 TITLE: Can I Have a Good Credit Report but a Bad Credit Score? CONTENT: Credit Scores Change Over Time\n------------------------------\nAnother misperception about reports and scores is that they're static. If you've used an array of credit products and managed them all without a hitch, your scores may be high. That doesn't mean they'll stay that way—and they definitely won't if you stop borrowing and repaying.\nEventually a credit card issuer will close an inactive account, which will impact your credit utilization ratio. Remember, credit scores need sustenance, so you need to feed them with responsible credit activity. You may also not realize that a couple late payments will hurt your score, but they will. In fact, making credit payments on time is the biggest factor in calculating your credit scores.\nIf you have as many credit cards as you want and don't need any loans, you can still positively impact your credit. Add your cell phone and utility bills to your credit report with Experian Boost™† TM†. Then your credit report will show the type of data that is important to lenders: timely payments. They will be factored into your Experian credit scores, which could cause them to rise.\nClearly, you can have a bad credit score with what you presume is a good credit report, so ensure they match up. Just use a mixture of credit products often and responsibly, dispute errors, and deal with high or delinquent debts. In time your scores will be where they ought to be—and you can be certain about how lenders see your creditworthiness. END