If you spot accounts that don\u2019t belong to you or identify reporting errors like payments wrongly marked late that you have records of paying on time, file disputes immediately with each bureau by mail, phone or online. Getting unverified negative items permanently deleted gives a nice bump.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Check Different Scoring Models<\/span><\/h3>\n

Also note cards and loans indicate bureau FICO credit scores versus Vantage Score numbers can differ substantially, so track both scoring models with monitoring sites to gauge success raising each.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Pay Down Balances<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Sky high credit card balances inflate credit utilization percentages, so tackling balances promptly can greatly boost scores as this factor comprises 30% of your rating.<\/p>\n

<\/span>List All Cards and Balances<\/span><\/h3>\n

Write down all credit cards and revolving accounts along with associated balances owed, credit limits and interest rates. Adding up the total credit extended versus amounts utilized provides useful context.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Pay Down Highest Utilization Accounts First<\/span><\/h3>\n

Direct as much extra monthly payment resources as possible toward cards maxed out closest to the limit first while paying minimums on the others for now. Freeing up headroom underneath limits quickly deflates utilization metrics torpedoing scores.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Increase Credit Limits<\/span><\/h3>\n

If paying down current statement balances completely proves difficult, call issuers requesting increased credit limits with no obligation to actually charge more long term. Higher limits alone mathematically drop utilization percentages improving that heavy-hitting category.<\/p>