How To Raise Your Credit Score By 100 Points
The first time I owned a credit card was at the age of 20, I had no idea what a credit score was. Hell, I only had a cursory understanding of how credit cards worked. And respectfully, if you need to raise credit score by 100 points, then you may need a refresher on credit score basics.
A credit score is 3-digit number profile.
It ranges from 350 and 850 and is calculated automatically via algorithm based on data from your personal credit history.
A credit score determines your level of creditworthiness to lenders.
The best way to improve your credit score may be to better understand how they work.
So, as I explain how credit scores work, it won’t be in a condescending manner.
Believe me, I’ve been in your situation.
Credit Score Basics
The higher your credit score, the less you’ll seem like a risk to potential lenders.
Also, the credit score as we know it was developed by the Fair Isaac Corporation, also known as FICO.
There is no uniform category range that determines levels of creditworthiness, only general ones.
That means that whatever score is considered a, “good,” to one lender could be, “very good,” to another.
Here are the general category ranges for credit scores:
Zero
Unless you’re born rich or to royalty, everyone starts at zero when it comes to credit scores.
Your credit history starts with your first credit card.
A zero-credit score means you’re new to credit cards or new to bankruptcy. It takes time to go up from zero either way.
300 to 579 Range
This is the, “bad,” to, “poor,” credit score range. This means you have a bad credit history, perhaps containing a bankruptcy.
It’s hard to get new credit with scores in this range.
If you need to raise credit score by 100 points, you might be in this or the next range.
580 to 669 Range
This score range is considered, “average,” or, “fair.”
670 to 739 Range
If you’re in this score range, you officially have, “good,” credit.
According to Experian, a major credit scoring bureau, the average person has a credit score of 703.
740 to 799 Range
This is a, “very good,” credit score. If you have this score, it means you reliably pay your bills on time.
800 to 850 Range
You have, “excellent,” credit if your score falls within this range.
How To Raise Credit Score By 100 Points
You probably won’t raise credit score by 100 points with one method alone.
Employing a variety of these tactics might do the trick.
Check Your Credit Report
“Trust but verify,” is a famous political saying. You should check your credit report just as a lender would.
Check to see is there are any errors on your credit report and notify the credit
There are several credit scoring bureaus in the United States. The three major bureaus are:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
You have a right to an annual free copy of your credit report from all three credit bureaus. You can request your free credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com.
Check your credit card statement or consult with a customer service operator. Many credit cards offer free access to your credit report as a perk of membership.
If you find a discrepancy and report it, it might take several weeks for your credit score to gain some points.
How many points you may gain depends on the severity of the discrepancy you find on your credit report.
Become an Authorized User on Another Credit Card
A relative or friend can authorize you to be an authorized user on their credit cards.
So, you will be issued a credit card with your name on it as an authorized user.
It isn’t your credit card. You won’t have access to account details.
You’re just authorized to use someone else’s card and make charges that will appear on their account.
You may not gain a lot of points.
This a great way to rehab credit and demonstrate financial responsibility as an authorized user on someone else’s account.
Pay Bills in Full and On-Time
Late and/or delinquent bill payments is what probably got you in a situation where you need a 100-point credit score improvement.
Pay your bills on time and in full every month. Make it a habit or near religious practice.
Continually readjust your financial budget to meet such goals.
Over a period of months, maybe even a year or two, your credit score will automatically increase.
The only road to an excellent credit score is to pay your bills when they are due.
If you’re looking for a magic bullet, that’s it.
Don’t Apply for New Credit Cards
When you apply for new credit, a, “hard inquiry,” or, “hard pull,” is recorded on your credit history.
The act of a creditor or lender checking your history to evaluate your new credit application is called a hard inquiry.
A hard inquiry always results in a credit score drop. If you have excellent credit, you may not experience a drop.
Still, each hard inquiry results in a credit score drop of as much as 10 points.
If you have bad credit, the impact of a hard inquiry is worse since your score is anemic to start with.
The credit drop is temporary but can last as long as two years.
And, if you have no credit or bad credit, your credit score will drop precipitously the more you apply for new credit.
If you apply for 4 or more new credit cards within six months, credit bureaus will view this activity as desperation. If you apply for new credit 6 times in a short period, you’re more likely to file for bankruptcy than someone who hasn’t.
Work on rehabbing your current credit. Applying for new credit will only make thing worse.
Please keep in mind that improving your credit takes time.
Credit score are calculated automatically by computer algorithms, so corrections take time.
If these techniques help you improve your credit score, even by 100 points, it could take several months in the short term.
Or, years in the long-term.
Want another reason to try to improve your credit score? In January 2020, FICO officially changed the algorithm metrics determining credit scores. Now, your credit score could automatically increase or decrease by 20 points if you have good credit or bad credit, respectfully.
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Allen Francis is a full-time writer, prolific comic book investor and author of The Casual’s Guide: Why You Should Get Into Comic Book Investing. Allen holds a BA degree from Marymount Manhattan College. Before becoming a writer Allen was an academic advisor, librarian, and college adjunct for many years. Allen is an advocate of best personal financial practices including saving and investing in your own small business.
