See How Credit Missteps Lower Your Credit Score

The company behind the popular FICO scoring model has published a "What If?" series for common, specific credit missteps.

If you've ever wondered how your credit score would be affected by a missed payment or a maxed-out credit card, now you can use a look-up guide to assess the probable damage.

As published by myFICO.com, here's a few common financial difficulties and how they affect FICO scores.

Max-Out A Credit Card

• Starting score of 780 : 25-45 point drop
• Starting score of 680 : 10-30 point drop

30-Day Delinquency

• Starting score of 780 : 90-110 point drop
• Starting score of 680 : 60-80 point drop

Foreclosure

• Starting score of 780 : 140-160 point drop
• Starting score of 680 : 85-105 point drop

Not surprisingly, the higher your starting score, the more each given difficulty can drop your FICO.  This is because credit scores are meant to predict the likelihood of a loan default. People with lower FICOs are already reflecting the effects of risky credit behavior.

Also worth noting that the above is just a guide -- your scores may fall by more -- or less -- depending on your individuak credit profile.  The number and type of credit accounts you hold, plus their respective payments and balances make up your complete credit history.

Read the complete report at myFICO.com.