When you apply for a credit card, mortgage, auto loan, personal loan, or even a rental property, one question often matters to the organization reviewing your application:

How likely are you to meet your financial obligations as agreed?

That is where your credit history and credit score become important.

A credit score is a numerical representation generated from information in your credit report. It is designed to help lenders and other permitted businesses assess the risk associated with extending credit to you. In many common scoring systems, the score is represented as a three-digit number, with higher scores generally indicating lower credit risk.

Understanding what is a credit score is an important part of managing personal finances because your credit profile can influence whether you qualify for certain financial products, the terms you receive, and how much borrowing may cost you.

However, a credit score is not a complete measurement of your financial health. It does not directly measure your income, savings, investments, or net worth. Instead, it primarily reflects information related to your borrowing and repayment behavior.

In this comprehensive 2026 guide, we’ll explain how credit scores work, how they are calculated, the difference between major scoring models, why credit scores matter, common myths, and practical steps you can take to build and protect a stronger credit profile.

1. What Is a Credit Score?

A credit score is a number generated by a credit-scoring model using information contained in your credit report.

The purpose of the score is to estimate credit risk based on patterns in your credit history.

In the United States, many commonly used credit scores range from 300 to 850, although scoring ranges can vary depending on the model.

Generally:

Higher score = lower estimated credit risk

Lower score = higher estimated credit risk

Your score can be calculated using information such as:

Payment history
Credit-card balances
Credit limits
Account age
Types of credit accounts
Recent credit applications
Certain negative information

The exact formula depends on the scoring model.

This is important because there is not actually one universal “credit score.”

You can have different scores depending on:

Which credit bureau’s data is used
Which scoring model is used
When the score is calculated
Which version of the scoring model is used
What type of credit you are applying for

2. Credit Reports vs. Credit Scores

One of the most important concepts to understand is the difference between a credit report and a credit score.

Credit Report

A credit report is a record of information associated with your credit history.

It may contain information about:

Credit cards
Loans
Payment history
Account balances
Credit limits
Account opening dates
Collections
Certain public-record information, depending on the jurisdiction and reporting rules
Credit inquiries

Credit Score

A credit score is a numerical calculation based on information from a credit report.

Think of it this way:

Credit report = underlying information

Credit score = numerical assessment generated from that information

A credit report can contain hundreds of pieces of information, while a credit score compresses relevant information into a number that lenders can use as one part of their decision-making process.

3. Who Creates Credit Scores?

Credit scores are created by companies that develop credit-scoring models.

Two major scoring brands in the United States are:

FICO
VantageScore

Credit bureaus, meanwhile, collect and maintain credit-report information.

The three major U.S. credit reporting companies are:

Equifax
Experian
TransUnion

A lender may obtain your credit information from one or more bureaus and use a particular scoring model to evaluate your application.

This is one reason your score from one source may not exactly match a score shown somewhere else.

4. FICO vs. VantageScore

FICO Scores

FICO scores are developed by Fair Isaac Corporation and are widely used in consumer lending.

Different FICO versions exist for different purposes.

For example, lenders may use different models or versions depending on whether they are evaluating:

Credit cards
Auto loans
Mortgages
Other forms of credit

Therefore, the score you see through a financial app may not necessarily be the exact score a lender uses.

VantageScore

VantageScore was created by Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion as an alternative credit-scoring system.

Modern VantageScore models also commonly use a 300–850 scale.

However, VantageScore and FICO can weigh information differently.

Why can my scores be different?

You might see:

A FICO score from one source
A VantageScore from another
Different scores from different credit bureaus

This doesn’t necessarily mean that one score is wrong.

It may simply reflect differences in:

Scoring model
Credit-bureau data
Reporting date
Account information
Model version

The important thing is to focus on the overall health and accuracy of your credit profile rather than obsessing over a single number.

5. How Are Credit Scores Calculated?

The exact scoring formula is proprietary and varies by model.

However, one of the most commonly discussed frameworks is the traditional FICO scoring model.

A classic FICO model describes five major categories:

Factor	Approximate Weight
Payment History	35%
Amounts Owed	30%
Length of Credit History	15%
New Credit	10%
Credit Mix	10%

These percentages are useful for understanding the general structure of a classic FICO score, but they should not be interpreted as universal weights for every FICO version, VantageScore model, or lender-specific scoring system.

Let’s examine each factor.

6. Payment History

Payment history is one of the most important components of many credit-scoring models.

It essentially asks:

Have you consistently paid your credit obligations as agreed?

Your credit history can contain information about whether you made payments:

On time
Late
Severely delinquent
In collections
Through other adverse credit events

A serious late payment can have a significant negative effect, particularly if you previously had an otherwise strong credit profile.

Why payment history matters

Imagine two borrowers.

Borrower A

Pays every bill on time
Keeps balances manageable
Has several years of positive history

Borrower B

Frequently misses payments
Has accounts in collections
Has a history of serious delinquency

Even if both borrowers currently earn similar incomes, their credit risk profiles may look very different.

The most important habit

Pay your credit obligations on time.

If possible, automate at least the minimum required payment so an unexpected busy day or missed reminder doesn’t result in a late payment.

7. Credit Utilization

Credit utilization primarily refers to revolving credit, such as credit cards.

The basic calculation is:

Credit Utilization = Credit Card Balance ÷ Credit Limit × 100

Suppose you have a credit card with:

Credit limit = $10,000
Balance = $3,000

Your utilization is:

$3,000 ÷ $10,000 × 100 = 30%

If the balance rises to $8,000:

$8,000 ÷ $10,000 × 100 = 80%

Higher utilization can negatively affect many credit scores.

8. Is the 30% Rule Mandatory?

You will often hear that you must keep credit utilization below 30%.

This is an oversimplification.

There is no universal rule stating that 30% is the precise cutoff required for a good credit score.

Generally, lower revolving utilization tends to be better for scoring, all else equal.

Someone with 5% utilization isn’t necessarily guaranteed a better score than someone with 10%, because scoring models consider many other factors.

The practical lesson is:

Avoid carrying unnecessarily high revolving balances relative to your available credit.

9. Statement Balance vs. Current Balance

Credit-card users sometimes become confused about which balance matters.

Your card can have:

Current balance
Statement balance
Minimum payment
Available credit

Credit-card issuers may report account information to credit bureaus according to their own reporting practices.

One common strategy for reducing reported utilization is paying down a balance before the statement closes, but this isn’t necessarily required for everyone.

Most importantly, don’t sacrifice your emergency fund or take on additional debt simply to manipulate a reported utilization percentage.

10. Length of Credit History

Credit-scoring models can consider the age of your credit accounts.

Factors may include:

Age of your oldest account
Age of your newest account
Average age of accounts
How long individual accounts have been open

A longer, well-managed credit history can provide more evidence of responsible borrowing.

This is one reason closing an old credit card isn’t always the best decision.

However, keeping an account open solely for age may not make sense if the account has expensive fees or creates other problems.

11. Credit Mix

Credit mix refers to the different types of credit accounts in your profile.

Examples can include:

Credit cards
Auto loans
Personal loans
Mortgages
Student loans

Having experience with different types of credit can contribute positively to certain scoring models.

But this does not mean you should borrow money you don’t need simply to create a better credit mix.

For example, taking out an unnecessary personal loan just to add an installment account could cost you interest and fees while providing little practical benefit.

A good rule is:

Use credit when it serves a legitimate financial purpose—not simply to manufacture a credit-score profile.

12. New Credit and Hard Inquiries

When you apply for certain forms of credit, a lender may perform a hard inquiry on your credit report.

Examples include applications for:

Credit cards
Mortgages
Auto loans
Personal loans

A hard inquiry can cause a temporary reduction in your score, although the impact varies.

Opening several new accounts in a short period can also be viewed as a potential risk signal by some scoring models.

Soft inquiries are different

Soft inquiries generally do not affect your credit score.

Examples can include:

Checking your own credit
Certain prequalification checks
Certain employment-related checks, where permitted

The exact treatment depends on the type of inquiry and the applicable reporting rules.

13. Credit Score Ranges

A commonly used FICO framework categorizes scores approximately as follows:

FICO Score	General Category
800–850	Exceptional
740–799	Very Good
670–739	Good
580–669	Fair
300–579	Poor

These ranges are useful guidelines rather than guarantees of approval.

A lender doesn’t simply say:

“The applicant has 742, therefore approve.”

Lenders may also consider:

Income
Debt
Employment
Loan amount
Down payment
Assets
Existing relationship
Loan type
Application details
Their own underwriting policies

Different scoring models may also use different category definitions.

14. Why Does Your Credit Score Matter?

Your credit score can affect your financial life in several ways.

The most obvious impact is borrowing.

But its influence can extend into other areas depending on your location and the laws applicable to the transaction.

15. Credit Scores and Interest Rates

One of the biggest potential benefits of having strong credit is access to more favorable borrowing terms.

Suppose two borrowers apply for comparable loans.

If one borrower qualifies for a lower interest rate, that borrower may pay substantially less interest over the life of the loan.

Example

Consider a hypothetical $300,000 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.

Suppose:

Borrower A

Rate: 6.00%

Borrower B

Rate: 7.50%

Using a standard principal-and-interest mortgage calculation:

At 6.00%, the monthly principal-and-interest payment is approximately $1,799.
At 7.50%, it is approximately $2,098.

That’s a difference of roughly:

$299 per month

Over 360 monthly payments, the difference in principal-and-interest payments can be substantial.

However, this is a hypothetical illustration, not a statement that a particular credit score automatically produces either rate. Actual mortgage pricing depends on many factors, including market conditions, loan type, down payment, lender, borrower profile, and other underwriting criteria.

16. Credit Scores and Credit Cards

Credit-card issuers may use credit scores when determining:

Approval
Credit limits
Interest rates
Rewards-card eligibility
Other account terms

A stronger credit profile can improve your chances of qualifying for cards with more competitive terms.

However, approval is never determined by score alone.

17. Credit Scores and Auto Loans

Auto lenders may consider credit information when determining:

Whether to approve a loan
Interest rate
Loan amount
Required down payment
Other loan terms

A difference in interest rate can significantly affect the total cost of a vehicle loan.

This is especially important because vehicles are already expensive purchases.

Before focusing only on the monthly payment, compare:

Total amount financed + total interest + fees = overall borrowing cost

18. Credit Scores and Rental Applications

Landlords and property-management companies may review credit information as part of a rental application where legally permitted.

A weaker credit profile may sometimes result in:

Additional documentation
A co-signer requirement
A larger security deposit where permitted
Less favorable application outcomes

However, rental screening practices vary considerably by landlord, property, and jurisdiction.

Credit score is only one potential part of a rental decision.

19. Credit-Based Insurance Scores

In some jurisdictions, insurers may use credit-based insurance information or insurance scores when pricing certain types of insurance, subject to applicable laws.

This is not the same thing as simply using your standard FICO score.

The practice is also restricted or prohibited in some jurisdictions.

Therefore, avoid assuming that your credit score directly determines your insurance premium everywhere.

20. Credit and Employment

Credit information and employment screening require particular care because laws vary significantly by jurisdiction.

In the United States, employers generally do not receive the same credit score a lender sees, but some employers may request a form of credit report information for certain positions where legally permitted and with applicable authorization.

This can be particularly relevant to some jobs involving:

Financial responsibilities
Sensitive information
Fiduciary duties

However, a credit report used for employment screening is not equivalent to a lender’s credit-score evaluation.

Always consider the laws applicable to your location.

21. Credit Scores and Utility Deposits

Some service providers may use credit information when determining whether a customer needs a deposit or other payment arrangement.

Potential examples include:

Electricity
Gas
Internet
Mobile services

This varies by provider and jurisdiction.

A strong credit profile can sometimes make these transactions easier, but it is not universal.

22. Credit Score vs. Financial Health

A credit score is important, but it is not a complete measure of financial success.

Consider two people.

Person A

Credit score: 820
Savings: $1,000
High-interest credit-card debt: $20,000
Little emergency savings

Person B

Credit score: 720
Savings: $50,000
No credit-card debt
Strong retirement savings

Person A has the higher credit score, but Person B may have the stronger overall financial position.

This illustrates an important principle:

A credit score measures aspects of credit risk. It does not measure your entire financial life.

23. Income Does Not Directly Determine Your Credit Score

Your income is important when applying for credit, but it generally isn’t a direct component of the standard credit-score calculation.

For example, someone earning $150,000 can have poor credit.

Someone earning $45,000 can have excellent credit.

A credit score primarily reflects credit-related information rather than your salary or total wealth.

Lenders may separately evaluate:

Income
Employment
Debt-to-income ratio
Assets
Cash reserves

These factors can matter significantly during underwriting.

24. How to Build Credit From Scratch

If you have no established credit history, building credit can take time.

Potential strategies include:

Secured Credit Cards

A secured credit card typically requires a refundable security deposit that may determine or influence your credit limit.

Use it responsibly and pay the balance as agreed.

Authorized User Status

Some credit-card issuers may report authorized-user accounts to credit bureaus.

Being added to an established account can potentially help build credit, although the effect depends on the account, issuer, bureau reporting, and scoring model.

Credit-Builder Products

Some financial institutions offer products specifically designed to help establish credit history.

Always evaluate:

Fees
Interest
Reporting practices
Contract terms

Student or Entry-Level Cards

Some issuers offer cards designed for people with limited credit histories.

Again, compare terms rather than applying indiscriminately.

25. Step-by-Step: How to Improve Your Credit Score

Improving credit generally requires consistency rather than a quick trick.

Step 1: Review Your Credit Reports

Check your credit reports for inaccuracies.

Look for:

Accounts you don’t recognize
Incorrect balances
Incorrect payment status
Duplicate accounts
Incorrect personal information
Outdated information

In the United States, consumers can obtain credit reports through AnnualCreditReport.com, the federally authorized source for free credit reports.

If you find inaccurate information, follow the appropriate dispute process with the credit reporting company and, where applicable, the organization that supplied the information.

26. Step 2: Pay Every Account on Time

Payment history is one of the most important components of many credit-scoring models.

Set up:

Automatic minimum payments
Calendar reminders
Account alerts

Then pay additional amounts manually when appropriate.

Automation can reduce the risk of accidentally missing a due date.

27. Step 3: Reduce High Credit-Card Balances

If your credit cards are heavily utilized, reducing balances can improve your credit profile.

Prioritize paying down high-interest debt while maintaining an appropriate emergency reserve.

For example:

Card Limit: $10,000

Balance: $8,000

Utilization:

$8,000 ÷ $10,000 × 100 = 80%

Reducing the balance to $2,000 would produce:

$2,000 ÷ $10,000 × 100 = 20%

The lower utilization may help your score depending on the scoring model and the rest of your credit profile.

28. Step 4: Avoid Unnecessary Applications

Don’t apply for several credit cards simply because you see multiple attractive offers.

Every application may have consequences, and opening multiple new accounts can change the age and composition of your credit profile.

Before applying, ask:

Do I actually need this account?
What is the annual fee?
What interest rate applies?
Will the credit limit meaningfully help?
Are there better alternatives?
Will I be tempted to overspend?

29. Step 5: Keep Useful Old Accounts Open

An old account can contribute to the age of your credit history.

But this doesn’t mean every old account should remain open forever.

Consider closing an account if:

It has an expensive annual fee
It creates financial temptation
The terms are unfavorable
You cannot manage it responsibly

Before closing an account, consider how doing so could affect your available credit and overall credit profile.

30. Step 6: Monitor Your Credit

Regular monitoring can help you identify:

Identity theft
Unauthorized accounts
Reporting errors
Unexpected balance changes
New inquiries

You don’t need to obsess over daily score fluctuations.

Focus on major changes and the underlying information in your credit reports.

31. How Long Does It Take to Improve a Credit Score?

There is no universal timeline.

It depends on the reason your score is low.

High Credit Utilization

If your score is being affected by high reported credit-card balances, paying down those balances may produce changes relatively quickly once the lower balances are reported.

Recent Late Payment

Recovering from a serious late payment generally takes longer.

Collection Account or Bankruptcy

Major negative events can affect your credit profile for years.

The important principle is:

You cannot usually repair years of poor credit behavior overnight.

But you can begin improving the underlying financial behavior immediately.

32. Common Credit Score Myths

Myth 1: Checking Your Own Score Lowers It

False.

Checking your own credit score generally constitutes a soft inquiry and does not lower your score.

Monitoring your credit is generally a healthy financial habit.

Myth 2: You Need to Carry a Credit-Card Balance

False.

Carrying a balance does not create a special credit-building benefit.

If your card has an interest charge, carrying a balance can cost you money.

You can use credit responsibly and pay your statement balance in full when practical.

Myth 3: A High Income Automatically Produces a High Credit Score

False.

Income and credit score are different concepts.

Someone can earn a high salary and have poor credit.

Myth 4: Closing Every Credit Card Is Good for Your Credit

Not necessarily.

Closing an account can affect available credit and potentially increase utilization.

However, keeping an account open isn’t automatically beneficial if the account has costly fees or encourages financial problems.

Myth 5: You Only Have One Credit Score

False.

You may have multiple credit scores because different models, bureaus, and reporting dates can produce different results.

Myth 6: You Need an 800+ Score to Get a Loan

False.

Many people qualify for loans with scores below 800.

The issue is that stronger credit may improve access to certain products or more competitive terms, depending on the lender and transaction.

Myth 7: Paying Off a Loan Always Immediately Increases Your Score

Not necessarily.

Paying off debt can be financially beneficial, but the effect on your credit score depends on the overall credit profile and scoring model.

Don’t keep expensive debt simply because you’re afraid that paying it off might affect your score.

33. What Is the Fastest Responsible Way to Improve Credit?

There is no guaranteed instant solution.

However, several actions can address common problems:

Correct inaccurate information.
Bring past-due accounts current.
Reduce high revolving balances.
Stop missing payments.
Avoid unnecessary new applications.
Keep credit accounts organized.
Monitor your reports for changes.

Be skeptical of companies promising to “erase” accurate negative information instantly.

Accurate negative information generally cannot simply be removed because someone doesn’t like it.

34. Should You Pay a Credit-Repair Company?

Be careful.

Some legitimate services may assist consumers with specific administrative tasks, but you should be suspicious of anyone promising to:

Create an instant 800 score
Remove all negative information
Erase accurate late payments
Guarantee loan approval
Manufacture a new credit identity

You can generally review your own credit reports and dispute inaccurate information yourself.

If you consider paying for credit assistance, research the company carefully and understand exactly what services it provides.

35. Credit Score Improvement Checklist

Use this checklist to build healthier credit habits:

Every Month

Pay all bills on time
Review credit-card balances
Avoid unnecessary purchases on credit
Check important account alerts
Pay down high-interest debt

Periodically

Review your credit reports
Check for unauthorized accounts
Review credit utilization
Review annual fees
Evaluate whether you still need each credit account
Check for reporting errors

Before Applying for Major Credit

Review your credit reports
Reduce unnecessary revolving balances
Avoid unnecessary new applications
Compare multiple lenders where practical
Review total borrowing costs
Consider the impact on your monthly budget

36. Credit Score vs. Credit Report vs. Creditworthiness

These three terms are related but different.

Concept	Meaning
Credit Report	Detailed record of credit-related information
Credit Score	Numerical assessment generated using a scoring model
Creditworthiness	Broader assessment of your ability and likelihood to repay

A lender can consider much more than your score when deciding whether to approve an application.

For example, a mortgage lender may examine:

Credit history
Income
Employment
Debt
Down payment
Assets
Property
Loan amount

Your score is important, but it is only one piece of the larger financial picture.

37. How to Protect Your Credit Profile

Building good credit is only half the job.

You also need to protect it.

Use Strong Account Security

Use unique passwords and multi-factor authentication where available.

Monitor Accounts

Review statements regularly.

Be Careful With Personal Information

Don’t provide sensitive information to suspicious websites, messages, or callers.

Watch for Unauthorized Accounts

An unfamiliar account or inquiry can be a warning sign of identity theft.

Freeze Your Credit When Appropriate

In the United States, consumers can place security freezes with the major credit bureaus. A freeze can restrict access to your credit report for new-credit applications until you lift it, subject to applicable rules and exceptions.

This can be particularly useful if you believe your identity information has been compromised.

38. What Is a Good Credit Score?

A “good” credit score depends on the scoring model and lender.

For the commonly used FICO framework, 670–739 is generally categorized as Good, while higher ranges are categorized as Very Good or Exceptional.

But don’t make 800 your only goal.

Once your credit is strong enough to qualify for competitive financial products, improving from one strong score to a slightly higher score may have less practical benefit than:

Increasing your savings
Paying off expensive debt
Building an emergency fund
Increasing retirement contributions
Improving your overall cash flow

The goal of good credit is not to collect points.

The goal is to make your financial life more efficient and less expensive.

39. Frequently Asked Questions

What is a credit score in simple terms?

A credit score is a number generated from information in your credit history that helps lenders estimate your credit risk.

Higher scores generally indicate lower estimated risk, although each lender uses its own approval criteria.

What is the highest credit score?

Many commonly used consumer credit-scoring models in the United States have a maximum score of 850, although scoring ranges can differ by model.

Is 700 a good credit score?

Under the commonly used FICO classification, a score of 700 falls within the Good range.

However, the exact lending terms available to you depend on the lender, loan type, market conditions, and your broader financial profile.

Is 800 a perfect credit score?

No.

For commonly used FICO scores, 850 is generally the maximum.

An 800 score is considered exceptional under the standard FICO range.

How often should I check my credit?

You can monitor your credit as frequently as you want without hurting your score when you’re checking your own credit.

The more important habit is regularly reviewing your credit reports for errors and unauthorized activity.

Does paying cash build credit?

No.

Paying cash for purchases generally doesn’t create a credit history because there is no credit account being reported.

To build credit, you generally need credit accounts that report your payment behavior to credit bureaus.

Does a debit card build credit?

Normally, simply using a debit card does not build traditional credit because you are spending money directly from your deposit account rather than borrowing.

Does paying my credit card in full hurt my credit score?

No.

Paying your credit-card statement balance in full is generally a healthy financial practice and prevents interest from accumulating on purchases when your card’s terms provide a grace period and you meet the applicable requirements.

Can you have a good credit score with debt?

Yes.

Having debt does not automatically mean you have poor credit.

The type of debt, payment history, balances, utilization, age, and other factors matter.

However, a high credit score does not mean debt is financially harmless.

Can you have a high income and bad credit?

Yes.

Income is not the same thing as credit history.

A high-income person can have late payments, high utilization, collections, or other negative credit information.

How long do late payments stay on a credit report?

In the United States, many negative items can generally remain on a credit report for up to seven years, although the exact reporting period depends on the type of information and applicable rules.

Bankruptcy can have different reporting periods.

The fact that information remains on a report does not mean its impact on scoring remains constant throughout that entire period.

Can you get a mortgage with a low credit score?

Potentially, yes.

Mortgage eligibility depends on the lender, loan program, credit history, income, debt, down payment, property, and many other factors.

Lower credit can make borrowing more difficult or expensive, but there is no single universal minimum score for every mortgage.

Does paying off a credit card improve your credit score?

Reducing a high credit-card balance can help your score in some circumstances because lower utilization can be favorable.

However, the exact impact depends on your overall credit profile and the scoring model.

You should not keep expensive credit-card debt simply to maintain a particular score.

40. Final Thoughts

Understanding what is a credit score is one of the foundations of responsible personal finance.

A credit score isn’t your income, your wealth, or your overall financial health. It is a numerical assessment derived from information in your credit history and used by lenders and other permitted organizations as one factor in evaluating financial risk.

The most important habits are surprisingly simple:

Pay your bills on time.
Keep revolving credit balances manageable.
Avoid unnecessary credit applications.
Monitor your credit reports.
Correct inaccurate information.
Protect your accounts from fraud.
Use credit as a financial tool rather than as an excuse to overspend.

You don’t need to chase a perfect score.

Instead, focus on developing a credit history that demonstrates consistent, responsible financial behavior.

A stronger credit profile can potentially help you qualify for more competitive borrowing terms, reduce financing costs, and make certain financial transactions easier.

But remember that credit is only one part of your financial foundation.

A truly strong financial position combines healthy credit with adequate savings, manageable debt, positive cash flow, appropriate insurance, and long-term investing that matches your goals and risk tolerance.

The ultimate objective isn’t simply to have a high number on a credit report.

The objective is to build a financial life in which good credit helps you access opportunities without becoming dependent on debt.

Financial Disclaimer

This article is provided for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute personalized financial, credit, investment, tax, legal, or lending advice. Credit-scoring models, reporting practices, lender requirements, consumer-protection laws, and financial regulations vary by country, institution, and product and may change over time. Examples in this article use U.S. credit-reporting and scoring concepts for illustration and should not be assumed to apply universally. Before making borrowing or credit decisions, review the current terms provided by the relevant lender, credit bureau, financial institution, or government authority and consider seeking qualified professional advice when appropriate.