Payment History
The most heavily weighted factor in your FICO score, accounting for 35% of the calculation. Reflects whether you've paid your bills on time. Late payments, collections, bankruptcies, and charge-offs all negatively affect this factor.
Related guides
- Full credit & FICO® glossary
Browse all defined terms by category.
- FICO Score
A three-digit number ranging from 300 to 850 that represents your creditworthiness, calculated by the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) using data from your credit report. Used by 90% of top US lenders to evaluate loan and credit card applications.
- Late Payment
A payment not received by the due date. Payments 30 or more days past due are reported to credit bureaus and can significantly lower your FICO score. The later the payment (30, 60, 90+ days), the greater the negative impact. Late payments remain on your credit report for seven years.
Frequently Asked Questions About Payment History
What does Payment History mean?
The most heavily weighted factor in your FICO score, accounting for 35% of the calculation. Reflects whether you've paid your bills on time. Late payments, collections, bankruptcies, and charge-offs all negatively affect this factor.
Is Payment History important for my FICO® score?
Yes — Payment History is one of the five factors that directly determine your FICO® score. Understanding it helps you make better decisions about your credit.