Some people may be skeptical about credit repair, and it’s understandable. So many charlatans out there might promise that you’ll be able to get your credit to 700 overnight when everyone knows that’s less than likely.
However, there are ways that you can improve your credit, and if you have realistic objectives, there are some things you could do starting today to increase your credit score. Let’s take a look at some things you could do to increase your credit score by 100 points in as little as 30 days.
A lot of people may not be aware of this, but one simple error on a credit report could have a significant effect on your credit. This could be an account that was closed but never reported. Or one that was in collections and settled that is still on the report.
Thankfully, you can have them fixed. All credit bureaus have a clear procedure that will allow you to contest some of the things on your report and have them corrected.
There is this myth floating around that if you always pay the minimum on your credit card, your credit will suddenly improve. That’s not only wrong but could actually end up destroying your credit. What matters is your credit utilization ratio.
Your credit utilization ratio is the amount of debt you owe vs the limit on your accounts. Keeping this ratio under 15% is ideal. Nearly a third of your FICO score will be calculated based on that alone, so this is essential.
If you have an account in collections you think you can pay off, then you should call the agency and work on a deal. However, you have to make sure that they will agree to remove the account from your report entirely before you make one. If they don’t report, then you’ll get no benefits.
This is what is commonly referred to as a “pay to delete” agreement. Make sure that you have the name of the person you talked to and their extension as well. You should also request a copy of the agreement in paper from the agency. In some cases, you might be able to negotiate your debt down, but many will insist that you pay in full in order to delete your account, so be aware of that.
Being an authorized user on someone else credit card account can be a great way to improve your credit as well. The activity on the account will be reported on your credit report even though you’re not the primary user.
However, this could be tricky as negative activity will also be reported. So, you have to make sure that their account is and remains in good standing to get the benefits.
Improving your credit score by 100 points is perfectly feasible, as long as you complete the steps necessary and are ready to correct your finances. Follow these few tips, and you should be able to improve your credit situation and start rebuilding it slowly, but surely.