Getting married will not affect your credit score directly. If you have married a woman with bad old credit, it will not affect your credit score directly. It is true that your marriage has brought you together, but your credit records will be seen separately. This concern is a very true one if you have always been very careful about your credit record and have kept it maintained. However, the truth is her credit score will not affect your score, unless you are not joining it. This means, if you are opening any credit account along with her jointly, it can then affect your Experian credit record. If you have kept your credit separate from her, it cannot harm you anyways. However, the idea should be, since you are now married you must help her out in improving her credit record too.

A joint credit account can hurt your credit

Married couples take up financial decisions and responsibilities together. That is why credit accounts get joint sometimes. If you have a joint bank account or have taken a loan together, this will affect you for every action she does. Since the credit account is joint, your partner’s credit activities will harm your credit. If your partner is late in paying bills or defaults, it will show in your credit report too. If you are going for anything that is joint, you need to be aware of your credit record at stake. However, you must help your partner and improve the credit record too. You should also check your credit score online from time to time.

How to improve your partner’s credit score?

Talk to her: It starts with an understanding that you need to explain to her the importance of having a good credit report. You need to focus on the perks and benefits as to how you can get the best credit score and how it benefits you. Managing finances is easy if one is focused. Do not blame your partner for whatever has happened, but try to initiate credit responsibility for the future. It is a sensitive matter and you need to be positive while you talk about the bad credit history of the partner.

Automate her payment: Since you have always maintained your credit, you know how important it is to pay the bills on time. If she has missed bills due to her memory, automate her payment. This way it will be automatically deducted from her account. Make sure she has her account funded and it will increase the score slowly. It will surely not be an overnight miracle, but you will see an improvement.

Stop her credit cards: If you find her too comfortable with multiple credit cards, stop her. A credit card is the most expensive form of debt. It piles up without your knowledge and becomes a suitcase. You need to convince her to give up on using credit cards and go for debit and cash. These will help in decreasing the burden.

Do cooperate in settling a loan: Help your better half to finish off all the existing personal loan and not go for a new one. Help your partner financially if she is not able to do it alone. Make sure there is no debt trap, and you can surely plan finances well for the partner.

Must Read: Does a Discharged Bankruptcy Still Affect Credit Scores?

Wrapping up

Check your credit score online regularly to keep yourself updated. Your spouse’s credit score will not affect yours unless you are having financial joint accounts. Before you have one, make sure she has improved her credit background.