3 Hacks to Quickly Raise Your Credit Score

Building up your credit is not always an easy feat. When your income is tight, you may not be able to pay as much as you’d like towards your debts. Don’t let a lack of extra income keep you from giving your credit a boost. The CGS Team is sharing 3 hacks to quickly raise your credit score. These ways not be available to everyone, but they are certainly worth trying!

#1 Ask for a Credit Limit Increase

Paying down your balances is a great way to raise your credit score. However, a lack of income can stop you from doing that. The next best thing would be to raise your credit limit. Increasing your credit limit results in a lower credit utilization percentage, which is a big part of your score. Make sure you don’t go using your card once your limit is increased! The goal is to still pay it down.

It’s important to note that your credit will likely be pulled if you ask for a large enough limit increase. Whether approved or denied, that credit pull will leave an inquiry on your report, which will cost your score a few points. That inquiry is worth it if you get what you’re asking for but less so if you don’t. Read 5 Tips for Increasing Your Credit Limits before asking for an increase.

#2 Sweep Your Credit Report for Errors

According to the Federal Trade Commission, one in five people report an error on their credit report. Errors can result in your score being lowered, with or without your knowledge. Performing a sweep of your credit report to ensure no errors are found is a quick hack that can result in a higher score.  Make this a habit. Everyone is entitled to a free credit report pull every year, don’t skip a beat! Fixing errors on your report can quickly give your score a boost.

If you do end up finding an error on your credit report, you will need to follow the dispute process. Read How to Fix a Faulty Credit Report for the best way to approach fixing your report.

#3 Become an Authorized User

Becoming an authorized user essentially means you ride the coattails of someone else’s credit journey. If you have a sibling or significant other with good credit, becoming an authorized user on one of their accounts can help give your score a boost.

Whatever account you are an authorized user on, you get credit for using and paying that card, without the responsibility of making payments. This means you can capitalize on someone else’s good credit, and have yourself removed down the line. If things take a turn for the worse, you can be removed sooner rather than later and the account can be removed from your credit report.

Related: 4 No-Fail Ways to Improve Your Credit Score

Each of the hacks above can have a quick impact on your credit score. As we mentioned earlier, the best way to raise your score is simply pay your balances off as quickly as possible. In the event that can’t happen, the hacks above will have to do! Have you tried any of the hacks listed above? What strategies have helped quickly raise your credit score? Leave a comment below to share!

-The CGS Team