How to Get Seasoned Tradelines Added to Your Credit Profile

To qualify for credit, it's not enough to pay your bills on time. You have to have a track record of paying recurring bills--usually 24 months. A recurring bill is called a tradeline. The length of time you have regularly paid a tradeline is called "seasoning" or "credit depth." Not everyone you do repeat business with reports your payment history to credit reporting bureaus. You can request that the tradelines that don't show up be listed on your credit profile.

Instructions

1

Obtain a copy of your credit report. Get a "tri-merge" report that shows credit information from each of the three main credit reporting bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. You are entitled to one free credit report each year. You can obtain your free report online from the website Annual Credit Report (see Resources).

2

Make a list of every "tradeline" you have. A tradeline is any business relationship you have in which you make regular payments. They are not limited to revolving and installment credit. Tradelines include utilities, cellular phone bills, private loans, rent and even regular savings deposits.

3

Review your credit report. Compare the tradelines listed on your credit report to your list of personal tradelines.

4

Note each tradeline that is not listed on your credit report.

5

Write a letter to each tradeline you have paid on time and that does not show up on your credit report. Ask the vendor to report your payment history to the three major credit reporting bureaus. Include your personal information, your account number with the vendor (if you have one) and the address of each of the bureaus. Not all vendors will agree to your request. But most of us have one or more nonreporting vendors that will agree to add our positive payment history to our credit profile.

6

Pull your credit again in 4 to 6 weeks. See which tradelines have shown up. Follow up with the vendors who agreed to add your information, but did not appear to have done so.