6 Credit killers

You may not know it, but you could be perpetrating a violent crime ... against your credit. You may be a credit killer if you behave in ways that harm a valuable asset: your FICO credit score, a powerful three-digit number traditionally used by lenders to decide how much risk they're taking by doing business with you.

Fair Isaac Corp., the leading provider of credit scores and creator of the FICO score, suggests we think of the score as a snapshot of our credit standing at a particular point in time. The score incorporates information from creditors on the way consumers use their credit, and falls somewhere between a poor rating of 300 and an ideal rating of 850.

Many people become aware of the score's impact only after they've done something to mess it up.

Many common behaviors slay your chances of getting a better FICO score. Here are six to look out for:
1. The Neglecter
2. The Postponer
3. The Void
4. The Inquisitor
5. The Closer
6. The Relinquisher