How to Improve your Credit Score

If your credit score is lower than you'd like, there may be ways to bring it up. Depending on what's holding it down, you may be able to tack on as many as 100 points relatively quickly. Here are 7 Tips to Improve your Credit Score:

• Pay your bills on time.

• Pay off your credit card balances.

• Stop applying for credit. Each time you fill out an application for a credit card or loan, the lender checks your credit, and each inquiry reduces your score (for up to 12 months).

• If you have a close friend or family member with a good score, ask them to add you as an authorized user on their credit card accounts. As long as they pay on time, your credit score will benefit from the positive data.

• Review your credit reports annually; you are entitled to receive a free copy every year from each of the three main credit reporting agencies (TransUnion, Experian and Equifax).

• You can apply for copies of all three reports at AnnualCreditReport.com.

• Dispute any errors you find on those reports.

Jessica Dickler. CNBC. March 2, 2020. “Here’s how to improve your credit score right away.” https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/24/how-to-improve-your-credit-score-right-away.html. Accessed March 6, 2020.