What is the best way to improve a credit score?
412198
Since you saying you want to improve it, would that mean you already know what your credit score is and that you need to address it. \n1) If you have charge offs, you need to get them satisfied. Once you have, request a letter of satisfaction from the creditors. These letters will be worth more than gold to you in the next 7 years. So keep them in a safe location so you can present them if requested or if you have to dispute those charge offs. This also go for judgments and any collections.\n2) You need to re-establish your credit history. If you have applied and been denied credit, then your only alternative would be a secured credit card. You will have to supply a deposit for collateral, however you should be able to obtain one. Again, don't have a balance more than 50% of the credit limit, and always pay the minimum each month. You should have 4 trade lines (credit cards). I would not suggest that you get a department store credit card since most of them do not report to all three credit bureaus. Also it limits your ability to use them since you can only use them at the store that they belong to. \n3) Do not have your credit report pulled after you have set up your credit cards. If you are interested in knowiing your credit scores, you can always to Equafax, Extperian, and Transunion's website have pay for a FICO report that will not effect your score. If you get your credit pulled from lender, they might not tell you where you stand on the score and it effects your score at the same time.\n\nHope this helps.
181709
improving your credit takes time, the more payments you make ontime or early, the better your credit gets.If your looking to score some good poits, take out a loan, doesnt have to be too much, then make payments on it.
919975
pay your bills, get a credit card, yea i said it. buy something everything month with it (like a 40 dollar shirt or something, whatever it doesn't matter) PAY IT OFF every month. you build credit by having credit history. \nI have a loan for like 5k for my car, and other stuff and pay it every month, my credit score has gone up tremedously over the past year because of it.
814475
I can save you the money by giving my answers to his questions:\n\n    * A dirty little trick that credit card companies use to lower your credit score to keep their competitors away from you; learn if you're a victim of this, including how to fix it.\n\nThis trick is cards like CapitalOne don't report your credit limit, only your high balance.  This can make your utilization appear higher.  To see if you are a victim of this look at your credit report and verify that the reported credit limits match your actual credit limits.  Fix it by either getting rid of those cards or disputing the information with the credit bureau.\n\n    * Which errors on a credit report are a waste of time to fix and which are a high priority (helping you to raise your score by 5, 10, 15, 20 points at a time).\n\nBad advice, if you see an error go ahead and get it fixed.  The low priority items are inquiries greater than 6 months ago and pretty much any incorrect but positive item.  Negative items are obvious, late pays, etc.\n\n    * How to build credit (if you have none) and rebuild credit if you've gone through a divorce, bankruptcy, or other major delinquency.\n\nSmall secured bank loan, secured credit card, small car loan.  Make sure they report.  \n\n    * Why you should NOT become a cash-only citizen; at the same time, learn how to keep credit active without putting yourself into debt.\n\nCredit is handy, no reason no to keep some credit cards around, no need to do more than place an occassional charge on them to keep them active.  No need to ever pay interest.\n\n    * How paying collections can HURT your credit score.\n\nIt re-ages your account.\n\n    * How to prepare for a loan by improving your credit score.\n\nReduce utilization (either increase limits or pay down cards), age off inquiries (more than 6 months and they don't matter).  Dispute off negative items.\n\n    * How to maintain a high credit score for the rest of your life!\n\nPay your bills.
946831
If you have a bank account, you may consider asking your bank for a credit card.  They may require that it be secured, which means you would have say $500 in an account that you couldn't touch, and you would be borrowing against that money and paying it back.  Then use it for gas and groceries and pay it back every month.  After a while (six months or so) you can apply for a real credit card, they will see you can pay, and will probably say yes and offer you a higher credit limit. As long as you use the cards, but don't really appear to need the cards, they keep raising your limits. For credit scores to be good once you get your cards, you don't want to have the cards charged up above 30% of the total value.  Stay away from Capital One, they do more injury than good to people's credit scores.\n\nYou can also try jewelry stores and electronic stores if they have anything you want to buy.\n\nThere are other ways too, but they take some major explaining. So if you are curious, email me and I'll respond.  Part of how you better your credit has to do with why you want it improved. What is your goal and why?
829381
Here are a couple of things you can do to raise your credit score quickly. \n\n1) Have a relative with great credit add you to their credit card account. This can raise your score over 100 points instantly, and has not risk to them! Even though your relative can add your name to their credit card account, they don't have risk if they don't give you a credit card.\n\n2) Use your credit cards for monthly purchase, then pay balance down to zero every month. If you have the cash, this is a very quick way to raise your credit score. Remember, creditors cannot "see" your income from the credit report, but they can tell you have financial strength when you pay down your card balances every month. This technique can raise your credit score up to 80 points.\n\n3) Use time. Most people don't realize that a bad credit item has the most weight only in the first two months, then hurts your score even less after 6 months, and even less after 2 years. After 2 years, many bad credit items don't even hurt at all. I know a friend with 6 chargeoffs that are 4-6 years old and her credit score is 620, good enough to buy a house. Sometimes waiting even a month or two for a bad item to age is all you need for your credit score to bounce back. \n\nIt doesn't mean you are a bad person when you have a lower credit score. Bad things just happen. Good luck with your credit score!
13537
If you get a personal loan from a local bank and make your payments on time your credit score would go up over time.  If you already have bad credit consider a secured loan (requires collateral of some sort).  However, the positive factors from this loan would take some time (6 months to a year) to actually improve your credit score.  If you are just thinking of getting a loan for quick improvement then do not do it, as getting a personal loan right before applying for a home loan might show that you are over extended.
1134338
You don't need to go into debt to build a better credit score.  Establish a checking/savings account and pay off all your utility bills on time and you'll have a great start.
771428
If you pay the debts off it will have positive effect but not substancial and definately not quickly. \n\nIf you really want to improve your credit: \n \n1st pay off your debts in full or settle them for less then you owe. \n\n2nd: Dispute the negative items. \n\n3. Add positive credit history:  \n\n\nThis website will help, take a few minutes to browse through it: \n\nhttp://www.expert-credit-advice.com/
469706
A person's credit rating is built upon historical demonstration of good financial habits and responsibility.  The simplest things to do to build your credit are:\n\n1. Open a savings account and make regular deposits to it, no matter how small.  You demonstrate a savings habit and built a cash asset.  The financial principle is called 'Pay Yourself First'.  You worked for that money, you should take the first cut.  Save at least 10% of what you make and don't touch it; always use that ever-growing-wad to make yourself more money.  3 to 6 months of your current income in savings should be your first goal; just in case something unfortunate happens at work. Once you hit that, start looking into good mutual funds; another cash asset that will add to your net worth and your credit score.  Don't forget, that 'wad' is always earning you interest and getting bigger.\n\n2. Make payments to your creditors ON TIME.  A number of late payments, or worse, defaults on loans, can really screw things up on your credit report and you'll appear to be 'a bad risk'; no matter how nice a person you are.\n\n3. Open and manage a rotating credit account so you can demonstrate that you can manage credit properly.  This will help raise your credit rating.  If you don't have a credit card yet, apply at a gas station for a card; ensuring there is no annual fee.  If you're employed, it's very easy to get one of these, the credit limit is usually only a few hundred dollars, and you can easily use it for something that you're likely paying for each month anyway.  Yes, you could get one from a department store, but its more likely you'll have a 'new shoes' emergency or the like.  Stick with the gasoline necessity until you are comfortable handling credit properly.  To budget your expense, keep the receipts for your gasoline for a month or two and average how much you spend on gasoline in a given month.  Set the money aside in an envelope when you get paid, and at the end of the month when your gasoline bill comes, deposit the money and pay off the balance.  Paying off the balance each month avoids any finance charges and ensures that having the card (and building your credit score) won't cost you a thing.\n\n4. Pay down your outstanding debts.  Once you are carrying enough debt to impact 50% of your cash flow each month, creditors start getting itchy about your ability to repay any additional amounts.  If you have several cards and are carrying balances on them, target the highest interest rate card first and pay it down to $0.  Take them in order until you're out of debt.  Then use the lowest rate card and carry a small balance.  I use one card for gasoline and monthly services then pay off the balance each month.\n\nPeople with good credit ratings get lower interest loans because they've proven themselves a good credit risk.  You'll appreciate that when you apply for your next car loan or your next mortgage.  One or two percent over a 30-year mortgage can save you thousands.
124150
It really depends on the credit company you are using.  I use LandAmerica.  And with them, I first figure out what can be done to raise the credit score.  (They have a system that allows you to see what needs to be done to obtain a certain score)  Its just an estimate, but pretty helpful.  Once that is done, you make the changes that are needed.  (Pay off that credit card, move around balances, get a letter from a collection agency that says something was mis-reported... and so on)  Once you have your proof that your credit needs to change, you supply that to the credit company and they supply it to the different Bureau.  I think the cost from company to company is about the same.  (About $25 per Credit Bureau per line item) Once that is all sent in, it will take about 5-7 business days.  Good luck!
1059603
I have answered this question in a 5 part series. There are a few items that can be done to build credit. Here are some quick ideas:\n\nThe fastest way is to have a family member or friend put you on a credit card of theirs as an authorized user. This allows the history of that account to report to your credit as well, but you never are in debt. (Just be careful that the account you are added to is a good one!)\n\nHowever, this is not a long term solution for good credit... try these for solid established credit over the long haul....\n\nOpen a Credit Union account and get them to provide a secured loan against your savings. If you have bad credit, most traditional and national banks will not give you a loan. They usually want good credit for that.\n\nGet a secured credit card and only use it for gas purchases, once a month and pay it off each month. No debt, but always paid on time... does wonders!\n\nBuying a car can help, but you will have a very high rate with limited or no credit.\n\n\nCheck out the resources below for all the details and more ideas.
3466
There is no way to improve your FICO score fast unless there are inaccuracies on your credit report. Those you can challenge and have removed. Otherwise, you must take the time required to show lenders that you are a good credit risk.
589825
home loan: www.naca.com  \n\nthey are a non-profit housing advocacy group and they will work with you to improve your credit.
1069864
The best way to build credit is get a loan and pay it off. You could start by betting a store credit card. If your making payments to rent to own, then you have a line of credit with them and that should help.
40270
To legally improve your credit profile, you should: \n\nRemember to pay all your bills on time. When you are delayed or delinquent in a payment, late fees are charged, more interest accrues and your credit health is negatively affected. \nApply for a department store card or gasoline credit card, which are often easier to qualify for, and pay those bills on time. \nContact your card issuer immediately if you were unable to pay your bills on time, or if you have found an error in a bill. Be sure to make any complaints, and get corrections, in writing. \nMaintain a small number of credit cards and close unused accounts. Creditors look at your potential for going on a spending spree and falling too deeply into debt. The more credit cards you have, the larger your debt potential. \nKeep your debts reasonable. Financial experts say that, as a rule, non-mortgage debt payments should not exceed 10 to 15 percent of your take-home pay each month. If your debts are higher than that, try to reduce them before applying for another loan. \nAvoid unnecessary inquiries. Any time you authorize a creditor or other business to check your credit report, an inquiry is added to your report. If you have a large number of inquiries in a short amount of time, creditors may infer that you are either applying for too much credit because of financial difficulties or taking on more debt than you can repay. \nOrder a copy of your credit report at least once a year from each of the three credit reporting companies to stay on top of changes to your credit profile and to check for identity theft.
215461
It will take several months to a year to get your credit really improved. Be careful of using a company who says they can raise your credit score. Cause legally they cant. Only you can. And while paying them large sums of money, you can dod it yourself for free. Depends on the elbow grease your willing to give. Check it out. There really is no super fast way to do it. But the best and probably quickest way would be to go to Annualcreditreport.com and get your free 3 credit reports. Then go through them and dispute the negative items on your report that dont make valid. Even if unsure, do so anyways because it becomes the responsibility of the creditor to prove that the information is accurate. If the creditor doesnt respond within 30 days the negative item has to be removed by law. In which removing a negative credit report item raises your score. Also, finding your most recent and lowest balance debt and offering halve of what you totally owed for it. Most creditors are willing to do this if your account has been way behind for a long time. Because now they're just worried about getting any money from you at all. Same is 100% true for collection agencies whom took over your bad debt. Offer half and no more. Ask to include in writing and mailed to you that they will remove negative from your credit report in terms of full half-amount payment. That raises your score. Other would be as suggested to get a secured credit card and just use it for gas twice a month or something small. Dont use it for anything else! Thats how you get screwed up again. Make the payments on time...everytime. This will start to show up as a positive item in your credit report and by showing a low balance on you card (30% or less of high limit) will show you can be responsible with your credit and thus create a higher score and higher opinion of a future creditor...such as an auto financer. Heed this and Hope i was of some good help to you. Good luck. Shuuutnstr =o)