Impoving Your Credit Score

Know What to Look For

David Kenny
Having a bad credit score in today's economy can prevent you from receiving a loan or even a job. With tighter credit limits, it makes it more important than ever to have a good credit score. There are three ways to improve your credit score: keeping your balances balanced, eliminating the mistakes on your credit, and adding some positive history.

It is important to keep your balance 50 percent or lower. If your limit is $1000, then your balance should be $500 or less. Some credit card carriers do not give bigger credit boosts for larger balances. All you end up doing is paying more in finance charges. The best way to improve your credit is to keep your balance 30 percent or lower. This will keep the finance charges low and one can still build credit. When your balance gets over 50 percent, one corrective action one can take is to cut out some of your daily luxuries just until the credit card balance is in check.

The fastest way to improve your credit score is to eliminate the mistakes. This means to get a credit check and assess that it is yours. According to a 2005 study by the Federal Trade Commission, an estimated 8.3 million Americans are identity theft victims each year. Many people had loans, financial accounts, and/or credit cards opened in their name without them knowing about it. Keeping tabs on your credit score will help prevent you from paying off any incurred debt. There many free web sites that will notify you if there is any activity. Sign up for all of them. Find at least one from each credit bureau to insure that there will not be a problem.

Another way to boost your credit score is to add some positive activity. Some people can improve their scores by proving to the credit scoring services exactly what they are doing right. Organizations like PRBC in Annapolis, Maryland are designed to help the consumers in dire credit straits by adding insurance, rent, utilities, and day care payments to help improve your credit history in your favor. Altogether these measures can add up to a big credit score improvement. In today's economy where credit is at a low, getting positive credit points just for paying for your SMUD and phone bill on time can sometimes improve your credit score more than a credit card payment

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