Score myths, and the score-fixing scam

Myth

“Checking my own credit score lowers it.”

False

A self-check is a soft enquiry and bureaus exclude it from scoring entirely. Only hard enquiries — lenders pulling your file because you applied to them — count. You can read your own report every week without moving the number.

Myth

“You have to carry a balance and pay interest for the score to grow.”

False

Bureaus score repayment behaviour, not the interest you donate to a bank. A card paid in full, on time, every month builds exactly the same on-time history — interest adds cost, not points.

Myth

“No loans and no cards means a perfect score.”

False

It means no score at all — bureaus mark you 'new to credit'. Lenders treat a blank file with caution because there is no behaviour to judge. A blank is not a 900; it is a question mark.