Your credit score is not fixed. Some strategies produce increases within 30-45 days; others take months. Here is a clear-eyed breakdown of what works.

Pay utilisation below 10%+20 to +100 pts30-45 days
Dispute inaccuracies+10 to +150 pts30-45 days
Request limit increase+10 to +30 ptsNext cycle
Authorised user status+10 to +40 pts1-2 cycles
12mo on-time payments+30 to +80 pts12 months

Strategy 1 — Lower utilisation

Utilisation is 30% of FICO and the fastest lever. Paying a $10,000 limit from 40% to 10% can add 50-80 points within one billing cycle.

Strategy 2 — Dispute errors

~1 in 5 Americans has a credit report error. File disputes at all three bureaus independently — they must investigate within 30 days.

Myths debunked

Closing old cards does NOT help. Carrying a balance does NOT improve your score. Credit repair companies cannot do anything you cannot do yourself for free.

Use our Mortgage Calculator to model this.

Frequently asked questions

How fast can I improve my score?
Utilisation changes: 30-45 days. On-time payment history: 6-12 months.
Most effective single action?
Pay credit card balances below 10% utilisation.
Does paying off collections help?
Under newer FICO/VantageScore models, paid collections are ignored.
Can I remove accurate negative items?
Not before aging off, but goodwill deletion requests sometimes work.
How much does a hard inquiry hurt?
5-10 points, for 12 months.