Generation X Consumers Are Most in Touch with their Credit Scores, According to New Survey from American Consumer Credit Counseling
Boston, MA (PRWEB) June 22, 2015 -- Generation X consumers are checking their credit scores more frequently than any other generation, according to a new survey by American Consumer Credit Counseling.
Nearly 60 percent of Generation X consumers – individuals born between 1966 and 1976 – polled online by ACCC checked their credit score within the last three months. In that same period, 44 percent of Baby Boomers, 45 percent of Boomers, and 56 percent of consumers from Generation Y checked their credit scores.
The majority of those polled – 51 percent – say that a “good” credit score is one between 690 and 719.
The online poll of 212 budget-conscious consumers was conducted by American Consumer Credit Counseling - a national non-profit that helps consumers with budgeting and debt management – at ConsumerCredit.com.
“Building a credit history and maintaining a high credit score can have a dramatic impact on your quality of life when you're considering everything from renting an apartment to applying for a loan,” said Steve Trumble, President and CEO of American Consumer Credit Counseling, which is based in Newton, Mass.
Thirty percent of all those polled by ACCC admitted they don’t know what their score is. That number fell to 24 percent among Generation X consumers and to 27 percent among Generation Y consumers. Generation Y consumers are those born between 1977 and 1994.
Boomers and Baby Boomers were slightly higher, with 34 and 36 percent of those consumers admitting they don’t know their credit scores. Boomers are those individuals born between 1955 and 1965, while Baby Boomers are those born between 1945 and 1954.
“It is surprising that in today’s digital age, there are still so many people that don’t know their credit scores,” Trumble said. “There are plenty of resources to help you understand your credit score – and the best ones are absolutely free.”
Consumers are also not checking their credit scores as often as recommended. Fifty-one percent of consumers surveyed say that they check their credit scores twice a year, while 43 percent admit checking in once a year.
Consumers should request a free copy of their credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies every year.
All consumers are entitled to a free annual copy of their credit report from the three major credit bureaus – Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. To request this report and get more information, visit AnnualCreditReport.com.
“A good strategy is to spread out the requests throughout the year,” said Trumble. “Every four months, request a report from a different agency. When doing this, check for inaccurate information and possible identity theft – both of which can happen more frequently than most people think.”
ACCC is a 501(c)3 organization that provides free credit counseling, bankruptcy counseling, and housing counseling to consumers nationwide in need of financial literacy education and money management. For more information, contact ACCC:
• For credit counseling, call 800-769-3571
• For bankruptcy counseling, call 866-826-6924
• For housing counseling, call 866-826-7180
• Or visit us online at ConsumerCredit.com
About American Consumer Credit Counseling
American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC) is a nonprofit credit counseling 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to empowering consumers to achieve financial management and debt relief through education, credit counseling, and debt management solutions. Each month, ACCC invites consumers to participate in a poll focused on personal finance issues. The results are conveyed in the form of infographics that act as tools to educate the community on everyday personal finance issues and problems. By learning more about financial management topics such as credit and debt management, consumers are empowered to make the best possible financial decisions to reach debt relief. As one of the nation’s leading providers of personal finance education and credit counseling services, ACCC’s certified credit advisors work with consumers to help determine the best possible debt solutions for them. ACCC holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and is a member of the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies. To participate in this month’s poll, visit ConsumerCredit.com and for more financial management resources visit TalkingCentsBlog.com.
Tony Catinella, American Consumer Credit Counseling, http://www.consumercredit.com/, +1 617-646-1029, [email protected]
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