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Your new and improved FICO score
A new credit scoring system is headed your way. Personal Finance Editor Gerri Willis is here with what that means to you.
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NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Fair Isaac - they're the company that develops the formula that determines your FICO credit score - is rolling out a new version FICO 08 with the credit bureau TransUnion.
Now this new FICO score is supposed to be an improvement and we really welcome any improvements to credit scoring since there are so many mistakes that can be made with credit scores.
Here's what this score will mean for folks: The new FICO '08 scoring model will really target folks in the subprime category of scores in the 600s. These are the people that lenders are really struggling to predict how well they might pay their bills.
They are the folks whose credit score might change the most as bankers move to this new model. (If your score is in the 700 to 800 range you are less likely to be impacted).
This new program takes care of a couple of problems we've been talking about for sometime.
For example, a library card fine won't send your credit score plummeting because the new scoring model ignores collection accounts under $100.
It will also ignore isolated delinquencies. So if you forgot to pay your utility bill while you were on vacation, but were good for all other debts, don't worry, your credit score won't be affected.
First, this isn't likely to happen anytime soon.
It could be months or even years before these changes become reality for folks.
In the meantime, Fair Isaac has a program where consumers may be able to get their credit scores for free through their bank or credit union.
And don't forget there are a number of free Web sites where you can get an estimate of your score, including Credit.com and Creditkarma.com.
And of course, don't pass up getting your free credit report from all three credit bureaus at annualcreditreport.com. 
