Is a 600 credit score good or bad?
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- Is a 600 credit score good or bad?
A 600 credit score is neither good nor bad, only fair
A 600 credit score won't doom your chances at getting services, but it can be improved.
Many things are contingent on credit scores because they indicate the status of your credit health and the measure of risk you present to potential lenders. Credit scores, a numerical summary of your credit report and credit health, range from 300 to 850, and their descriptions range from “very poor” to “excellent.”
The FICO model states that a credit score of 600 is considered to be “fair.” This means that while your creditworthiness isn’t the most impressive, it isn’t the worst either. However, according to the VantageScore model, a 600 credit score is “poor.”
Obviously, these two scoring models have described the same score differently. Due to this discrepancy, it is worth mentioning that the FICO model is the more popular and preferred of the two models.
However, to make better sense of whether a 600 credit score is good or bad, we must examine the effects of the score.
The effects of a 600 credit score
Simply put, a 600 credit score keeps premium credit products out of your reach.
However, some lenders will still extend credit products to you upon application. Lenders who are big on “subprime lending” make no fuss about doing business with consumers with this score. Still, due to the reasonably high risk that you present, they usually charge high rates of interest.
You can also expect unfavorable loan terms and demands for a deposit. At the end of the day, while the benefits that accrue are not amazing, they are usually better than what you’d get if your credit score were lower.
So, it’s safe to say that a 600 credit score is neither good nor bad. Instead, it’s a fair score.
Can a 600 credit score be improved?
Since a 600 credit score is a clear middle ground between a good score and a bad score, there is a chance that it can go either way. You should always be concerned with improving your credit.
Here are some tips on how to bump up your credit score:
- Do not delay or miss payments
- Maintain a good credit utilization ratio (30% maximum)
- Adequately combine your credit
- Maintain the length of your credit history
You should also keep an eye out for factors that can cause your credit scores to fall. Credit report errors and identity theft can sabotage your efforts to improve your credit health.
If your score has fallen due to these issues, reach out to us for help.
Daniel Cohen is the Founder of Consumer Attorneys. Daniel manages the firm’s branding, marketing, client intake and business development efforts. Since 2017, he is a member of the National Association of Consumer Advocates and the National Consumer Law Center. Mr. Cohen is a nationally-recognized practitioner of consumer protection law. He has a we... Read more
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