Certain factors on a consumer’s credit report are used to calculate their credit score. These factors include payment history, debt levels, age of credit and debt diversity. If student loans are properly maintained, they can actually have a positive impact on your credit score. For those who have yet to establish a credit history or build revolving credit, managing your student loan debt properly can assist with this.
The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009, requires young consumers to prove their financial ability to repay debts, in order to obtain a credit card. Timely payments made on your student loans can also improve the diversity of your credit profile.
As with many other forms of credit, applying for private and certain federal student loans will result in a “hard inquiry” on your credit report. A hard inquiry and a new account may cause your credit score to drop by a few points, but only for a short amount of time. Fortunately, student loan inquiries will be “de-duplicated” on credit reports, allowing multiple inquiries within a small period of time.
Student loans can be an excellent opportunity to strengthen payment history. Making on-time monthly payments during the student loan repayment process can vastly improve your credit score. Alternately, making any late payments or defaulting on the loan will hurt your credit score.
The principle amount owed on student loans has little impact on your credit score. The payment history is where the greatest impact is made. Make sure to take on a manageable debt load and also utilize loan repayment assistance when available. You can also keep track of how your student loans impact your credit by monitoring your credit report. Each year, you are entitled to a free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus.
For borrowers who are struggling with student loan debt, relief options are available. Many student loan borrowers are unaware that they have rights and repayment options available to them, such as postponement of loan payments, reduction of payments or even a complete discharge of the debt. It is important you contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.
Source:
http://www.credit.com/credit-scores/how-student-loans-can-impact-your-credit-score/