Myths that hold consumers back from building credit

Consumers are generally in disagreement when it comes to building a credit score, writes Susan Tompor for the Detroit Free Press. Often, myths stand in the way of consumers taking the necessary means to boost their ratings. To help consumers, Tompor clarifies two common misconceptions about improving your credit score. She writes that too many consumers believe it is important to keep your balance at 50 percent or less of your total credit line. Tompor disputes that thinking, stating that consumers are better off keeping their balances at no more than 10 percent of the available credit line. Avoiding credit cards will also do little to boost your score. Tompor writes that too many consumers think they can improve their rating by avoiding credit altogether. That is not the case. "The amount of available credit you have doesn't hurt your credit score. Instead, it's the amount of debt you carry in relation to that available credit - and how well you pay your bills on time that matters more to lenders," she writes. Tompor's answer is to use credit, but use it wisely. It is better to take on less credit and pay bills on time, then assume too much credit or none whatsoever.