How your credit score is determined is often hidden and doesn’t treat all consumers equally. Here’s what to watch for, and what to do.

By Lisa L. Gill | June 10, 2021 | Consumer Reports | Credit Score |

Nine years ago, Brittnay Williams’ credit score was 569—putting her in the “very poor” category and undermining her dream of buying a home. But over the course of two years and with the help of her credit union, Williams, of West Memphis, Ark., raised her score by 100 points and qualified for a mortgage.

When she began her journey, Williams, 32, was among the estimated 14 percent of active credit consumers with credit scores so low it is hard to qualify for a mortgage, according to Experian, one of the big three credit bureaus. About 26 million adults lack any credit history and have no score at all, according to the most recent figures from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a government agency.

“Millions of Americans are locked out of the American dream of homeownership, higher education, starting a business, or making major purchases,” says Syed Ejaz, a financial policy analyst at Consumer Reports. “For most lenders, everything begins and ends with that score.”

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