How a Charge Card Can Affect Your Credit Score

While charge cards operate differently from traditional credit cards, they still play a significant role in your financial profile. Here’s how using one can influence your overall credit score.

1. Application Inquiry:When you apply for a charge card, the issuer runs a hard inquiry on your credit report. This can cause a small, temporary dip in your credit score.
2. New Account Reporting:Once approved, the charge card appears as a new account on your credit report. This can slightly lower the average age of your credit history but also diversifies your credit mix.
3. Payment History:This is paramount. Charge cards require payment in full each month. Consistently paying on time positively impacts your payment history, the most significant factor in your credit score.
4. Late or Missed Payments:Failing to pay your balance on time and in full will be reported to credit bureaus. A single late payment can significantly harm your credit score.
5. Credit Utilization:Traditional charge cards don't have a preset spending limit and aren't typically included in credit utilization calculations. However, your payment activity and balance are still closely monitored by lenders.

How Much Will a Charge Card Affect Your Credit Score?

Several factors determine how a charge card might influence your credit score. Here are the key aspects to consider:

• Credit Utilization Ratio. Most charge cards don't have a preset spending limit, so they don't factor into your credit utilization. This can be beneficial as high balances won't negatively impact this part of your score.
• Payment History. On-time payments are crucial for building a positive credit history. Since you must pay your balance in full each month, this reinforces good payment habits that boost your score.
• Hard Inquiries. Applying for a new charge card triggers a hard inquiry on your credit report. This can cause a small, temporary dip in your score, which is standard for any new credit application.

How You Can Avoid a Charge Card Affecting Your Credit Score

Always Pay On Time

The most critical rule is paying your balance in full and on time each month. Late payments get reported to credit bureaus and can significantly damage your score. Automating payments is a great way to ensure you never miss a due date and maintain positive history.

Keep Balances in Check

Although charge cards lack a traditional credit utilization ratio, your balance is still reported. Some scoring models may view consistently high balances as a risk factor. Keep spending manageable to avoid carrying unusually large balances, even if you pay the full amount on time each month.

Be Mindful of Applications

Each time you apply for a new charge card, it results in a hard inquiry on your credit report. Too many hard inquiries in a short period can temporarily lower your credit score. Only apply for new cards when you genuinely need them to protect your score.

Ways to Improve Your Credit Score

Improving your credit score is always possible, though it requires time and consistent effort. By following proven methods, most people can see meaningful changes to their score within three to six months of positive financial behavior.

• Monitor your credit reports. Regularly check your free reports from all three major bureaus to identify and dispute any inaccuracies, which is one of the fastest ways to see an improvement.
• Make timely payments. Your payment history is the most significant factor in your score, so setting up automatic payments helps ensure you never miss a due date.
• Reduce your credit utilization. Aim to keep your total balance below 30% of your available credit by paying down balances or requesting a credit limit increase.
• Diversify your credit mix. Lenders like to see that you can responsibly manage different types of credit, such as a mix of credit cards and installment loans.
• Limit hard inquiries. Space out your credit applications and use prequalification tools when possible, as too many inquiries in a short period can temporarily lower your score.
• Become an authorized user. You can be added to the credit card of someone with a strong credit history, which can help build your own credit profile.

The Bottom Line

Like credit cards, charge cards can affect your credit score. Responsible use, including timely payments made in full, can positively influence your credit, while missed payments can have a negative effect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a charge card impact my credit utilization ratio?

No. Since most charge cards have no preset spending limit, they are typically excluded from credit utilization calculations, which can positively impact your credit score.

Does applying for a charge card result in a hard inquiry?

Yes, just like a traditional credit card, applying for a charge card will almost always result in a hard inquiry on your credit report, temporarily lowering your score.

How do late payments on a charge card affect my credit?

Late payments are reported to credit bureaus and can significantly harm your credit score. Your payment history is the most important factor in credit scoring models.