The short answer
Pay every bill on time, keep card balances under 30% (ideally 10%) of limits, do not close old accounts, and dispute report errors. Payment history and utilisation are roughly two-thirds of the score; changes show in 1–3 months.
Scores respond to a short list of inputs. Everything else — checking your own score, income, savings — does nothing.
Step by step
- Pull your credit reports from each bureau and read every line.
- Dispute anything wrong: unknown accounts, wrong balances, old debts past their reporting date.
- Automate at least the minimum payment on every account so nothing goes late.
- Pay cards down below 30% of the limit, then below 10%.
- Ask for a limit increase without spending it — utilisation drops instantly.
- Keep your oldest card open and used lightly once a quarter.
- Space out new credit applications by three to six months.
What it costs
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Credit reports (Free by law in most countries) | $0 |
| Credit repair services (They do what you can do free) | $50–$150 / month |
Common questions
Does checking my score hurt it?
No. Your own soft check never affects the score; lender hard checks do, slightly.
How fast can it move?
Utilisation changes appear in one statement cycle. Late payments take years to fade.
Should I close unused cards?
Usually not — it cuts total limit and shortens history.