Financial Tips | Money and Kids

Cashspeak! How I Raised my Credit Score - CASHSPEAK
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11/6/07

How I Raised my Credit Score

About two years ago (October of 2005) my credit score was in the 620s. In case you are wondering, a score of 620 is not particularly good. In fact, it is a bad credit score. Today, my credit score is over 740. A score of 740 ranks in the top tier of creditworthiness. How did I raise my credit score over 100 points in less than two years? Before I answer this question, I need to give you a little background information.

My credit score was low because I had late payments on my credit report. Late payments can stay on a credit report for up to 7 years. I did not want to wait 7 years because I had plans for certain types of investments. These investments required a decent credit score, and thus, I needed to find a solution.

First, I obtained a copy of my credit report. I noticed that some of the negative accounts on my credit report were not even mine. One of the negative accounts was opened when I was 6 years old. I called the credit card company and asked them when the started giving out credit cards to children in the first grade. The stunned silence on the phone proved to me that they got the point. The negative accounts that were not mine were removed from my credit report. This increased my credit score.

Second, I got a referral from my real estate teacher for a company that will fix a credit report. I called the company, paid a small fee, and followed the instructions that they gave me. Basically, I was told to continue to pay my outstanding balances in a timely manner and to refrain from using and applying for any credit cards. The company would contact the credit reporting companies and dispute any negative information on my credit report. Less than two years later (which is far better than 7 years) I sit with a score of over 740.

If this plan of action does not work for you, you can always pay your cards on time, reduce your outstanding balance, and wait for any negative information to be removed from your credit report. The choice is up to you.

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