Credit score, Sept. 9 -- Credit score casts an influence on loan approvals, interest rates, and credit card approvals. A loan borrower or credit card applicant with a high credit score is likely to secure a better deal against someone with a poor or moderate score. While payment history and credit utilisation are popularly-known, there are several hidden factors which can also bring it down as well.

Understanding and managing these factors can help maintain or boost your credit score. Here, we explore lesser-known strategies to handle them.

I. Default in loans you co-signed: Suppose you co-signed personal loan and the primary borrower missed payments, it would impact your score as if it were your debt. Therefore, it is advisable to avoi...