Bad Credit Glossary of Terms

Algorithm: A complex mathematical model. In credit scoring, it is used to compare data in millions of credit reports and predict a person's likelihood to repay debts.

Charge-off:  An unpaid portion of a bill that a lender has accepted will never be paid and has recorded on the books as a bad debt. It is a serious negative item on a credit report.

Collateral: Collateral is a word used for assets that secure a loan. For example, in the case of a mortgagethe house serves as the collateral for the mortgage-loan. This way, the bank is secured against the default risk of the borrower not being able to meet the interest payments. In case of default the bank can sell the house and get its money back.

Collection:  A creditor's attempt to recover a past-due payment by turning the account over to a collection department or company. Having a debt in collection is a serious negative item on a credit report.

Credit bureau: A credit-reporting agency that is a clearinghouse for information on the credit rating of individuals or firms. Often called a "credit repository" or a "consumer reporting agency." The three largest credit bureaus in the U.S. are Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

Credit history: A record of a person's use of credit over time.

Credit limit: The most that can be charged on a credit card or to a credit line.

Credit report: A document containing financial information about a person, focusing on his or her history of paying obligations, such as a mortgage, car payment, utilities, and credit cards. Also includes current balances on outstanding debts, the individual's amount of available credit, public records such as bankruptcies, and inquiries about credit from various companies.

Credit risk: The measure of a person's creditworthiness. People who are more likely to repay their debts on time are considered a better risk by lenders, and will be charged lower interest rates for borrowing money.

Debt-to-available-credit ratio: The amount of money a person has in outstanding debt, compared to the amount of credit available on all of the individual's credit cards and credit lines. The higher a person's debt to available credit, the more risky the individual appears to potential lenders.

Default: A designation on a credit report that indicates a person has not paid a debt that was owed. Accounts usually are listed as being in default after several reports of delinquency. Defaults are a serious negative item on a credit report.

Delinquent: A designation on a credit report that a person hasn't made the minimum payment on a loan or a credit card on time. On credit reports, delinquencies are usually shown as being 30, 60, 90 or 120 days delinquent. Delinquencies are a serious negative item on a credit report.

Equifax: One of the three major credit-reporting agencies.

Experian: One of the three major credit-reporting agencies.

FICO scores: The most commonly used credit score. The name comes from the Fair Isaac Corporation, which developed the scoring model. They are used to predict the likelihood that a person will pay his or her debts. The scores use only information from credit reports.

Hard inquiry: An item on a person's credit report that indicates that someone has asked for a copy of the individual's report. Hard inquiries are requests that result from a person applying for credit, such as a mortgage, a car loan, a credit card or a rental application. They are included in the formula for determining a person's credit score.

Installment credit: A type of credit in which the monthly payment is the same every month and the loan has a set time period. The most common forms of installment credit are mortgages and car loans.

Judgment: A decision from a judge on a civil action or lawsuit; usually an amount of money a person is required to pay to satisfy a debt or as a penalty.

Lien: A legal claim placed on a person's property, such as a car or a house, as security for a debt. A lien may be placed by a contractor who did work on your house or a mechanic who repaired your car and didn't get paid. The property cannot be sold without paying the lien.

Public record: Information on your credit report that has been obtained from court records, such as bankruptcies, judgments, and liens. These are never good.

Rate shopping: Applying for credit with several lenders to find the best interest rate, usually for a mortgage or a car loan. If done within a short period of time, such as two weeks, it should have little impact on a person's credit score.

Revolving credit: An account that requires a minimum payment each month plus service charges on the remaining balance. As the balance declines, so does the service charge.

Secured Debt: Debt that is secured by collateral, which might come in the form of the home or other valuable possessions. If the borrower neglects to pay off according to the terms agreed, the lender can acquire that collateral from the borrower.

Soft inquiry: An item on a person's credit report that indicates that someone has asked for a copy of his or her report. Soft inquiries can be from current creditors reviewing the file, prospective creditors who want to send out an offer such as a pre-approved credit card, or a person's own review of their file. They are not included in the formula for determining a person's credit score.

Trade line: An account listed on a credit report. Each separate account is a different trade line.

Trans Union: One of the three major credit-reporting agencies.

Unsecured Debt: Debt that is not secured by collateral. This type of debt is the result of money owed, for example, to a credit card company, who cannot seize any of the consumer's possessions if s/he does not pay off the balance. In a situation of delinquent payment, the credit card company will usually turn the matter over to a collection agency.