How to Track Credit Score Changes (Without Obsessing Over Them)

How often do you check your credit scores? If you look at them at least once a month, you’re more on top of them than most Americans. 

That’s because only about 4 in 10 Americans (37%) report checking their credit scores at least once a month, according to The Harris Poll for the FICO® Score Credit Insights.

But for others, the opposite is true. 

Stress over credit scores leads some people to avoid checking them at all. A 2024 BadCredit.org survey on credit scores and mental health found that 46% of respondents admitted they avoid checking their credit score out of fear or worry.

When does checking your credit go from smart to obsessive? Here’s a framework for deciding how to check your credit without letting it overwhelm you. 

First, it’s important to understand the timing of credit report updates. 

Your credit scores are calculated using the information available in your credit report at the time the score is calculated. Most creditors report account information to the credit bureaus on a monthly basis. The exact reporting date will vary by creditor. 

Here’s what factors FICO takes into account and how they are weighted when determining your score:

Let’s say you pay off a credit card balance. Until the card issuer sends that updated information to the credit bureaus, the new balance won’t be used to calculate your credit scores. 

And here’s where it gets even more tricky: The service you use to monitor your credit likely also has its own schedule for updating credit reports, often on a monthly basis, though some update more frequently. 

If you check your credit before the report refreshes, you may not see a change.

Here’s an example: Let’s say your card issuer reports your balance on the 10th of the month, but your credit monitoring service updates your credit reports and scores on the first of the month. That means there will be about a 20-day gap before you see the new balance on your credit reports. 

Understanding your main goals when you check your credit will help you decide the best strategy for monitoring it. 

But first, it’s important to understand that checking your own credit reports won’t hurt your credit scores. The Harris Poll cited earlier found that more than one in five Americans (22%) incorrectly believe that checking their credit report could lower their scores. 

That’s not true. Checking your own credit reports creates a soft inquiry that only you see; it does not impact your scores. Don’t let this common misconception stop you from checking yours. 

Back to goals:

If your goal is to improve your credit scores, monthly monitoring will help you see directional trends. Some services provide weekly score updates. That’s fine, but remember that many creditors report monthly, so you may not see a lot of changes from week to week, depending on when they report. 

Read: What is a good credit score?

If you have been a victim of identity theft or are worried you may be, it’s important to check in each month. A credit freeze can prevent most new creditors from reviewing your credit, but it doesn’t stop fraud on existing accounts. 

For most people, a monthly cadence makes sense. You probably pay your bills monthly, so checking your credit is just one more item to add to your to-do list, and it shouldn’t take long. 

Your credit scores go up or down, and sometimes those fluctuations won’t make sense. It happens to all of us at some point. Of course, it’s the drops that usually catch our attention and cause concern. 

Here’s how to think about these changes. 

Recognize Normal Credit Behavior

Credit scores are based on complex algorithms that take into account many different factors in your credit history. As a result, a change in a balance, an account getting older over time, or even a change in the variety of loan and credit types you carry may affect your scores in surprising ways. 

A few points up or down either way probably isn’t a big deal, unless you see an underlying problem or pattern. 

Where you need to get concerned is when score changes are larger (often at least 15-20 points or more), or you identify significant changes to the information in your credit reports, including:

• Recent inquiries you don’t recognize
• New accounts you didn’t open
• High utilization (balances to credit limits)
• Recent late payments 
• New collection accounts

Identify Potential Identity Theft

I was thankful I was monitoring my credit when I discovered an inquiry on my credit report that I didn’t recognize. By responding quickly, I was able to stop crooks who had applied for multiple credit cards and opened two new bank accounts in my name. 

The two biggest warning signs of identity theft are new accounts or inquiries you don’t recognize, but other abrupt changes on your reports, such as collection accounts, can also be the result of a stolen identity. 

Credit alerts can make you aware of these changes so you can investigate. 

It’s easier than ever to monitor your credit. Here are a few ways you can do it, and you may already have access to some powerful monitoring tools through your bank or your credit card’s mobile app.

• AnnualCreditReport.com currently offers free weekly online credit reports from the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
• Banks, card issuers, and other free sites may let you monitor your credit at no cost. 
• Credit monitoring services can provide other benefits, such as credit score simulators (that show the impact of various actions on your scores) and identity theft insurance or resolution services. 

It’s easy to say you shouldn’t stress about checking your credit; it’s harder to do when your goal of good credit seems far away. 

The Harris Poll found that 41% still experience anxiety or stress when thinking about their credit scores. Inevitably, though, people who decide to focus on their credit often find there are steps they can take to move in the right direction. 

Create a regular schedule for checking your credit so it becomes part of your routine. Understanding what’s impacting your credit scores the most is the first step in creating a plan of action to build better credit. 

Your credit score is a snapshot in time, and it can (and will) change. Your goal is to help it move in a positive direction.