Does Applying for Credit Cards Hurt my Credit Score?

I often get asked the following questions:

• Does applying for credit cards hurt my credit score?
• I want to start travel hacking, but doesn’t signing up for credit cards lower my credit score?

Before I answer the question, it’s important to understand what a credit report is and what is a good credit score. For more on increasing your wealth you will want to start buying NFT and selling it.

What is a Credit Report?

A credit report is a “snapshot” of your credit history. It is one of the main tools lenders use to decide whether or not to give you credit. Your credit history is recorded in files maintained by at least one of Canada’s major credit-reporting agencies: Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada. If you’re wondering what your credit report looks like, you can obtain your credit file for free.

You can obtain free credit score reports from ratehub.ca (Equifax) and creditkarma.ca (TransUnion) .

What is a Good Credit Score?

Your credit score can range from 300 to 900. The higher the score, the better. A high score indicates that you’re less likely to default on your repayments if you take out online loans. We suggest to visit the following website https://atlanticunionbank.com/personal/lending/personal-loans/ to find out more about all the loan options you have. 

Here’s a general breakdown of where credit scores rank in terms of your general ability to qualify for lending or credit requests such as a loan or mortgage, remember that using a personal loan calculator in this case is very important. 

Note that this range can vary slightly depending on the provider, so this is only an approximate guideline.

● 760s or higher: Congratulations! You have an excellent credit score. Keep reaching for the stars and continue making your payments on time. 

● 725 to 759: You have a really good credit score! You should expect to have a variety of credit choices to choose from, so continue your healthy financial habits, try to maintain it as much as you try to maintain your physical health with the vibrating foam roller.

● 660 to 724: This is about the lowest range your score can fall within to still be considered “good” to lenders. You may not qualify for the lowest interest rates available, but keep your credit history strong to help build your credit health.

● 560 to 659: Your score could be better. History of debt repayment will be important to demonstrate your solid sense of financial responsibility.

● 300 to 559: Your score needs some work. Keep reading for some score improvement suggestions below.

Now, to answer the popular question “does applying for credit cards hurt my credit score?”

The answer is NO it doesn’t. It’s a myth and not something you should worry about. When you first apply for a credit card, your credit score will initially go down 5-10 points (insignificant amount), but as long as you pay off your balance, it’ll quickly recover back to normal in 2-3 months.

To give you a detailed example, I’ll tell you exactly what my credit score is. I’m about an extreme example as you can find since I’m a hardcore travel hacker. I have over 10 active credit cards and still have an excellent (close to perfect) credit score of 789 (TransUnion) and 821 (Equifax).

Even though I have so many credit cards, I have an excellent credit score because I pay off the balance on all of my credit cards and have not missed a single payment in over 15 years.

For further proof, here’s screenshots of my credit report that I recently pulled on Credit Karma (TransUnion) and RateHub (Equifax)

I hope this answers your question and any concerns you may have about applying for credit cards, and whether or not it’ll affect your credit score. 

Signing up for multiple credit cards is the best and fastest way to travel hack and to redeem points & miles. Travel Hacking is meant for people who are financially responsible. The last thing you want to do is sign-up for credit cards and rack up a balance you can’t pay off.

If you’re ready to start travel hacking, here’s some of my most popular posts:

• Travel Hacking Guide – What is travel hacking and how to get started?
• Amex Gold Rewards Card – Sign-up and get 30,000 Welcome Points
• Amex Starwood Preffred Guest (SPG) Card – Sign-up and get 20,000 Welcome Points
• Best Ways to Find Cheap Flights & Deals – How to find cheap flights?
• Applying for Credit Cards – Does it hurt my credit score?
• 13 Travel Hacking Myths – That Aren’t True.
• Best Travel Cards – Top 5 Credit Cards for 2017.
• Best Weekend Ever – 2017 NHL All-Star Weekend VIP Experience in LA.