Pay Your Bills On Time
Payment history is the single biggest factor in your credit score, accounting for 35% of your FICO score. Set up automatic payments or calendar reminders to ensure every bill is paid on time. Even one missed payment can significantly impact your score.
Reduce Your Credit Utilization
Credit utilization — the percentage of your available credit that you're using — accounts for 30% of your score. Aim to keep utilization below 30%, and ideally below 10%. Pay down balances, request credit limit increases, and avoid maxing out any individual card.
Don't Close Old Accounts
The length of your credit history matters. Keeping older accounts open, even if you don't use them frequently, helps maintain a longer average account age and more available credit. Closing old accounts can actually hurt your score.
Limit New Credit Applications
Each hard inquiry from a new credit application can temporarily lower your score. Only apply for new credit when you truly need it. If you're rate shopping for a mortgage or auto loan, try to do all applications within a 14-day window so they count as a single inquiry.
Check Reports for Errors
Regularly review your credit reports from all three bureaus. Dispute any errors you find — incorrect balances, accounts that aren't yours, or negative items that should have been removed. Correcting errors can provide an immediate score boost.
Get Professional Help
If you're struggling to improve your score on your own, professional credit counseling can help. Contact 755CreditScore at 832-696-0755 for a free consultation.