How To Raise Your Credit Score

Many times a bill is simply forgotten about. Often those bills are reported to collection agencies and credit reporting agencies. If you are actively trying to increase your credit scores for reasons such as: getting a better rate on a loan or increasing your chances of getting approved for a loan. Below are actions to take to effectively increase your credit scores. Do keep in mind that, like everything in life, increasing your score takes time.

Rebuild

• Pay your bills on time. Delinquent payments can have a negative effect on your score. This is the largest contributor to an increase in your credit score.
  
• Set up auto bill pay from your banking institution for regular planned payments.
• Keep balances low on credit cards and other revolving lines of credit as high outstanding debt can have a negative effect on your score.
  
• Open new credit accounts sparingly as the more credit accounts that are open can have a negative effect on your score as well.
  
• Apply for credit accounts only as needed as inquiries on your credit report can have a negative effect as well.
  
• When possible, pay off your debt opposed to simply moving it around. Some credit reporting agencies will see this consolidation and it may lower your score.
  
• Review your credit report on a regular basis. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act you are entitled to one free credit report viewing annually.
  

It does take some time to correct your credit history and effectively increase your credit score. For some instances it may take much longer. For instance, generally it will take someone with a collection on their credit report longer to rebuild their credit history than it would with someone who simply missed a payment.

Time Line

Some information on your credit report expires and falls off of your report before other information. Inquires, such as an application for a credit card, can remain on your credit report for up to 2 years. Delinquencies can remain on your credit report for up to 7 years. Bankruptcies can remain on your credit report from 7 to 10 years depending on the type of bankruptcy. Unpaid tax liens can remain on your credit reports for up to 15 years.


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