| How do Issuers evaluate my Credit? Issuers determine credit worthiness by what are called the three C’s of credit (capacity, character and collateral). Capacity refers to your ability to pay given your income and existing debt. Collateral refers to any assets you have that can secure payment (e.g. bank accounts, home ownership). Character refers to factors such as your payment history and length of employment. The criteria for accepting applicants vary between issuers and credit card products.
How do I evaluate my credit: You can get a very good idea by looking at your credit report. Three separate bureaus maintain a different snapshot of your financial history and provide copies of this report to creditors upon request. It is important to make sure information on these reports are accurate, especially if you have been turned down for credit and don’t know why. |