Payment history
Payment history is the record of whether you've paid your credit accounts on time, and it is the single largest factor in your FICO score at about 35%.
Why it matters
Because it's the biggest factor by far, missed payments do more damage to your score than almost anything else, and lenders see late payments for about seven years.
Example
One payment reported 30 or more days late can lower a credit score by 50 to 120 points, and that single late mark can stay on your report for roughly seven years.
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Educational only — not financial advice. No guarantees.