How to Change My Credit Score in One Week

Improving your credit score can be a long process involving dedication and hard work. There are things you can do right away to help improve your credit score in just one week. With a clear picture of your finances and credit score, and a dedication to paying bills on time and making smart decisions, you can improve your credit score starting today.

Instructions

1

Order a copy of your credit report and credit score for free (see Resource). If your score is below 630, you're usually considered "high risk" and often have multiple negative reports, including late payments, a short credit history and low credit limits. The report lists the positive and negative factors affecting your credit score. Take a careful look at them and figure out which ones you can deal with right now. This probably includes paying your bills, having erroneous reports removed, paying down credit cards to decrease your credit-to-limit ratio, and in most cases, not opening any new loans or credit cards right now.

2

Pay any due or overdue bills immediately. Some companies report late bills every 30 days, so even if you haven't received a final notice, you may see a decrease in your credit score. If the bills you're paying are more than two weeks late, try calling the company and making a payment over the phone to see if they'll avoid making a negative report.

3

Attempt to remove negative reports by calling companies listed as "paid late" on your credit report. Be friendly and calmly say that you're working to pay your bills on time and improve your credit, and ask them to remove the mark on your credit report. Even if only one company removes it, your credit score can improve as soon as the reporting goes through.

4

Pay your credit card balances down with a goal of maintaining only 20 percent of your total credit limit. The lower your balances, the higher your credit score. Start with the card or cards with the highest interest rates to save money.

5

Avoid applying for any new loans or credit cards until your credit score has gone up. When you apply, the company makes a "hard request" on your report, and multiple hard requests in a short span of time can decrease your credits score.