In this part we will explore how different countries utilize credit scoring. We will start our analysis with a general description of credit scoring and then we will deal with different country practices starting with United States.

According to an article quoted to Wikipedia, credit score is a numerical expression based on a statistical analysis of a person’s credit files, to represent the creditworthiness of that person. A credit score is primarily based on credit report information typically sourced from credit bureaus.

US Practice
In US, credit scoring is, a number based on a statistical analysis of a person’s past credit history. In theory credit scoring represents the creditworthiness of that person or entity. In other words it is the likelihood that people will pay their bills. Credit scoring is mainly based on some sort of a credit report. That report comes from one of the three major credit bureaus particularly: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. Contrary to common sense, income is not considered by the major credit bureaus when calculating a credit score.

We can talk about different methods of calculating credit scores. The most common of all is FICO, the most widely known type of credit score. It is a credit score developed by FICO, previously known as Fair Isaac Corporation.

Today, this method is used by several mortgage lenders who use a risk-based system to determine the possibility that the borrower may default on financial obligations to the mortgage lender. These bureaus of creditors all have their own credit scoring mechanisms and these are: Equifax’s Experian’s PLUS score, ScorePower, and TransUnion’s credit score. Moreover, each one of them also sells the VantageScore credit score. In addition to that, many of the large lenders, including the major credit card issuers, have developed their own proprietary scoring models. This helps them follow and suit a model which suits their interests most.

To give the issue a sense of an academic taste, we can refer to Loretta J. Mester who is a vice president and economist in the Research Department of the Philadelphia Fed. She is also the head of the department’s Banking and Financial Markets section. In her article which is named as “What’s the Point of Credit Scoring?” Loretta J. Mester introduces credit scoring in a funny way as following:
“When one banker asks another “What’s the score?” shareholders needn’t worry that these bankers are wasting time discussing the ball game. More likely they’re doing their jobs and discussing the credit score of one of their loan applicants. Credit scoring is a statistical method used to predict the probability that a loan applicant or existing borrower will default or become delinquent. The method, introduced in the 1950s, is now widely used for consumer lending, especially credit cards, and is becoming more commonly used in mortgage lending.”

She also gives a strict definition of credit scoring:
“Credit scoring is a method of evaluating the credit risk of loan applications. Using historical data and statistical techniques, credit scoring tries to isolate the effects of various applicant characteristics on delinquencies and defaults. The method produces a “score” that a bank can use to rank its loan applicants or borrowers in terms of risk. To build a scoring model, or “scorecard,” developers analyze historical data on the performance of previously made loans to determine which borrower characteristics are useful in predicting whether the loan performed well. A well-designed model should give a higher percentage of high scores to borrowers whose loans will perform well and a higher percentage of low scores to borrowers whose loans won’t perform well. But no model is perfect, and some bad accounts will receive higher scores than some good accounts”

Credit scoring is a procedure where an institution or an individual is evaluated based on its past payment patterns. In today’s highly globalized environment credit scoring is getting important day by day. It is important firstly, because it reduces the time and energy spent when evaluating a customer to give credit or enter into a transaction. The counterparty which is mostly the creditor or banks, checks the credit worthiness of its applicant just by entering simple identity numbers such as a social security number (SSN). This might well be the Tax ID or Citizenship ID depending on the country the method is employed.

One other reason why such procedures are important is that it increases the efficiency of the system in the sense that the creditor is ensured and on the safe side. This also reduced the bad loan ratio of the creditor company and builds trust among the other institutions of the country thereby helps reduce the interest rates as a whole.

One other advantage is to the end user. Nowadays in many countries, consumers or people seeking loans can easily get their answer simply by sending their SSN (Social Security Numbers) or Citizenship IDs as a Text Message to the numbers designated by banks or credit institutions. Getting their answers as positive or negative, consumers then decide on other options. Credit scoring procedures has advantages, since this method provides consumers the means to compare different quotes given by  different institutions.

How do credit bureaus compute ones credit scores?
A lot of credit reporting bureaus or agencies gathers information on the subject of the debtors credit history or files from reliable private and public sources. They also collect data from the creditors who extended the loan to the debtor.

Accordingly, the information is clustered into five sets or categories with the corresponding percentages which reflect the importance of each category in the final computation of scores, namely: (1) Owed Amount 30%, (2) History of Payments 30%, (3) Duration of Credit Record 15%, (4) Nature or Kinds of Credit Currently in Use 10%, and lastly (5) Latest Credit Inquiries 10%.

Generally, these credit bureaus calculate the debtors credit score using a three figure number which range from 300 up to 850. The higher the credit score, the better chance of acquiring low interest rates for the loan being applied for and a better opening for wealth accumulation.

The industry of credit-scoring has been generating different opinions and wide-spread reactions to the public. The consumers fear that credit-based rating or scoring will pose a negative impact or unjust rating to them and will affect their economic standing and other financial transactions.

Some credit bureaus justify their purpose of gathering information and making credit rating or scoring. For them, their work is to help lending businesses formulate efficient economic decisions.

Others create a distinction between the credit-based scores of insurance companies which predicts the loss of propensity and the credit scores which is simply to predict the worthiness of a certain person to pay.

A distinctive company should develop its own credit-base rating or scoring algorithm to serve better the consumers. Here are some of the strategies adopted in credit scoring:

1. Forming a Credit Assistance Group/Team they are the quick response group that will assist consumers calling through toll-free numbers. The public would certainly like to know the effect of credit records to their application of loans, mortgage, employment and/or insurance transactions.

Also included to the teams responsibility is the making of reports on the personal credit insurance of the consumers. This report will show the consumers variable score and the comparison with the aggregate scores

In addition, the team will consider previous credit records and the possible effect of extraordinary events which resulted to low scoring.

They will help the consumers by directing or referring them to the right people who will be of much help to them in taking good care of their credit problems. They will also help in correcting errors in the credit records of the concerned consumer.

2. Revising a New Method in Credit Scoring- this simplified method uses nine variables instead of the usual sixteen. Their algorithm will compute the credit scores by designating or assigning 100 as a foundation score. From these base score, they either add or minus making the range of score from 50 up to 250. The lower the score, the more desirable it is as credit scores.

3. For those consumers with no credit records or whose credit histories are lacking, they will create a program which will specifically cater to these groups of creditors to somehow uplift their credit ratings.

With the continued research and study on the needs of the consumers, these credit scoring bureaus will truly make a difference to the lending and/or insurance world.

The good thing about the twentieth century is the vast advancement in technology specifically with the use of computers. At this time and age, people don’t have to worry about almost anything.

One can shop, do business, learn and enjoy the world, communicate with family and friends even at the opposite side of the globe, and make new acquaintances using the computer.

There is no need to leave the comforts of one’s home, no need to tire and outdo oneself in borrowing references, and definitely no need to wait for long periods of time for letters and business correspondence to arrive, like knowing your recent credit score in the market.

Consumers can now just access the internet and get the latest updates on their credit reports for no fees and less effort. And a lot more can be obtained by being online.

Other related articles on credit can also be downloaded and looked into via the internet. Some of which are the following: Credit Reporting Bureaus, Guide on Credit Scoring, Credit Profiles, Inquiries on Credit Ratings, Tips on How to Improve One’s Credit Score, and so on.

Through online surfing, the consumer can also be given email alerts on any alteration to his or her credit score. Their credit reports and scoring can be monitored daily by just being online everyday.

The consumer can also avail the unlimited services offered by all leading credit reporting bureaus though online. All credit reporting bureaus have their own web sites for consumers to easily locate them.

However, consumers must also be alert and check those credit reporting agencies that offer free credit reports via online. Considerations must be made before availing the services being offered by these online credit reporting agencies.

Many online credit reporting agencies who offer free credit reports and credit scores turn out to be just scams. They might put on the market your home and email address that in turn will send your home junk mails or might hack into your personal profiles online.

Others might offer you programs like free trials and after which will require you to pay for not remembering the cancellation of the program.

Consumers can look for legitimate online credit reporting bureaus which offer their services for a small fee.

They must really do a careful background checking on a target credit reporting agency so as not be lured into a hoax.

When online, consumers can readily get in touch with the concerned credit reporting agencies to make appropriate corrections on their credit score and credit reports to make sure that the creditors and lending agencies are viewing the latest payment history and most accurate personal information in your credit profile

Most lending agencies go online if they want to keep abreast with their client’s credit profiles. In this manner, they can also save their resources for much bigger and important financial transactions.

Consumers who are not in a hurry to get their credit scores might just consider ordering it via the usual mail. It might take quite a long period of time, but consumers are assured that their personal records like credit reports and credit history are kept very private.

And to erase the worry of low credit scores and to avoid getting into trouble with your creditors and lending agencies, settle all your accounts on time.