how to improve your credit score?
485347
as others have said, pay your bills ON TIME, even if its the minimum on your Credit Card. \nI have a very high credit score, and its been because I am faithful to my credit cards (don't have more than 3 that I use carefully), I am on time with my payments and I clean up my debt as soon as possible. That makes me a good person to lend $$$ to, since I'm show that I am not a default risk.
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.
1146659
Living with debt or bad credit can be very stressful, but help is closer than you realize. Improving your credit rating requires that you take positive action and change your attitude toward money. \n \n   \n  Steps:  \n1.   Request a copy of your credit report from a credit bureau. If there is an error, write to the bureau and ask it to fix the mistake. It might also help to contact the creditor who reported the error. Some creditors will contact the bureau on your behalf.  \n  \n2.   If the bad marks on your credit report result from outstanding debts, repay them as quickly as possible. Pay off those with the highest interest rates first.  \n  \n3.   If your debts are overwhelming, contact a nonprofit credit-counseling organization to work out a debt-consolidation plan. A counselor will help you consolidate your debts and will contact your debtors on your behalf to reduce or eliminate finance charges. This can reduce your monthly payments by up to 40 percent.  \n  \n4.   Steer clear of any services that offer you credit-repair or debt-consolidation loans. These companies will plunge you further into debt. Be suspicious of any company that advertises aggressively or sends unsolicited mail or e-mail.  \n  \n5.   Close your credit accounts and cut up the cards. Sell valuables or liquidate assets that will help you repay your debts. Buy the bare essentials (food and gas) and use the rest of your earnings to pay off your consolidated debts.  \n  \n6.   Work with your credit counselor to repay all of your debts. Meanwhile, live a life that will help you re-establish good credit. Pay rent and utilities or mortgages promptly, keep the same residence and job, maintain savings and checking accounts, set a budget and stick to it.  \n  \n7.   Once you have repaid your debts, apply for a new credit card to build a good credit history. It might be easier initially to get a department-store or gasoline credit card or one from an employee credit union.  \n  \n8.   Promptly pay off the balance of the credit card monthly to build good credit. Use the card responsibly.  \n  \n9.   If you don't qualify for a regular credit card, apply for a secured one. With a secured credit card, you fund an account up front and then "charge" expenses on it. This card will show up as a credit card on your credit report and, if used responsibly, can help you build a good credit history.  \n  \n  \n  Overall Tips:  \n Get a copy of your credit report once a year even if you think you have good credit. You may find errors that will damage your credit rating.  \n  \n Filing for bankruptcy is always an option, although your credit history will reflect it for 7 to 10 years, making it very difficult for you to get a car or home loan in the future.  \n  \n Creditors agree to reduce or eliminate interest rates under a debt-consolidation plan because it saves them the expense of collection efforts and increases their chances of recouping the balance.  \n  \n Every application you make for a credit card shows up on your credit report, and multiple applications can hurt your credit rating. To avoid this, use an online service that matches you with creditcard companies that will extend credit to you. Search online for "credit card finder" or "credit card search."  \n\nNo matter how bad your credit is, you can take steps that will make it better. \n  \n1.   Pay all of your bills on time. Late payments (payments that are 30 days late or more) have a negative effect on your credit rating.  \n  \n2.   Reduce the number of credit cards you carry. Write to your creditors to request that they close your accounts and report this status change to all three credit-reporting agencies.  \n  \n3.   Avoid bankruptcies, tax liens (a lien for not paying state or federal income taxes or property taxes) and collections. A bankruptcy stays on your credit report for up to 10 years. Collection accounts and paid tax liens stay on for seven years, and unpaid tax
1091396
You can greatly improve your credit, yes. There is already a good answer on here for this, and remember: STAY DISCIPLINED!!!\n\nYou can do it!
300709
Pay your bills! pay on time, and double check your statements. Do not make many inquiries on your credit score, they take points away every time you inquire or apply for credit/loans.
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/
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.
336743
A good way to raise your credit score actually consists of a few aspects. Paying your payments on time is very important. Try to always pay more then the minimum and pay it early consistently, before the due date. Secondly, it is very important that you do not have too many tradelines and you never want to keep more then 30% balance on any of them. For example, don't go out and apply to 16 different credit cards. Try to not have more then 7-10 tradelines. Don't max out on any cards, its better to have 30% filled on 7 cards then 1 card maxed out and 6 empty. Another important aspect is your history. Lenders are always looking for long history so never close the cards you have had for a long time. Always remember, loans like mortgages, auto loans, and student loans are good tradelines to have on your credit, just make sure you pay them on time.
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?
1093413
I also have a really good credit score ( 709) and from everything i have been told and seen the best way to keep increasing your credit score is to \n\n* Pay off Credit cards asap \n*Pay more then the MIN due\n* Do not close out accounts just dont use them \n* Dont get any more credit cards then needed \n* Do not have companys inquiring on your credit report ( if you have too many inquiries it drops your score i was told)\n\nThose are some key tips i was told to keep in mind, If you have several cards with low amounts on them you might be better off to transfer them all to one card and pay extra on it every month \n\nALso if you hold a Providian Credit Card you can log on and see information pertaining to your credit report and it shows you monthly how your score is and gives you also ideas of ways to increase your score and lower debt
599944
Talk to a local mortgage broker.  Sit down and go over your credit report.  They will be able to tell you what you can do to get your score up.  Sometimes its better to spend money on your credit instead of the down payment.  Sometimes its the other way around.  Sometimes there's another solution like putting someone else on the application with you.  \n\nIn general you should keep your open credit cards on-time and pay them down to half of their credit limit.  If you have extra cash payoff any collections you have from the last year or two.  \n\nOpen up your yellowpages and look under "mortgages".  Find a local phone number or an adress you're familiar with and go to town.
68236
Purchase things you ALREADY HAVE THE MONEY FOR in the bank.  Then pay them off each month.\nEnsure your card has no annual fees, and it will cost you no more to use the card than it does to have cash.  Just be sure to never, ever, ever spend more than you have in the bank.\nOver time, this will build up your credit.\n\nIf you buy a car using a loan, your interest rate will depend on your credit.  Once you pay it off, your credit will go up (makes good on debts).\n\nBuy a house, and your credit goes WAY up.\n\nGood luck!
779546
The fastest way to re-establish your history is by paying your current obligations -- it may take 2-3 years of this behavior to improve your credit score.  And, you will need to take care of any judgements, etc.\n\nConsumer Credit Counseling/Debt Reduction/Settlement Offers will NOT improve your credit -- these are all noted in credit reports.  They may make it easier to pay off your debt, but creditors see this as not meeting your full obligation.  While your credit score is important, most lenders look at other variables within a credit report --- CCC is a red flag for many lenders.\n\nIf you truly cannot repay your debt, it is smarter to declare bankruptcy instead of going through the CCC route.  Most CCC customers deteriorate into bankruptcy, anyway.  These agencies make a tidy profit (although most claim they are 'non-profit') from upfront fees, customer payments and/or settlement offers --- they rarely act in the consumer's best interest.  One or two years after filing for bankruptcy, you'll get credit offers again (although not under the best terms), as they know you can't re-file for another 5 years or so.
386037
I just answered this question a bit ago on someone else's question, so if you read it this will be redundant as I just cut and pasted.\n\nAs a victim of ID theft which lead to drastic measures, I have spent the past three years studying and rebuilding my credit. here's what you can do:\n\nHave about 2-4 credit card accounts, but keep the total balances below 50%, no matter what. This is a huge credit score booster. Debt to credit ratio is a large percentage that makes up your credit score. I can simply boost my score 50-70 points in one month with just keeping it below 50%. If its over 50%, the bureau is merciless.\n\nIf you have credit cards but they are all paid off, or you currently do not make monthly credit card payments, this is not good either. The "computers" that calculate your score cannot really calculate anything except history unless you have a revolving balance. Plus the longer credit history you have, the more it helps your score. For example, I have several credit cards all that are paid off. I just use them if I have to, but I always carry a small balance every month ($150) on a Victoria's secret credit card and just pay the minimum-KUST TO KEEP THE SCORE STABLE AND GOOD. The "computers" then can factor in some sort of payment that is being made every month. If you pay nothing, then the computers cannot calculate a "month payment factor" in your score.\n\nIf you don't have a credit card/good credit go to www.orchardbank.com. This place is the most generous in granting and rebuilding credit. After a while where you make payments, they'll boost your limit. You may start with $500 limit, and a high APR, but that's okay, just keep the balance below 50%, and in 6 - 9 months, you really start to be looking good. Department cards and gas cards are also good places to start and are more flexible to poor credit.\n\nAs for your bills like utilities, phone, etc. These will not help your credit because they are not reported UNLESS you don't pay. So pay them so you don't get a delinquency, but otherwise they're useless to you score.\n\nRemember, people with bad credit pull their score an average of 10 times more than someone with good credit. CREDIT BUREAUS KNOW THIS, WHICH IS WHY THEY LEAVE INACCURATE INFO ON YOUR REPORT. Try to keep the inquires down, because that hurts your score too. That's how they make money. That's how banks get their money too. So... I would pull my own credit report at www.myfico.com and check my score regularly. PULLING YOUR OWN CREDIT DOES NOT HURT YOUR SCORE. Then dispute the crap out of everything, even if its right. Write a letter, DO NOT USE THE AUTOMATIC system they want you to. If that doesn't work, try a law firm. www.lexingtonlawfirm.com is a great place to dispute everything. I have used them and iit works well without breaking the bank. $75 initial to start and $35/mo. They write the letters, you can access your info on their website and pick the things to dispute. They know HOW to say it. If you don't write certain things in your dispute letter, the bureaus by law can ignore it.\n\nOne other trick: Go to a bank and tell them you want to buy a house and apply for a mortgage. Let them know your credit is bad and you've been having trouble getting them to fix inaccuracies. Mortgage companies have an "in" and can get your credit corrected with the smap of their fingers. I know this because my wife did this for US BANK on a regular basis.\n\nIf you don't get approved with anything, then try getting a secured credit card until the score gets better. Or have your friend or parents with good credit or credit cards just see if they would be willing to put your name on their card as an authorized user/co-borrower. It doesn't mean you need one (if they're leary of your sepnding habits), you just need the action going on in your report.\n\nALSO, NEVER CLOSE ANY ACCOUNT. This will REALLY hur
1125032
A tough lesson from the School of Hard Knocks.\nHopefully, others will learn from your mistake.\nAlso know that the sooner you begin to make good payments on your credit lines and the longer you continue those good payments, the better your score gets.\nYou should get a copy of your credit bureau report and go through it with a fine tooth comb just to make sure there are no errors that may be costing your points on your score.\nIf you can improve your score even 10% that's good.\nAlso, if you had any bankruptcys 6 years ago, you just need to hold on one more year.  In most cases, they come off after 7 years.
219115
Sorry to say there are no "magic bullets" you can use to quickly fix your credit score.\n\nFirst step is to understand exactly how your credit score is put together.  Go to www.myfido.com and readup!  These are the folks who wrote and licensed the scoring system used by the credit agencies.\n\nNext, you need to start cleaning up your credit report.  You can get a free copy from www.annualcreditreport.com.\n\nNow you gotta fix it by removing negative entries, deleting inaccurate information, and challenging records that may be old and outdated.\n\nBelow is my "warchest" of informational sites that will instruct you how to go about it.  It also contains some sample letters to send to credit agencies, creditors, and (if necessary) government agencies.\n\nIf you need any help, advice, or encouragement contact me. I've helped a lot of people do this.
568633
Here are 3 websites that will discuss your credit rating and how to improve it.  Some things can be done quickly, others take time.  Good luck!