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Staying Connected When Legal Rights Fall Short page 1
Disco at 35,000 Feet
Should You Move Out Before Your Divorce Is Final? page 2
Your Comeback Starts Here
Extra-Crispy Ranch Chicken Cutlets page 3
Credit Checks Beyond the Score page 4
MORE THAN JUST A CREDIT SCORE ALL THE THINGS LENDERS REALLY CHECK
When you apply for a loan or credit card, it’s easy to assume your credit report tells the whole story. But honestly, that’s only one piece of the puzzle. Behind the scenes, lenders are looking at other details, and those can matter just as much, if not more. Here’s something that catches people off guard: The credit score you see might not be the one your lender uses. Different lenders pull reports from different credit bureaus, and many rely on customized scoring models made for their industry. That means the “good” score you see on a free app might not match the lender’s number. Lenders also look at how steady your income is and how much debt you carry compared to what you earn. You could have a perfect payment history but raise red flags if your debt-to-income ratio is too high. And the kind of credit you’re applying for
makes a difference, too. For instance, a mortgage or auto loan gets more scrutiny than a store credit card.
Other behind-the-scenes factors also matter. Some lenders track how often you apply for new credit. If it looks like you’ve been applying everywhere, that can make them nervous. A few lenders even use internal data based on your history with them, and those things never show up in your credit report. It’s not always obvious how much weight these things carry, but they help explain why someone with a solid score might still be denied. Your credit report matters. But so do your habits, your consistency, and the bigger story your finances tell. If you’re considering borrowing, it’s worth looking at the whole picture. Clean up your credit, yes — but also take stock of your income, budget, and how you manage what you already have.
4 • BrucePA.com
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