Understanding your credit report

The credit score report in Quicken Classic for Windows starts with your overall credit score and a rating, such as Excellent, Good, or Fair. This score is based on your credit history and provides a quick snapshot of your credit health.

The report is divided into six key areas. Reviewing each section helps you understand the factors that influence your score and shows where you may need to take action.

Credit usage

This shows how much of your available credit you are using. Lower usage is better. Try to keep your credit use below 30% of your total limit.

Payment history

This section shows whether you’ve made your payments on time. Late or missed payments can hurt your score and remain on your report for several years.

Age of credit

This is the average age of your credit accounts. A longer credit history can improve your score, as it shows stability and experience managing credit.

Total accounts

This lists the total number of credit accounts you have, including open and closed ones. A good mix of account types—such as credit cards, loans, and mortgages—can positively affect your score.

Credit inquiries

This shows how many times lenders have checked your credit. Too many recent hard inquiries can lower your score. Soft inquiries do not affect your score.

Derogatory remarks

This section lists serious negative items such as bankruptcies, foreclosures, or accounts sent to collections. These have a major impact on your score and should be resolved quickly when possible.

This feature is not available in Canada.