this post was submitted on 20 Jul 2025
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[–] CaptDust@sh.itjust.works 50 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Credit scores could end up being 20 or more points lower, according to financial experts

This, uh.. doesn't sound terribly impactful? My score fluctuates +-50 points just from regular credit utilization, idk what throwing 60k in student loans onto the report would do but - 20 points sounds very optimistic.

[–] phdepressed@sh.itjust.works 16 points 2 months ago (1 children)

A 50pt fluctuation is wild, like honestly you should look into why. Getting a mortgage didn't affect my score by 50pts...

The -20 probably assumes you're still making the loan payments.

[–] CaptDust@sh.itjust.works 10 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (4 children)

So I checked my history and you're right, over the last 2 years the wildest swings I've had have been +-20, but I also haven't spent wildly on the cards like I used to, not exceeding 50% utilized in this timeframe.

But I think a mortage being a secured loan probably reduces impact too.

(I'm not a banker or finance person, just someone who's watched their score rollercoaster on apps in my less responsible youth lol)

[–] womjunru@lemmy.cafe 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Are you checking your credit score through your bank? My bank offers that kind of thing but it’s not all that accurate. I see mine go up and down Randomly. I paid off loan early and it dropped about ~~10~~ 26 points. It went back up, and is usually always hovering around the same spot.

Edit: actually went down 26 points during the month I paid off some Loans,holy shit

[–] buffing_lecturer@leminal.space 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It makes sense that your score went down when paying off loans. I have heard that closing accounts, credit lines, and phone plans do the same too. Supposedly because now theres "less history" of your good credit, or maybe just because of lower credit utilization.

[–] womjunru@lemmy.cafe 2 points 2 months ago (2 children)

That’s so ridiculous. Either way, it’s back up again but that drop was kind of a shock.

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[–] IWW4@lemmy.zip 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Not only is a 20 point drop nothing but if everyone’s score drops 20, nothing has changed.

[–] Gradually_Adjusting@lemmy.world 36 points 2 months ago (21 children)

Credit reporting is an evil practise. It needs to end.

[–] Trainguyrom@reddthat.com 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Before credit reporting credit decisions were literally determined based on vibes, which of course means rampant discrimination. While I can think of additional protections and reforms to credit reporting, I'm not sure there is a better option for determining credit risk than a centralized credit reporting mechanism like we have now

[–] Gradually_Adjusting@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I don't have a specific policy proposal for you. Needing a long term loan to have access to transportation or a place to live is already a pretty grim situation, but building a punitive and dystopic privacy nightmare on top of that doesn't really meet my criteria for "unpleasant but necessary facts of life, might as well accept it".

We're miles away from a sane reality, and all I'm doing is pointing that out - we're not going to have a good time whether we decide to accept it and let things get worse or start fighting our way back. It's all a nightmare.

[–] Trainguyrom@reddthat.com 1 points 2 months ago

Needing a long term loan to have access to transportation or a place to live is already a pretty grim situation

Honestly it wouldn't be such a concern if cost of living was better balanced and a much more robust social safety net was in place. For a money-based society heavily regulated credit scores are probably the best solution to the challenges of fair lending.

I'd even hazard to say the current credit system doesn't require significant reform. There's a lot of consumer protections still on the books unlike other systems in the US that badly need reform. There's predatory credit products that need to be regulated out of existence for sure, and some of the scaled back protections need to be put back, and I can think of a few minor improvements, but it's one system that I honestly think is not far off from its ideal form.

[–] QuarterSwede@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago (2 children)

It’s there for good reason. Credit can be used for good or ill. Just remember, anything can and will be gamified. We humans love patterns and puzzles too much.

[–] ag10n@lemmy.world 19 points 2 months ago

Credit scores are barely a 40 year old concept

There is far more corporate and institutional fraud rather than individuals causing problems

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[–] cubism_pitta@lemmy.world 21 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Not the arbitrary made up numbers that some how go down every time I pay off a car loan!!!

[–] return2ozma@lemmy.world 9 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I remember paying off my car loan years ago and it dropping. I'm like.. wait a minute!

[–] cubism_pitta@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago

It's crazy to me. I just focus on my personal debts and pay off timelines and ignore my credit score these days.

Banks were willing to give me mortgages a couple of months ago that I in no way could afford based off my score (it's actually good). None of this is grounded in reality; prior to 2020 those same fucks wouldn't even pick up the phone for me.

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[–] FirstCircle@lemmy.ml 17 points 2 months ago (2 children)

What's all this about buying now and paying later?

Don't do that.

I haven't given a thought to my "credit score" in decades. I hope that means that it's tanked due to the unimaginable, unearthly, inhuman crime of not routinely borrowing money.

[–] QuarterSwede@lemmy.world 9 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Just remember, the rich are rich because they borrow other peoples money. You just need to know how to take advantage of it to work for you.

Build credit by never paying any minimum late > gain credit above 700 (ideally 750+) usually within 2-5 years > get great rates > 0% for X months starts showing up > Use their money to keep credit high, gain rewards/miles, etc.

It really just takes organizing and consistency. It’s not that hard once you’ve built the habit. In fact, my wife and I don’t even put brain power into it anymore. Credit fluctuates between high 700s / lower 800s and we get 0% financing offers constantly. Once you’re a sure bet everyone wants you to finance/get credit with them. This absolutely pays off over time. When someone else is stuck buying a car with a higher APR, I’m getting close to fed rates, same with mortgages.

Is the system perfect? No, but it’s what we all have so you may as well take advantage of its potential benefits.

[–] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago (2 children)

When someone else is stuck buying a car with a higher APR, I’m getting close to fed rates

One of the tactics I picked up in a book on financial management was to start paying myself some kind of money as a monthly payment instead. You do that by...either lucking out and having parents that bought you a car and drive that for as long as possible, or you (like me) buy some total shitbox, either paying off the entire thing at sale or nearly immediately, and keep that on the road for as long as and cheaply as possible, all while making "payments" on my next car. Trust me, that first car especially will not be glamorous.

Then, with the money you paid yourself for whatever time - use that to buy the next car. I haven't had a car loan in years as a consequence of this.

[–] CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Paying for everything in cash isn't always the smart financial decision. Would you rather take a 2% loan on a car and put $30k into the market earning 15% or take that $30k and earn 2% by paying for a car in cash? This isn't true all the time especially right now, but that was the smart move just a few years ago. Think about all the people with 2.5% mortgages right now who didnt wait to buy with our current 6%+ mortgage rates.

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[–] QuarterSwede@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Flipping cars from a shit box to get to high end is certainly one way to help with this. I personally never did that but know those who did.

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[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 13 points 2 months ago (1 children)

My credit score has consistently been around 750 for a long time and it never helped me in any way at all, anyway.

[–] Saik0Shinigami@lemmy.saik0.com 13 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Mine's been consistently 800+ for years... and it has helped me considerably... repeatedly.

[–] RagingRobot@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Has it though? I wonder how the deals you got compared to the person who posted above you? You really wouldn't know. Maybe you got the same deal but you are happy with it and they are not. There is no transparency.

My score never really seemed to make a difference when I financed things. I have had good and bad scores over the years. For me it's usually based on what I am buying and how much I am willing to put down.

[–] Saik0Shinigami@lemmy.saik0.com 4 points 2 months ago

Has it though?

Yes it has... because I've attempted to take loans primarily under my wife who doesn't hold as high a score as I do for a myriad of reasons. Same shared incomes... same shared assets. Only difference is my score is higher as far as they're concerned.

[–] CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 months ago

Generally 750 and above are considered the same, but even if they weren't, it's not about getting a "deal" in terms of a cheap purchase price on a car but rather cheap interest rates along with all the other crap they've tied to it lately like jobs and housing. With loans, you can see what the prime interest rate is for a specific type of loan and you should be getting close to that if you're in the market for one. You're not simply reliant on what some car salesman tells you that you qualify for (in fact this is a good way to get a terrible rate) but you can shop around yourself at banks and CUs to get the best rate for example.

[–] lka1988@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (7 children)

I have one single credit card that I use and pay back regularly. I have no other debt - school loans are paid off, cars are paid off, never late on bills, rent paid on time (they report it to credit bureaus)... I don't even have medical debt.

And yet my credit is mid 600s.

Make it make sense.

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[–] return2ozma@lemmy.world 10 points 2 months ago

“There are 45 million people with student loan debt and 15 million with medical debt. It’s highly likely that there is some overlap there,” said Adam Rust, director of financial services for the Consumer Federation of America. “People are really facing a perfect storm here.”

[–] yarr@feddit.nl 6 points 2 months ago

If everyone's credit score falls, aren't we all set?

Or is every single service in the USA that depends on credit score all going to tank at the same time?

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Joke's on them, my credit score already sucks. I love it when some bill collector threatens to ruin my credit. Good luck, loser.

[–] return2ozma@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

"You have until 5pm today to take a 20% off discount on your settlement payback. If you don't respond it may reduce your credit score." ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[–] Zahille7@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago

Jokes on them cause I don't even have credit.

[–] WanderWisley@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

What do you mean by soon?…mines been nonexistent for years, decades now!

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