If your credit score is lower than you desire, there are several rapid methods to improve it. You may be able to add as many as 100 points relatively swiftly depending on what’s keeping it down.

Are 100 points realistic?

If you’re having trouble getting a high credit score, you’re more likely to see results quicker than someone with a strong credit history.

Is it realistic to expect a 100-point jump? According to Experian’s Rod Griffin, senior director of public education and advocacy, yes. “People with lower scores are more likely to achieve a 100-point rise because there is much more potential,” he adds.

1. Make an effort to manage your credit card debts strategically.

Your credit usage is the percentage of your credit limits that you’re utilizing at any given time. A reasonable rule of thumb is to keep your usage under 30% of your limit on each card. The greatest scorers utilize less than 7 per cent of their available credit.

When the card issuer reports your account to the credit bureaus, you want to make sure it’s as low as possible because that is taken into account in calculating your score. Paying down the outstanding balance before the billing cycle ends or paying numerous payments throughout the month to keep your balance low are two simple methods to accomplish this.

2. Make a request for higher credit limits if necessary.

When your credit limit rises while your account balance remains the same, your overall credit utilization goes down immediately, which improves your credit. If you’ve increased income or acquired more years of positive credit history, you’re more likely to receive a higher limit.

3. Become a legitimate user.

If you have a relative or friend with a good credit history and a large credit limit, ask to be added as an authorized user. Adding the account to your credit reports allows its credit limit to benefit your users. Also known as “credit piggybacking,” authorized user status lets you profit from the primary user’s excellent payment history. For

To get the greatest impact, make sure the account is reported to all three major credit bureaus (Equifax, illion and Experian). Most credit cards do.

4. Bills should be paid on time.

If you pay late, no plan to boost your credit will work. Worse, late payments may be recorded on your credit reports for up to seven and a half years.

If you fall behind on a payment by 30 days or more, contact the lender right away. Make payment as soon as possible and inquire if the creditor will consider omitting your delayed payments from credit reports. Even if the lender won’t agree to it, getting current on your account right away is worthwhile. Every month an outstanding debt is recorded lowers your score.

5. Dispute credit report mistakes if you detect any.

One of your credit reports may be lowering your score. One of the best ways to raise your credit score quickly is to dispute mistakes on your credit report.

You’re entitled to free reports from each of the three major credit bureaus. Request them on AnnualCreditReport.com and check for mistakes, such as payments marked late when you paid on time, someone else’s credit activity mixed with yours, or negative information that’s too old to be listed anymore.

Once you’ve discovered them, raise a complaint regarding those mistakes.

6. Accounts for collections must be handled.

When you pay off a collection account, the worry that you will be sued over the debt is removed, and the collection agency may be persuaded to cease reporting it. You can also remove collections accounts from your credit reports if they aren’t correct or are more than seven years old.

7. Use a credit card that has been secured.

A secured credit card is one way to develop or repair your credit. This type of card is backed by a cash deposit, and you pay it in advance. You utilize it like any other credit card, and your on-time payments contribute to your credit score.

8. You may get credit for your rent and utility bills.

Rental reporting services can contribute to your credit reports by recording your on-time rent payments. Rent payments are not taken into account by every scoring system. Even so, if a potential lender looks at your records, rent receipts will be visible, and a long history of regular payments can only benefit you.

9. Add to your credit mix.

Good credit history can assist your credit, particularly if it is a kind of credit you don’t already have.

If you only have credit cards, consider taking out a loan; a low-cost credit-builder loan is an alternative. Make sure the loan you’re considering reports to all three bureaus.

If you only have loans and no credit cards, a new credit card might be beneficial. It can assist you to improve the mix of your credit as well as lower your overall credit utilization by providing more available money.