The shitt9est thing about credit is that payments that don't improve your credit can still hurt it when you miss.

Late on rent or your cell phone plan? That's a ding on your credit report. You can't get a loan because you haven't established that you'll pay your debts.

Pay your rent on time for 30 years straight? No credit history. You can't get a loan because you haven't established that you'll pay your debts.