What is a bad credit score?

Scores below about 580 are generally classed as poor, and 580–669 as fair. Neither is permanent, and neither says anything about you as a person.

Quick takeaways

Below 580 is poor; 580–669 is fair.
Bad credit is expensive month to month, not just at approval.
Check for reporting errors before assuming the score is earned.

What it costs

Higher interest on everything, larger deposits, denied applications, and sometimes trouble renting. The monthly difference between poor and good credit on a car loan alone can be a full car payment's worth of interest.

What put it there

Usually some mix of missed payments, maxed revolving accounts, collections, and a thin file. Sometimes it is none of those and the report is simply wrong — mixed files and identity errors are more common than people think.

The way out

Pull all three reports, dispute what is inaccurate, get current on everything you can, drop utilization, and stop new applications for a while. Progress usually shows within a few reporting cycles.

Want someone to look at your actual reports?

Start the free intake and a Knox specialist will walk your file with you — what can be challenged, what should stay, and what to do next. No cost, no obligation.