How to Improve Your Credit Score

A good credit score is a necessity. You require it to rent apartments, finance a vehicle as well as buying a house and reaching other financial objectives. Find out how to improve your credit score and reach your objectives.

8 Easy Ways to Improve Your Credit Score

1. Make sure that the Accuracy of Your Credit Reports

The first step to improving your credit score is to know the credit report you have. There are three major credit bureaus TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. –and each one has their own credit report that is based upon your history of credit.

Credit scores are determined by the reports and there are a variety of models of credit scoring. This means that everyone could have many credit scores even though bad information in your credit reports tends to bring the entire credit score downwards.

It’s not unusual to discover errors on one’s credit report. It’s recommended to regularly check your score and contest any possible errors. This can improve your score on credit.

Also read: How To Find The Best Credit Card

2. Increase Your Credit Limits

A high credit utilization could affect your credit score. A higher credit limit can aid in improving your credit score by decreasing the amount of credit you use. A higher limit means that you are able to continue using the same amount of credit, however, you will use less of your total credit allowance.

Be cautious in this regard, however. Limits can quickly be detrimental to your score, rather than being a positive thing. Another important thing to consider to remember is the fact that requesting credit cards could affect your score, so if attempt to increase your limit by submitting every opportunity you can you could do more harm than positive. Also, it’s not helpful when your credit and spending usage rise in line with your new limit.

3. Try to Add your Utilities Payables and positive Rent

One way to boost your credit score without committing to any new credit accounts is to have your utility and rent payments reported to credit bureaus. This will help you build your credit history, without adding to your debt or creating hard inquiries on your credit reports.

The majority of landlords do not disclose this information, so you could have to ask to start or enroll in a credit-building program. Solutions like ExtraCredit(r) allow you to self-report timely rent or utility payments so that you can earn credit for managing your accounts effectively.

4. Make Sure to Send in Your Payments when They’re Due

The most crucial factor to do when you are trying to build up your credit is to pay punctually. A late payment can seriously impact your credit score, and this negative mark stays on your credit report for a long period of time. If you’re unable to make your payment on time, you should consider asking the creditor whether they’re willing with you. Sometimes, you could be able to stay clear of being reported as having a late payment by taking a proactive approach and observing the policies of the creditor.

5. Be Added as an Authorized User

Being added to the list of approved account holders for the account belonging to a family member or friend member with a good credit history can boost the score of your credit. While you don’t really have to utilize the bank account or credit score, their good credit and payment history are included in your credit reports and can improve your credit score when you default.

This only applies if the other party takes care of their credit card account. Make sure you choose a partner who is punctual with their payments and doesn’t overdraw their account balance on their credit cards.

Also read: 15 Finance Companies For Small Business Loans with Bad Credit score

6. Clear Any Outstanding Collection Accounts

There is a chance to improve your credit score by taking care of the old credit card debt. Some lenders may agree to erase negative marks from your credit report when you pay off debts, but this isn’t a common practice. However, a collection that has been paid account is more favorable for your credit score than a pending one. Medical collections are removed from your credit score once you’ve paid them.

7. Open a Secure Credit Card

This kind of card requires the deposit of money to ensure the credit line the lender is offering to you. The typical credit limit is $200 or $300, meaning it’s not necessary to have a huge amount of money to open an account. Making the most of your credit card and paying on time can increase your credit score.

8. Keep Revolving Balances

If you are in the middle of a huge amount of debt compared to your credit score the score may drop. In reality, credit utilization makes up 30% of your score. Therefore, if your total credit card credit is $10,000, and you’re using just $8,000 the payment of those accounts can boost your score.

Averaging about 30% is recommended. It’s a $3,000 credit on a $10,000 amount, for instance.