FICO is tweaking their methods of calculating the ever important credit rating. You may want to be aware of the changes and how they might affect you.

A new system for determining your credit-worthiness, FICO '08, rolls out this Thursday, and there's nothing you can to do stop it. By these 6 changes, ye shall be judged:

1. Spouses and children can improve their credit score by being an authorized user on a credit card account, but that's it. No more piggybacking off strangers.
2. Debts less than $100 that go to collections will matter less.
3. They will look at the total picture more. A single repossession, for instance, won't matter as much if everything else looks good.
4. Having less available credit will drag down your score more.
5. Diversity matters more. A mix of healthy auto, personal and student loans would bring up a score.
6. Closing accounts will bring down the score.




taken from:


http://consumerist.com/5146660/6-ways-your-credit-score-changes-thursday