Are credit bureaus in cahoots with credit card companies?

It seems like the credit bureaus are just the hired muscle of credit card companies because: They give a better score for people who have a lot of open credit accounts and They make life miserable for those who fall behind on payments. Ok, I understand what the first few responses are saying. But isn't the fact that, in order to have a good credit score you have to have a lot of credit cards with open accounts kind of fishy? I mean, its like extortion: Get more credit cards or your interest rates will be higher.

Public Comments

1. Credit bureaus are independent of credit card companies. The problem is that your credit score is tied to having outstanding credit. Falling behind on payments is NOT a normal thing and most folks never make late payments. Falling behind is defaulting on your agreement and rightfully, results in a big ding to your credit.
2. Credit bureaus are an essential business to those who lend money or extend credit. Credit scores are earned by establishing that you are responsible and pay on time. They don't make life miserable. You make your own life miserable by not paying your bills on time.
3. A person asks for a credit card and one is sent to him. He runs up some sizable bills. He does not pay those bills on time. Because of late payments and credit over-extension his credit score drops. He has become a poor risk - credit managers may not lend money to him because of his track record. A person asks for many credit cards. He runs up huge bills. He makes all payments on time. Because of his exposure and his track record of payment his credit score rises. He is a good risk and credit managers may lend money to him because of his track record. There are other factors involved (salary, total debt, mortgage amount, etc.). But simply put, the second guy shows that he can pay - the first guy hasn't shown that ability. I feel that the credit bureaus play fair - it benefits them not at all to be an unreliable source for credit information.
4. yes they are in ..cahoots if you will
5. Credit Bureas exist because they are created by fees from their subscribers, banks, collection agencies, etc. You figure!
6. To have good credit you must have used credit and paid it as agreed. The only way lenders have of judging someones willingness and ability to repay them is to look at their history and see how they paid others.