There are ways that you can easily add 100 points and improve your credit score quickly, and in this article, we will explore them in detail.
What Is A Realistic Improvement In Your Credit Score?
This will depend on how low your score is, as it makes sense that the higher your credit score is the harder it will be to significantly improve it.
If your score is in the ‘bad’ or ‘fair’ bands, then I am confident that by following some of the below steps you’ll be able to add at least 100 points and improve your credit score in a relatively short period of time,
Here are 8 of the best way to dramatically improve your credit score.
1. Pay credit card balances strategically
2. Ask for higher credit limits
3. Become an authorised user
4. Pay bills on time
5. Dispute credit report errors
6. Deal with collections accounts
7. Use a secured credit card
8. Add to your credit mix
1. Pay Credit Card Balances Strategically
The portion of your credit limits you’re using at any given time is called your credit utilisation. A good guideline is to use less than 25% of your limit on any card, and lower is better. The highest scorers use less than 15% of their limit. (You can track your credit utilisation on each card and overall by viewing your credit score profile).
You want to make sure your balance is low when the card issuer reports it to the credit agencies because that’s what is used in calculating your score. A simple way to do that is to pay down the balance before the billing cycle ends or to pay several times throughout the month to always keep your balance low.
Impact: Highly influential. Your credit utilisation is the second-biggest factor in your credit score; the biggest factor is paying on time.
Time commitment: Low to medium. Set calendar reminders to log in and make payments. You may also be able to add alerts on your credit card accounts to let you know when your balance hits a set amount.
How fast it could work: Fast. As soon as your credit card reports a lower balance to the credit agencies, that lower utilisation will be used in calculating your score.
2. Ask For Higher Credit Limits
When your credit limit goes up and your balance stays the same, it instantly lowers your overall credit utilisation, which can improve your credit. If your income has gone up or you’ve added more years of positive credit history, you have a decent shot at getting a higher limit.
Impact: Highly influential, because utilisation is a large factor in credit scores.
Time commitment: Low. Contact your credit card issuer to ask about getting a higher limit. See if it’s possible to avoid a “hard” credit inquiry, which can temporarily drop your score a few points.
How fast it could work: Fast. Once the higher limit is reported to credit file, it will lower your overall credit utilisation — as long as you don’t use up the extra “room” on the card.
3. Become An Authorised User
If a relative or friend has a credit card account with a high credit limit and a good history of on-time payments, ask to be added as an authorised user. That adds the account to your credit reports, so its credit limit can help your utilisation. Also called “credit piggybacking,” authorised user status allows you to benefit from the primary user’s positive payment history. The account holder doesn’t have to let you use the card — or even give you the account number — to improve your credit score.
Make sure the account reports to all three major credit agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) to get the best effect; most credit cards do.
Impact: Potentially high, especially if you are a credit newbie with a thin credit file. The impact will be smaller for those with established credit who are trying to offset missteps or lower credit utilisation.
Time commitment: Low to medium. You’ll need to have a conversation with the accountholder you’re asking for this favor, and agree on whether you will have access to the card and account or simply be listed as an authorised user.
How fast it could work: Fast. As soon as you’re added and that credit account reports to the agencies, the account can benefit your profile.
4. Always Pay Bills On Time
No strategy to improve your credit will be effective if you pay late. Worse, late payments can stay on your credit reports for 6 years.
If you miss a payment by 30 days or more, call the creditor immediately. Pay up as soon as you can and ask if the creditor will consider no longer reporting the missed payment to the credit agencies. Even if the creditor won’t do that, it’s worth getting current on the account as soon as possible. Every month an account is marked delinquent hurts your score.
Impact: Highly influential. Your record of paying bills on time is the largest scoring factor in some of the credit scoring systems.
Time commitment: Low. Prevent missed payments by setting up account reminders and considering automatic payments to cover at least the minimum.
How fast it could work: This varies, depending on how many payments you’ve missed and how recently. It also matters how late a payment was (30, 60, 90 or more days past due). Fortunately, the impact of delinquent payments fades over time, and adding more positive credit accounts can help to speed that up.
5. Dispute Credit Report Errors
A mistake on one of your credit reports could be pulling down your score. Disputing credit report errors can help you quickly improve your credit.
You’re entitled to free reports from each of the three major credit agencies. Use can read more about them here and can request them and then check for mistakes, such as payments marked late when you paid on time, someone else’s credit activity mixed with yours, or negative information that’s too old to be listed anymore.
Once you’ve identified them, dispute those errors.
Impact: Varies, but could be high if a creditor is reporting that you missed a payment when you didn’t.
Time commitment: Medium to high. It takes some time to request and read your free credit reports, file disputes about errors and track the follow-up. But the process is worthwhile, especially if you’re trying to build your credit ahead of a milestone such as applying for a large loan. If you’re planning to apply for a mortgage, get disputes done with plenty of time to spare.
How fast it could work: Varies. The credit agencies have 30 days to investigate and respond. Some companies offer to dispute errors and quickly improve your credit score, but proceed with caution.
6. Deal With Collections Accounts
Paying off a collections account removes the threat that you will be sued over the debt, and you may be able to persuade the collection agency to stop reporting the debt once you pay it. You can also remove collections accounts from your credit reports if they aren’t accurate or are too old to be listed.
Impact: Varies. An account in collections is a serious negative mark on your credit report, so if the collector agrees to stop reporting the account it could help a great deal.
If the collector keeps reporting the account, the effect depends on the scoring model used to create your score. Some models still take paid collections into account. However, more recent models and ignore paid-off collections.
Time commitment: Medium. You’ll need to request and read your credit reports, then make a plan to handle collections accounts that are listed.
How fast it could work: Moderately quickly. On credit scores that ignore paid collections as soon as the paid-off status is reported to a credit reference agency, it can benefit your credit scores. In other cases, such as disputing a collection account or asking for a goodwill deletion, the process could take a few months.
7. Use A Secured Credit Card
Another way to build or rebuild your credit is with a secured credit card. This type of card is backed by a cash deposit; you pay it upfront and the deposit amount is usually the same as your credit limit. You use it like a normal credit card, and your on-time payments help build your credit.
Impact: Varies. This is likeliest to help someone new to credit with accounts or someone with dented credit wanting a way to add more positive credit history and dilute past missteps.
Time commitment: Medium. Look for a secured card that reports your credit activity to all three major credit agencies. You may also consider looking into alternative credit cards that don’t require a security deposit.
How fast it could work: Several months. The goal here is not just having another card, although that can help your score a bit by improving your depth of credit. Rather, your aim is to build a record of keeping balances low and paying on time.
8. Add To Your Credit Mix
An additional credit account in good standing may help your credit, particularly if it is a type of credit you don’t already have.
If you have only credit cards, consider getting a loan; a credit-builder loan can be a low-cost option. Check that the loan you’re considering adding reports to all three credit agencies.
If you have only loans or have few credit cards, a new credit card may help. In addition to improving your credit mix, it can reduce your overall credit utilisation by providing more available credit.
Impact: Varies. Opening a loan account is likeliest to help someone with only credit cards and vice versa. And there’s more potential gain for people with few accounts or short credit histories.
Time commitment: Medium. Consider whether the time spent researching providers and applying is worth the potential lift to your score. Weigh what you’d pay in interest and fees, too, if you’re getting a loan or card strictly to improve your credit.
How fast it could work: Fast. As soon as the new account’s activity is reported to the credit agencies, it can start to benefit you.
FAQ’s
How Fast Can My Credit Score Be Raised
Someone with a low score is better positioned to quickly make gains than someone with a strong credit history. Paying bills on time and using less of your available credit limit on cards can raise your credit in as little as 30 days.
How Can I Raise My Credit Score In Less Than 30 Days
Paying bills on time and paying down balances on your credit cards are the most powerful steps you can take to raise your credit. Issuers report your payment behavior to the credit bureaus every 30 days, so positive steps can help your credit quickly.
How Can I Improve My Credit Score By 100 Points In Less Than A Month
If you have a low score, you’re better positioned to make gains than someone with a good credit score. Depending on what’s holding it down, you may be able to add as many as 100 points through positive credit habits like paying on time or using less of your available credit.
Next Steps
Take a look at this article which shows the FREE ways you can take a look at your credit report to put a plan in action to rapidly increase your credit score.
