Toss a Coin to Your Witcher, Oh Valley of Debt! Credit Score Myths Debunked

A Witcher's Lament: The Endless Coin

Hmph. Humans. Always chasing coin and somehow always owing more. Heard the bards singin' 'bout it in Novigrad taverns. Seems you Yanks are drownin' in debt – a cool 1.18 trillion they say. And the average Joe owes over six thousand? By the Eternal Fire that's enough to buy a whole flock of gwyhyr! People think payin' their bills on time is enough to keep the drowners away from their precious coin but like a noonwraith in a graveyard there's more to it than meets the eye.

Not All Contracts Are Created Equal

Turns out not all coin is equal. A shiny crown from Vizima hits the same as a grimy oren from Flotsam. Same goes for payments. You think payin' the mage for your fancy enchantments the rent for your hovel or the barkeep for your endless pints of ale is helpin' your 'credit score'? HA! Newsflash those payments ain't reported which means they have about as much impact as a dandelion on a griffin. Some of those "buy now pay later" schemes won't help ye either even though most think it does so best be careful so you don't lose more than you bargain for.

The Fine Print: A Witcher's Curse

These BNPL contracts... sneaky like a Doppler they are. Some report missed payments which can actually LOWER your score. It's like chargin' into a Leshen's territory without Silver. Risky business. Best way to know what's what? Check your 'credit report'. You can get it for free like a handout from a generous king... though I wouldn't count on that happening often. Check it weekly so that you don't get cheated more than you have to.

Beyond Punctuality: The Real Score

Payment history is important yeah. About 35% of your score they reckon. But there's another beast to slay: 'credit utilization'. That's how much you owe compared to how much you CAN owe. Think of it like this: you don't want to use all of your potions at once or you'll be left high and dry when a real monster shows up. Keep that utilization low – less than 30% ideally below 10% – if you want to impress the lenders. Otherwise you'll be running from debt collectors like I run from royalty.

Aim for Excellence: The Path of the Witcher

Settling for mediocre? That's for peasants and Nilfgaardians. Those with high credit scores – the sort of folks who can afford a silver sword – keep their credit utilization low. Don't be a fool. Use less than 10% of your available credit and maybe just maybe you won't end up owing your soul to some shadowy banker in Oxenfurt. Less debts mean you can focus on finding the real monsters or at least a decent pint of ale.

Now What? Time to Hunt some Bargains!

So there you have it. The truth about credit as told by a Witcher who's seen more monsters than most. Pay your bills on time keep your credit utilization low and for the love of Melitele read the fine print! Now if you'll excuse me I've got a contract to fulfill. Seems a merchant in Velen needs help dealing with a particularly nasty... interest rate.