Are you struggling with a low credit score? A bad credit score reduces your loan options, subjects you to high-interest rates, and lowers your chances of securing specific jobs. Read on for five strategies to improve your credit score fast.
Be included as an authorized user
Request a family member or friend whose credit card account has a good history and higher credit limit to include you as an authorized user. This will add your loved one’s account to your credit report, and their limit will help your utilization. You benefit from the primary holder’s excellent payment record by becoming an authorized user.
You do not even have to use your friend’s credit card or have their account number for your credit score to improve. To exploit the benefits, you just have to ensure that the account reports to the major bureaus, including Experian, Transunion, and Equifax.
If you do not know someone with good credit history, consider researching the best tradeline companies and use them to improve your credit.
Pay down your revolving credits
Bureaus often use your balance on the revolving accounts such as lines of credit and credit cards to determine your credit score, so a vast balance results in high credit card utilization. Even if you have not delayed or defaulted on your payments, having high balances on your revolving accounts could lower your credit score.
Be sure to pay down your balances before the billing cycle to improve your score. If you are looking to maintain the highest credit scores, consider keeping a low single-digit credit utilization ratio.
Avoid multiple applications
Anytime you apply for any type of loan, it often reflects on your credit record. While your loan applications may not be rejected, they could send a negative message to future creditors. Multiple loan applications can suggest that previous credit applications were unsuccessful. Avoid various applications to avoid hurting your credit score and reducing the chances of qualifying for lender financing.
Pay your bills on time
Did you know that late payments remain in your credit report for seven and half years? Any attempts to improve your credit score may be futile if you have a late payment history, so ensure that you clear your bills before the deadline. Settling bills on time is the most significant contributing factor to good credit for VantageScore and FICO credit systems.
If you default payments for 30 days or more, contact the lending company then pay up as soon as possible. You could then request them not to report the late payment to the credit bureaus to avoid hurting your credit score.
Check your credit report for errors
Errors in your credit report could significantly lower your credit score. The most common mistakes on credit card reports include:
- Wrong balances
- Listing of the same account multiple times
- Errors on your account status
The federal law allows you to request free annual credit reports from all reporting agencies, enabling you to check for mistakes. If you notice any inaccurate data, contact the bureaus to dispute the errors to improve your credit score.
Endnote
Do not get discouraged if you have a negative credit score because you can improve it over time. Become an authorized user, limit your credit applications, pay bills on time, and dispute credit report errors to repair and improve your score.
