Average time since accounts opened is too recent

VantageScore code number

Code numbers can differ by bureau and score version. The wording of the statement is what to match.

What puts this reason on your score

VantageScore's explanation says too many of your accounts were opened recently, so the history on them isn't long enough. Average age is the total of every account's age divided by the number of accounts. Accounts aged 10 years, 4 years and 1 year average 5 years. Open two new cards and the average drops to 3.

VantageScore 3.0 has no statement worded this way. Its age codes look at the dates of your oldest and newest accounts. In 4.0 this is code 03, the first number on the list.

What to check on your credit report

• The open date of every account, open and closed
• Recent accounts you don't recognize, which can be a sign of fraud

What you can do about it

• Space out new applications.
• Keep older accounts open and active.
• Open new accounts only when you need them.

How soon a change can show

Time is the only fix. The average rises a little every month that passes without a new account.

If you are applying for a mortgage

Avoid new credit in the months before a mortgage application. Each new account lowers your average age and adds an inquiry at the same time.

Guides that go deeper

• How many credit cards should you have? The math behind the numberFICO publishes no ideal number of credit cards. What matters is what each card does to utilization, account age and recent applications. The math, worked out.
• What closing a credit card does to your scoreClosing a card cuts your available credit right away but doesn't erase its history for years. See the utilization math and when closing is still the right call.
• How a credit score is calculated, without the pie-chart mythsFICO's 35/30/15/10/10 split describes the general population, not point values. What each factor reads on your report, with the math worked out.
• What your credit score reason codes are telling youReason codes list what held your score back the most, in order. What the common ones mean, which you can act on, and which to leave alone.