How To Improve Your Credit Score

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By John Cooper

Improving your credit score can seem like an impossible task. This is because there is so much contradictory information and the scoring model makes you feel as though you have no direct control over your credit score.

This is incorrect. If you take a few steps you can positively influence your credit score.

1. Remove bad credit items on your report. You must dispute the credit bureaus directly with either a dispute letter or by hiring a service to dispute them on your behalf.

2. Pay off any verified bad credit item on your report. In exchange for your payment have the lender remove the item from your credit report.

3. Pay your bills on time. It is estimated that missing a payment can damage a good score by up to 50 points.

4. Open a new line of credit. You will get the most benefit if this is a revolving line of credit. We recommend an unsecured credit card.

By paying your monthly bill you will develop a positive payment history. This is a heavily weighted factor when your score is being calculated. If your score is currently to low to get an unsecured credit card then open a secured card just make sure it reports to all three bureaus.

In addition try to keep your monthly balance at 10% of your available credit. Doing this shows the bureaus that you do in fact use your credit and you use it responsibly.

5. Pay your large debts down. This is called your available credit to debt. The bureaus need to see that you are not in over you head and that you do have credit that is not being used.

These are the five factors you should focus your efforts on. There is however one last factor that is surrounded by controversy.

6. Piggyback credit, this is where you become an authorized user on a high credit limit credit card. The benefit is this account is now reported on your credit report and adding a tremendous boost.

This tactic has been widely abused by some credit repair services. The scoring model has changed to discount this method however it is disputed as to if that change has occurred or not.

In sum by doing step one through five you will improve your score dramatically. With an improved credit score you will finally be able to have the quality of life you truly deserve.

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