Though seven out of ten Americans have at least one credit card, and though in 2018, 57% of people had checked their credit scores in the past year, the concept of credit still tends to confuse people.

In a nutshell, your credit score is a number between 350 and 800, with higher scores indicating that you tend to pay debts reliably. Anything else you might hear about credit scores is probably inaccurate, if not completely false. Here are six myths about credit scores that simply aren’t true:

1. It’s bad to have a credit card7 out of 10 Americans have at least one credit card. Using this card can assist with your credit score.
2. It Takes Years to Change Your Credit ScoreNope. Overall, about 70% of credit scores change by up to 20 points within a three-month time frame.
3. Checking Hurts Your ScoreAlso false. As long as you check your score with a credit reporting site, and not with mortgage lenders, your score won’t be impacted.
4. You Have to Be Rich to Have A Good ScoreYour score has everything to with how you manage debts, and nothing to do with the size of your paycheck. Changes in your income won’t raise or lower your credit score. Your payment history, however, determines 35% of your credit score. Don’t fall behind during employment gaps to keep your score healthy!
5. Employers Check Credit ScoresWrong again. Employers need to ask permission to check your credit report, which is not the same as your credit score. At any rate, only 29% of employers check credit reports.
6. Credit Scores Are Public InformationThough 34% of people believe that anyone can see their credit score at any time, that information is kept private by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Only those with “valid need,” like a lender, can access your score.

Want a better credit score? Don’t believe these six myths!