Before you start, make sure you obtain a copy of your credit report. You can get this once a year for free. The ultimate goal here is to be able to obtain a 0% interest credit card or at the very least a very low interest rate
Step 1
Check it over to make sure it’s accurate. If there is any information that doesn’t belong there, report it to the credit agency. Incorrect information in your report will affect your FICO score.
Step 2
Your score is made up of the following components:
- Payment History - 35%
- Amount Owed - 30%
- Length of Credit - 15%
- New Credit - 10%
- Types of Credit - 10%
Now let’s take each of these items and see what can be done to improve them.
Step 3
Let’s start with the first. Since you may have been late with payments (a big no-no with the Credit Card Companies), the easiest way to never be late again is let your bank do it for you -automatically. Set up a Credit Card or Bill Paying process with you bank. Each bank calls the automatic ebank something different. Sign up for it and make sure to give your bank enough time to send the payment so it won’t be late with the credit card company.
Step 4
Pay your credit card bill with more than the minimum balance due. Even if it’s $10 more, it will quickly improve your credit score.
Step 5
It would be nice to pay down your balances on the credit cards, but the reality is that you don’t have the money. Now if you have the ability to get a home equity loan, then you’d be paying a lot less interest. You can also borrow from your 401K or other savings accounts and pay yourself the interest, rather than the credit card companies. So if you can’t do that then the next best thing to do is increase your credit line. The reason is simple. the less you owe compared to the amount of credit available to you, the higher your credit rating.
Step 6
Do not try to open up a new line of credit if you really don’t need it. Try to work with the same companies. Credit card companies and banks and the FICO people like to see stability. Opening and closing accounts doesn’t help.
Step 7
The type of credit you have is also relevant. For instance, a home mortgage carries more weight then a credit card which is considered a revolving credit account. Those are the least desirable.
So if your going to improve your credit score or FICO Score or credit rating, whichever you choose to call it, then use the above guide to increase your credit rating.