Late payments are the “biggest foul” when it comes to credit cards, warns Ben Woolsey, director of marketing and consumer research at CreditCards.com — the consequences can include late fees, jacked-up interest rates and a lower credit score.

Free FICO Scores have become more available to consumers since 2013, when Fair Isaac Corporation announced its FICO Score Open Access Program, which gave banks the right to share a FICO Score with consumers. Additionally, banks claim the free FICO Scores have increased customer loyalty.

FICO Score is a term used to describe the number assigned to you in relation to your credit. It is simply a number used to represent your financial obligations in relation to your credit history. It is called FICO because this score is determined by software created by Fair Isaac and Company.

You’ve been laid off from your job. The ensuing drop in your income could hurt your FICO score.

FHA has a two-tier credit score system for insuring loans. First-tier loans require a minimum down payment of 3.5 percent, while second-tier loans require at least 10 percent. The first tier includes those with FICO scores of 580 or above, while the second tier includes those between 500 and 579. FHA does not insure loans with anything below a 500 credit score.