Essential Tips to Avoid 5 Common Credit Killers and Boost Scores

5 Credit Killers

What are the top factors that can damage your credit score?

The information on this website is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Consider seeking personal advice from a licensed adviser before acting on any information.

A good credit score speaks volumes about your financial habits. It's the evidence most creditors need to evaluate your credit worthiness.

Interestingly, there are some credit killers that even people maintaining good credit scores would unwittingly be a part of, which will be their undoing when applying for credit facilities in the future.

These mistakes may seem to be insignificant, but when the time comes, you may face more problems than you expect.

Avoiding Debt

Creditors need to evaluate your financial history to approve any credit facilities.

If you have no previous or existing debts, it might adversely affect your case, as creditors have no way of checking out how you'll handle the credit you get from them.

Shopping For Rates

Looking around for the best rate may actually turn out to be bad.

Debt Stressed?

If you're struggling to pay your debts and covering living expenses, we're here to help. Through our national panel of Debt Management specialists, we can help customers with $10k or more in debt by consolidating your existing loans, stopping Debt collectors from contacting you and re-negotiating repayments on your terms!

... start your free debt analysis ...

Too many inquiries within a short period could damage your credit score.

Usually, if you do more than 3 or 4 inquiries within a single month, you are likely to scare the lenders. For the same reasons, transferring the balances on your credit cards could be a bad idea as well.

Assuming There's a Grace Period

If you are late on a payment by even one day, you are late, period.

Never assume there's a grace period for late payments, because it only affects your credit score negatively.

Closing Old Accounts

Because your relevant transaction history also gets erased when you close your old accounts, your credit history is shortened and it may lower your credit score.

If you want to close your old accounts, close everything except the oldest account, which will leave a longer history.

Co-signing Loans

The obvious problem here is that the primary borrower's mistakes will end up on your credit report as well.

Published: Sunday, 1st Aug 2021
Author: Paige Estritori

Business Loans Articles

Avoid the Common Pitfalls: Expert Advice on Startup Loan Applications in Australia

Embarking on a startup journey is an exhilarating challenge that requires not just a brilliant idea, but a solid foundation of financial support to turn that idea into reality. Finding the right funding can be a make-or-break moment for many startups. Here, preparation is more than just a good practice; it's the backbone of any successful loan application. - read more

Investing in Growth: How to Finance Your Business Expansion Strategically

Australia's dynamic SME landscape is ever-evolving, constantly presenting new opportunities and challenges for today's entrepreneurs. Growth is not just a goal but a necessity for these small and medium enterprises to thrive in the competitive market. As these businesses stand on the cusp of expansion, it becomes critical to recognize the indicators for growth and to approach this next stage with a robust strategic plan. - read more

Finance News

RBA's Interest Rate Reduction: A Boon for Australian SMEs

05 Dec 2025: Paige Estritori

The Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) recent decision to reduce the official cash rate by 25 basis points to 3.60% presents a significant opportunity for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the nation. This adjustment, aimed at addressing moderating inflation and a tight labour market, is set to lower borrowing costs, thereby facilitating business growth and expansion. - read more

Australian SMEs Embrace Non-Bank Lenders for Flexible Financing

05 Dec 2025: Paige Estritori

In a significant shift within Australia's financial landscape, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly opting for non-bank lenders to meet their financing needs. Recent data indicates that demand for non-bank lending among SMEs has reached 55% in 2025, marking a substantial increase from previous years. - read more

Click for more Finance News

Need Help Finding a Loan?

All finance quotes are provided free (via our secure server) and without obligation.
We respect your privacy.

Knowledgebase

Return on Investment (ROI):
A measure used to evaluate the efficiency of an investment or compare the efficiency of several different investments.