C

C

Capacity

Factor in determining creditworthiness. Capacity is assessed by weighing a borrower’s earning ability and the likelihood of continuing income against the amount of debt the borrower carries at the time the application for credit is made. While capacity may be considered in a credit decision, the credit report does not contain information about earning ability or the likelihood of continuing income.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Chapter of the Bankruptcy Code that provides for court administered liquidation of the assets of a financially troubled individual or business.

Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Chapter of the Bankruptcy Code that is usually used for the reorganization of a financially troubled business. Used as an alternative to liquidation under Chapter 7. The U.S. Supreme Court has held that an individual may also use Chapter 11.

Chapter 12 Bankruptcy

Chapter of the Bankruptcy Code adopted to address the financial crisis of the nation’s farming community. Cases under this chapter are administered like Chapter 11 cases, but with special protections to meet the special conditions of family farm operations.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Chapter of the Bankruptcy Code in which debtors repay debts according to a plan accepted by the debtor, the creditors and the court. Plan payments usually come from the debtor’s future income and are paid to creditors through the court system and the bankruptcy trustee.

Charge-Off

Action of transferring accounts deemed uncollectible to a category such as bad debt or loss. Collectors will usually continue to solicit payments, but the accounts are no longer considered part of a company’s receivable or profit picture.

Civil Action

Any court action against a consumer to regain money for someone else. Usually, it will be a wage assignment, child support judgment, small claims judgment or a civil judgment.

Claim Amount

The amount awarded in a court action.

Closed Date

The date an account was closed.

Co-maker

A creditworthy co-maker is sometimes required in situations where an applicant’s qualifications are marginal. A co-maker is legally responsible to repay the charges in the joint account agreement.

Consumer Credit Counseling Service

A non-profit organization that assists consumers in dealing with their credit problems. Consumer Credit Counseling Service has offices throughout the United States that can be located by calling 800 388 CCCS (2227).

Co-signer

Person who pledges in writing as part of a credit contract to repay the debt if the borrower fails to do so. The account displays on both the borrower’s and the co-signer’s credit reports.

Credit Limit/Line of Credit

In open-end credit, the maximum amount a borrower can draw upon or the maximum that an account can show as outstanding.

Credit Items

Information reported by current or past creditors.

Credit Report

Confidential report on a consumer’s payment habits as reported by their creditors to a consumer credit reporting agency. The agency provides the information to credit grantors who have a permissible purpose under the law to review the report.

Credit Scoring

Tool used by credit grantors to provide an objective means of determining risks in granting credit. Credit scoring increases efficiency and timely response in the credit granting process. Credit scoring criteria is set by the credit grantor.

Creditworthiness

The ability of a consumer to receive favorable consideration and approval for the use of credit from an establishment to which they applied.