7 common mistakes that lower credit scores in the USA

In the United States, Özlem Özgüt Yörekli, who shares information about the credit score that plays a key role in credit card and financial transactions, stressed that boosting the score is important, but one must also avoid mistakes that cause it to drop.

Yörekli also warned that applying for a credit card in quick succession can cause banks to perform Hard Inquiries, temporarily lowering the credit score.

Spending should be kept low.

Closing unused old credit cards can also negatively affect the score by reducing the total credit limit. Likewise, it is recommended to keep spending as low as possible rather than using a large portion of the card limit.

Yörekli, who said payments should not be delayed, pointed out that delays exceeding 30 days can be reported to credit bureaus, and noted that setting up automatic payment instructions can be helpful.

Leaving old cards unused entirely can lead banks to reduce the limit or close the card. She also said that before requesting a credit limit increase, one should ask the bank whether the transaction will be a Hard Inquiry or a Soft Inquiry.

Authorized User and FICO Tracking

Yörekli noted that adding someone else as an Authorized User on a credit card does not always confer advantages, and that the cardholder’s high debt or late payments could negatively affect the score.

Reminding readers that checking one’s own credit score does not lower it, Yörekli advised regular monitoring of the FICO score if possible. In the FICO rating, 670‑739 is considered good, 740‑799 very good, and 800 and above excellent.

Yörekli emphasized that raising a credit score can take time, but missteps can lower it much more quickly.