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Also known as credit score, Fair Isaac Company (FICO) scoring is a formula for credit risk assessment that is believed to be highly predictive of future payment risk. The borrower's score is derived by weighing credit information at a snapshot in time and assessing "points" for each piece of information. The information is taken from a credit bureau file and scores are based on credit information only. The borrower's score is calculated based on assigned numerical values for certain credit characteristics. The higher the overall score, the less risk there is for the lender. High risk characteristics include bankruptcy, non-bankruptcy derogatory public record, charge-offs or loans defaults, repossessions, serious delinquency. Other weighted characteristics are number and age of trade lines, presence of derogatory trade line information, current level of indebtedness, types of credit available (revolving vs. installment), amount of time credit has been in use, credit inquiries.

Defaulting on an existing loan can significantly damage your FICO score and increase interest rates as well. In the worst case scenario, the lender would attempt to recover the lent amount by foreclosing your property, seizing bank account or other assets.