Maybe you think that all credit scores start at zero (such a lonely number), and you have to climb your way up from there. But it doesn’t work like that. Credit scores range from 300 to 850. Even someone with no credit doesn’t start at zero. Credit scores start at 300; sometimes higher, depending on which scoring system is used. Show According to FICO, you must have at least one credit account that’s been open for at least six months, and one credit account that’s been reported to credit bureaus within the past six months to have a credit score. You can meet these requirements with one account or several. What Does Your Credit Score Start At?Everyone has to start somewhere. No one is born with excellent credit; you have to earn it. Although several factors determine your starting credit score, it’s not uncommon to start at the bottom, or 300. That’s considered poor credit. But to be honest, when you’re just starting out or before you’ve applied for any credit at all, you have no credit score. How Is Your Credit Score Calculated?FICO assigns numbers for credit scores that range from 300 up to 850. Someone with poor credit has a credit score in the range of 300 to 580. Someone with excellent credit has a score in the range of 800 to 850. The big three credit agencies–Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion–look at five factors to calculate your credit score:
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