1. See all 3 of your credit reports
You have three reports — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — and they don't always match. Pull all three side by side so you know exactly what's helping you and what's hurting you.
2. Dispute anything that's wrong
Errors are common: accounts that aren't yours, wrong balances, late payments you actually paid on time. You have the right to dispute inaccurate items, and the bureaus must investigate.
3. Pay every bill on time
Payment history is the biggest piece of your score. Even one on-time streak of a few months starts moving things in the right direction.
4. Keep your card balances low
Using less of your available credit helps your score. Aim to keep balances well under your limits — lower is better.
5. Add positive accounts
New accounts that report on-time payments — like no-credit-check cards or credit union accounts — add good history that pushes your score up over time.
Want a simple plan to follow?
My 3 easy steps walk you through it — and the 3rd one is optional.