit reporting agencies, impact your credit score and ability to get financing, so understanding how that information is reported can provide useful knowledge to help you take care of your finances.


What Is Your Credit Score?

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) describes your credit score as “a number that is used to predict how likely you are to pay back a loan on time.” Most creditors, no matter what you are buying, not only make their decisions based in part on your credit score but, more importantly, may determine the interest rate you are charged based on your credit score. Both the CFPB and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) help consumers to understand credit scoring and how it may affect access to credit and other services. “Usually a higher score makes it easier to qualify for a loan and may result in a better interest rate,” says the CFPB. A person’s credit worthiness is partly influenced by their credit experiences, which are compiled in a credit report.

Credit reports may be checked for accuracy and copies of your reports are available from the national credit reporting agencies. The FTC outlines the options to request them here. For further information about credit scores, visit the CFPB Credit Reports and Scores and FTC Credit Scores website pages. Chrysler Capital and financial institutions use credit score and credit report data, in addition to other sources, to make decisions on extending credit.

Learn About Your FICO

Whether you want to save cash on financing for your existing car or are looking for a low interest rate and APR to buy your next vehicle, checking your credit position and building credit may help you get started.

You can review your credit history in credit reports, compiled by the three major credit-reporting agencies, for free once a year. It will enable you to check for errors and inaccuracies that might harm your credit score.

That’s important because a higher credit score usually makes it easier to qualify for a loan and may result in a better interest rate, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

There are no hard-and-fast rules to building credit, but the CFPB offers these tips: pay your bills on time, every time; don’t get close to your credit limit; a long credit history helps your score; and only apply for the credit you need.

Chrysler Capital uses a FICO score, in addition to other sources, to determine financing for vehicles.

To get a copy of your FICO score, visit http://www.myfico.com/.

“Bad” or “poor” credit generally is considered a FICO score around 600 and below by sources including the Consumer Federation of America and National Credit Reporting Association (reported by the Associated Press), Bankrate.com, Credit.com, Investopedia, NerdWallet.com and others. The Congressional Budget Office identifies a FICO score of 620 as the “cutoff” for prime loans. FICO scores are not the sole factor in lending decisions by Chrysler Capital.

Credit Reporting

We report credit information to all three major credit bureau agencies at the end of each month. This information includes loan or lease amount, account balance, scheduled monthly payment, payment history and status of the account. Once the credit bureau agencies receive the monthly file from Chrysler Capital, they update bureau reporting to reflect your demographic and account information. It can take up to 30 days for the reporting agencies to update a credit report.

The contact information for each credit bureau agency is as follows:

Experian
888-397-3742https://www.experian.com
TransUnion
800-916-8800https://www.transunion.com
Equifax
800-685-1111https://www.equifax.com

You may contact Chrysler Capital by writing a letter describing your dispute. The address for disputes is:

Chrysler Credit Bureau Disputes
PO Box 961212
Fort Worth, TX 76161

Frequently Asked Questions

View answers to frequently asked questions, including ones related to credit, on our Help & Support page.

Help & Support

About Your Credit (2)

About Your Credit (2024)

FAQs

How would you describe your credit? ›

A credit score is based on your credit history, which includes information like the number accounts, total levels of debt, repayment history, and other factors. Lenders use credit scores to evaluate your credit worthiness, or the likelihood that you will repay loans in a timely manner.

How do I find out about my credit? ›

Use a credit score service or free credit scoring site.

You're entitled to a free copy of your credit reports every 12 months from each of the three nationwide credit bureaus by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com. You can also create a myEquifax account to get six free Equifax credit reports each year.

What is meant by your credit? ›

One definition of credit is the ability to borrow money and repay the balance you owe over time. A credit agreement typically includes interest that a person has to pay in exchange for the ability to borrow. Another definition of credit is an assessment of an individual's borrowing history.

How do you explain credit to someone? ›

Credit is the ability of the consumer to acquire goods or services prior to payment with the faith that the payment will be made in the future. In most cases, there is a charge for borrowing, and these come in the form of fees and/or interest.

How do you write a credit explanation? ›

Letters of explanation addressing these issues should include:
  1. An explanation of the negative event.
  2. The date it happened.
  3. The name of the creditor.
  4. Your account number.
  5. Your signature and date (if typed or hand-written)

What best defines credit? ›

Credit is defined as an arrangement that allows you to borrow money now and repay it later, plus interest and fees. Credit also refers to your borrowing history, or how you've handled paying debts in the past.

What is credit in simple words? ›

Credit is a relationship between a borrower and a lender. The borrower borrows money from the lendor. The borrower pays back the money at a later date along with interest. Most people still think of credit as an agreement to buy something or get a service with the promise to pay for it later.

What is an example of credit? ›

There are many different forms of credit. Common examples include car loans, mortgages, personal loans, and lines of credit. Essentially, when the bank or other financial institution makes a loan, it "credits" money to the borrower, who must pay it back at a future date.

What does credit mean in a person? ›

a source of pride or honor: You are a credit to your school. the ascription or acknowledgment of something as due or properly attributable to a person, institution, etc.: He got credit for research actually done by his colleague. It is always best to give credit where credit's due.

What is the meaning of personal credit? ›

Personal credit is what you build by showing trustworthiness when it comes to paying your bills on time and in full, from credit cards to automobile loans to home loans. Doing so increases your credit standing. However, it's important to remember your personal credit should be separate from your business credit.

What does credit tell you? ›

A credit score is a prediction of your credit behavior, such as how likely you are to pay a loan back on time, based on information from your credit reports.

What is credit one word answer? ›

Credit is generally defined as a contractual agreement in which a borrower receives something of value now and agrees to repay the lender at a later date, generally with interest.

How would you describe credit scores? ›

A credit score is a prediction of your credit behavior, such as how likely you are to pay a loan back on time, based on information from your credit reports.

What best describes a credit score? ›

A credit score is a three-digit number, typically between 300 and 850, designed to represent your credit risk, or the likelihood you will pay your bills on time. Creditors and lenders consider your credit scores as one factor when deciding whether to approve you for a new account.

How would you describe credit reports? ›

A credit report is a statement that has information about your credit activity and current credit situation such as loan paying history and the status of your credit accounts. Most people have more than one credit report.

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