Credit Score Repair Guide

Perform thorough research to understand what affects your credit score. This includes identifying the factors that contribute to the scoring such as payment history, credit utilization, length of credit history, new credit inquiries, and types of credit used.

Obtain a copy of your credit report from the major credit bureaus. You’re entitled to one free report from each bureau every year, obtainable from AnnualCreditReport.com.

Carefully review your credit report for any inaccuracies or errors. Look for incorrect late payments, unauthorized credit inquiries, or accounts that do not belong to you.

File disputes with the credit bureaus for any errors you find. Provide them with evidence to support your claims. It is your legal right to dispute any inaccuracies on your report.

Work on paying down outstanding debts, especially those on revolving credit accounts. Aim to keep your credit utilization ratio below 30%.

Improve your payment history by always paying your bills on time. Set up reminders or automatic payments to help with timely payments if necessary.

Avoid closing old credit accounts as they contribute to your credit history length. Similarly, be cautious when opening new lines of credit, as this could lead to a temporary dip in your score due to hard inquiries.

Consider tools such as secured credit cards or credit-builder loans to help establish or rebuild credit, especially if you have a thin credit file.

Beware of credit repair scams. Only trust reputable sources and never pay for services promising quick fixes.

Understand that repairing your credit is a process that takes time. Quick fixes are often not sustainable or legal.