Improve Credit Score

How can I improve my credit score? A good credit score can save you tens of thousands of dollars in interest payments over the life of a loan. Here are six basic steps you should take before you apply for a credit card, mortgage, refinancing or other loan. Following this advice will show you how to improve credit score numbers before you are turned down for a loan or have to pay more for credit.

1. Pay your bills on time. Stay on top of your bills, and pay careful attention to all due dates so that you are never late. Even one late payment can have a negative effect on your credit scores. Mark your calendar to remind you to pay your bills ten days in advance, and then set up email alerts to pester you every day until those bills are paid. If your bank has online bill-pay, set it up to pay your bills automatically so that you know you will never be late. Even one late payment can negatively affect your credit score.

2. Reduce your debts. Minimize the amount of debt you owe at any time, as a percentage of all credit available to you. Estimates of the ideal credit utilization rate range anywhere from 10 to 50%, but most experts agree that utilizing 10 to 15% of credit available to you will ensure you access to the best borrowing rates. Some credit advisers recommend opening additional credit cards or charge accounts to increase the amount of credit available to you at any time. Make sure, however, that you space any new credit card applications over time, as multiple applications may be perceived by the credit score bureaus as indicating a sudden need for credit, and are likely to lower your credit report score.

3. Avoid credit report inquiries. “Hard” credit inquiries will negatively affect your personal credit score. A hard inquiry occurs when apply for a charge card, auto loan or otherwise apply for credit. By contrast, “Soft” inquiries, such as when you get your credit score, do not affect your credit ranking. As a general rule, you should avoid falling for those offers to save 10% on today’s purchase by applying for a store credit card. Multiple requests for credit, such as the store credit card applications which are common around the holidays, will lower your credit scores.

4. Vary your types of credit. You want to try to maintain an assortment of credit sources, such as a car loan, an installment credit card and a mortgage. A mixture of credit sources is generally better for a healthy credit score than having only one credit type. Establishing multiple sources of credit is not easy, but personal finance experts say that consumers maintaining varied credit sources tend to have higher scores than those who have one credit type.

5. Good credit scores favors those who have had credit the longest. Creditors tend to regard those who have a long history with a particular credit card as being a better credit risk. So, you should avoid closing your old credit cards, unless they carry an annual fee. In addition, keeping those old credit cards active will increase the amount of overall credit available to you, which will have a positive effect on your credit score.

6. Keep track of your credit. Personal finance experts recommend that you check your credit score and report frequently, so you can pick up possible errors in your credit history or early signs of identity theft. Many sites provide a free online credit score when you sign up for a trial offer for an identity monitoring service. Many of these credit watch services provide monthly updates alerting you to credit report inquiries or changes to your credit profile.

Following this simple guide on how toimprove credit score ratings will reduce your risk of being turned down for a credit card, mortgage or car loan – and save you money.

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