3 Ways to Watch Your Credit Score Crash

Have you ever had your credit score crash? I thought so.

We've all been surprised by credit reports that weren't as great as we wanted

them to be.

Here are ways to make sure your credit is headed for bad news (and the ways

to have good news):

1. Don't Monitor Your Credit

If you know you're going to be buying a car or home in the next couple of years, it is always good to monitor your credit so that you can know about any potential bad credit marks that might show up in advance of your big purchase.

Many purchasers of a home or car are surprised at the last minute that they don't qualify for the best credit possible. This is because their loan officer pulls their credit report right before their purchase, with little time for credit repair.

Good news: Credit Bureau monitoring services like Equifax ScoreWatch, Experian's Credit Manager and Transunion's TrueCredit will help you monitor not just one but all three credit scores from the major credit bureaus. Monitoring your score in advance can save you thousands.

2. Close All Your Credit Cards (or better yet don't apply for any)

If you have no credit cards because you closed them all (or because you never applied for them), you are actually penalized 30-50 points or more in your credit score. Credit scores are higher when the credit bureaus can see that you have been offered credit in the past. They see each credit card or line as a "vote" for your credit worthiness. It is usually good to have at least three credit cards or credit lines open. It doesn't matter if you are using them or not.

Good news: If you open credit cards, you will have better credit. Even if you are new or re-building credit, you can start with secured credit cards like those offered by Capital One, that required a security deposit. It is also easier to get gasoline cards like from Texaco or Mobil, and store cards like from Robinson's or Macy's. If you show that you pay on time you can build credit relatively quickly.

3. Don't Pay off your Collections or Debts in the Past Two Years.

When it comes to credit scores, the most recent two years mean almost everything. Even that $50 parking ticket collection that you left unpaid can hurt your credit scores if the slow pay happened in the past two years.

Good news: Paying off an unpaid collection or chargeoff can raise your credit

score 30-50 points or more.

Knowing a few good credit score tips can keep your credit report clean and free of surprises.