How to Calculate Credit History

A credit report is made up of four parts: identifying information, credit history, public records and inquiries. Together, these four parts determine your overall credit rating, which lenders and creditors evaluate when deciding whether or not to offer you a loan or revolving line of credit. Your credit rating is the best snapshot of your credit history. When calculating your credit history, consider your complete credit file.

Instructions

1

Request your free annual credit report through the Annual Credit Report's website. Complete a short questionnaire with your full name, Social Security number and date of birth. Print one free credit report from all three of the credit reporting bureaus, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Your credit score is not included, and must be purchased directly from the credit reporting bureaus for a nominal fee.

2

Familiarize yourself with the percentages credit rating bureaus give to different aspects of a credit rating. Weight your payment history the highest at 35 percent, followed by your debts, at 30 percent. Weight your credit history at 15 percent. Weight the types of credit loans you currently use, and the rate at which you open new credit lines equally, at 10 percent each.

3

Interpret your credit score, which is a numerical representation of your credit history. Your three-digit credit score can range from 300 to 850, with 850 being the most positive and 300 being the least positive.

4

Gauge your rate of delinquency. Put your rate of delinquency at 87 percent if your credit score is between 300 and 499. Put your rate of delinquency at 71 percent if your credit score is between 500 and 549.

5

Place your rate of delinquency at 51 percent if your credit score is between 550 and 599. Place your rate of delinquency at 31 percent if your credit score is between 600 and 649.

6

Mark scores between 650 and 699 with a 15 percent delinquency rate. Mark scores between 700 and 749, 749 and 799, and 800 and 850 with a delinquency rate of five, three and one percent, respectively.