How To Destroy Credit Scores

The Road to the Worst Credit Score Ever by Amy Fontinel

Your credit score can range from 300 to 850, 850 being higher and better. Most credit score articles focus on "how you can improve your credit score", but this list will guide you towards how to achieve the worst credit score ever. If any of these listed items apply to your household, beware... you're in the process ruining your credit score.

Don't Pay Your Bills - The most important part of your credit score is your repayment history, so if you want to have terrible credit, don't pay your bills.

Credit Card Charges - The second most important factor of your credit score is how much you owe. So if you want to ruin your credit score, make sure to max out all of your credit cards, pay late and get hammered with high interest rates and late fees.

Always Applying for New Credit Cards - 10% of your credit score is based on how many new accounts you have applied for recently. So if you want to mar this component of your score, why not surf the web and see how many credit card applications you can fill out in a single day?

Your credit score tends to be higher if you use a mix of different types of credit, such as credit cards, store accounts, an auto loan and a mortgage. Of course, to get approved for a mix of credit in the first place, you'd have to be responsible with your money.

Once you've thoroughly destroyed your credit, there's no sense in hoping that things could get better one day. After all, a bankruptcy can stay on your credit score for up to 10 years. So don't visit a nonprofit credit counseling service for help. Don't work out a budget to help you manage your money better. Don't cut up your credit cards or freeze them in blocks of ice. And don't take any baby steps toward paying off your debts.

Behaviors that won't have any impact on your credit score. Unless you do it so often that your bank sends your account to collections, overdrawing your checking account won't have any effect on your credit score. Losing your job won't impact your score, either, nor will receiving unemployment checks or signing up for food stamps. Credit bureaus don't care if you're on public assistance, and they don't care if you have a job they're only interested in whether and when you pay your bills.