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Tips to Improve Credit Score

Posted by : Raj | Posted on : Tuesday, January 17, 2012

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By Heaven Stubblefield

With the economy being a little less than desirable it seems everyone is looking for ways to improve credit.  While it is easy to get rid of a bad pair of shoes, a bad credit score can stick with you for as long as the cycle continues.  Here are some simple tips on how you can improve your credit score.

1. Borrow

If you buy everything with cash, never apply for a credit card, or never use it, then your credit score will stay right where it is – nonexistent.  When I bought my first car the dealer wanted a co-signer because I was 20 years old.  He was afraid of two things: (1) I was too young to make a car payment on my own, and (2) I didn’t have a credit score to substantiate a purchase over $5,000.  After some haggling and a nice down payment, I was able to purchase my first car on my own.  So, for first time borrowers, this is an instant way to raise that nonexistent score.  Apply for credit, then use it within your means.

2. Pay

On time!  Just like the bus, you are a happy person when you get to work on time and creditors love when you send them a check on time.  If you are one day late, that gives the credit card company a reason to tattle on you to the three credit agencies.  Don’t give them the opportunity.  It will only lower your credit score and make it difficult to borrow later.

3. Say bye bye to rent

If you want buying power, which is what your credit score gives you, stop renting an apartment or leasing a car.  By renting, you are telling credit card companies and your own credit score that you are not committed to big purchases and long term commitments.  While it may not seem fair, you have to have some debt in order to raise your credit score.  The type of debt you need should be in the form of a car payment or mortgage.

4. Call on your utility companies

While it seems silly, your utility companies do not have to do a background check on your credit to give you heat and water.  Most companies request a deposit from new customers.  Give it so you can get water, but then each month, call your utility companies and ask them to report your on time payments to the credit bureaus.  Again, it will improve your credit score.

5. Use your department stores

Most stores offer an in-store credit card application to help you save.  As long as your address matches the address on your driver’s license, you will be awarded a small amount of credit.  This helps them keep you coming back when they offer rewards to card owners but also gives you a small increase in your credit score.  The more cards you have that have not been charged off and you are using can help raise your score.  Make sure if they don’t offer it to you (which probably won’t happen, as they get a commission for each application they file) that you ask for it.

6. Use, use, use…

If you don’t use the credit you have been given, your credit score might go down.  During these tough economic times, it is even possible for creditors to withdraw credit if you stop using it or pay a balance off.  That means you should put your groceries and gas on your credit cards and then pay them off every month.  Just be sure to use your credit card at least once a week so you don’t get stuck without credit at the beginning of another month.

What tips do you have to improve credit scores?

Comments : 37 Comments | Category : Credit Cards | Tags :

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32 Comments

  1. Linga Longa, October 21, 2009:

    I just found this web site through google and used their services. They were outstanding to say the least and my score went from a 520 to a 700 in the matter of two days! I believe you can find their number on their website if you like –
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  2. Craig, October 26, 2009:

    @Linga Thanks for the tip, I am sure it will be very useful to users.

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  6. Stren Stark, March 12, 2012:

    Thanks for the tips, I’m sure they will be useful.

  7. Shawn @ Used Cars Eugene, March 20, 2012:

    Similar tips on what we say. Buy something and make the payments. Easier than most people think :)

  8. Nukul, March 20, 2012:

    Great tips Thanks for sharing with us.

  9. Credit Scores, March 23, 2012:

    This is truly helpful. I really wonder how much my score would have suffered if I didn’t start keeping a check on it through creditreport.com and maintaining a to do list on my desk for the payment timings.

  10. Jon Ochs, March 25, 2012:

    Another way to immediately improve your credit scores is to call each of your credit card companies and simply ask for a credit limit increase. By increasing your limit, you are able to lower your balance to available credit ratio and often immediately increase your scores.

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  13. Charles Snyder, October 4, 2012:

    If I have read this article before, there is no chance that I will be having an auto loan with bad credit.

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