No, getting a raise doesn't improve your credit score, and other widely-held misconceptions

Surprise! Consumers are still confused about what goes into a credit report and a credit score. Given how opaque these things were for such a long time, it’s entirely predictable that confusion reigns. It’ll be that way for a while. Credit bureau Trans Union released a survey on Thursday with more proof that the mythology built up around credit reporting will take a long time to undo. Heck — apparently one in four Americans think the Sun, revolves around the Earth, so fixing this will take a while.

The myth that I think will be hardest to beat back is the notion that income or assets have anything to do with credit reporting. They don’t, even if they should. You might have $1 million in the bank, or have just landed a huge raise, but you’ll be denied a credit card if your credit score is low or you have a ‘thin’ credit file.

Trans Union found that about half of American adults think a pay raise increases their credit score. And even people with good credit are confused about what goes into that good credit.

Some other findings from their online survey of about 1,000 people:

Payments Affecting Credit Scores: Nearly half falsely identified rent (45%) and cell phone (47%) payments as directly affecting their score; yet, these aren’t regularly reported to credit bureaus.
Information in Credit Reports: Among survey respondents who checked their credit report in the last 30 days, half mistakenly believe their full employment history (55%) and income level (41%) are included in their reports.
Consumers with “Good” or “Excellent” Credit were Confused. 49% of those with “excellent credit” mistakenly thought rental payments are included in their report.
Pay raises: Nearly half (48%) of respondents who’ve checked their credit report in the last year incorrectly believed an increase in income improves their score.
Credit inquiries: 40% of respondents who’ve never checked their report are unsure how checking it affects their score
Trended information: 70% of those who’ve checked their report in the last year incorrectly assumed that it reflected recent changes or trends in their finances over time.
Pay raises: Nearly half (48 percent) of respondents who’ve checked their credit report in the last year incorrectly believed an increase in income improves their score.
Credit inquiries: 40 percent of respondents who’ve never checked their report are unsure how it affects their score, and 20 percent who checked their report in the last year mistakenly believed checking their report would decrease their score.
Paying down debts: 61 percent of those who checked their report in the last 30 days erroneously believed paying off debts from late payments automatically increases their score.
Trended information: 70 percent of those who’ve checked their report in the last year incorrectly assumed that it reflected recent changes or trends in their finances over time.