How to Boost My Credit in Days

Your credit can be boosted in just days -- but you should allow at least 30 to 45 days for changes to be updated on your credit report. Your credit score is a three-digit number ranging from 350 to 850, and information contained on your credit report is used to determine your score. Generally, your credit score rises as positive credit information is added to your report, and your score often declines when negative information is added. To improve your credit in just days you should quickly add as much positive information as possible.

Instructions

1

Obtain your report from AnnualCreditReport.com. It's the only Internet site officially endorsed by the federal government to offer free credit reports under the terms of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Follow instructions included with your credit report to order your credit score separately, for a fee.

2

Make payments to bring all your accounts current, if necessary. Refer to your billing statements or credit report to identify accounts reporting as past due. The MSN Money website reports that it is impossible for your credit score to improve significantly if you are behind on your payments. Bringing the accounts current could provide a quick boost.

3

Pay down balances on your revolving credit. According to MSN Money, your balances should not exceed 30 percent of your credit limit on each account. Creditors like to see a large gap between the amount of credit you are using and the amount you have available. Pay down your balances to at least 30 percent and preferably even lower.

4

Resolve any charge-offs, liens, judgments or other negative credit entries on your credit report. Granted, it might take more than a few days to negotiate the payment of a judgment or a lien. But any progress you make could have a positive effect. Contact original creditors or debt collectors to pay off delinquent debts. Start by offering a lump payment for the full amount in exchange for the creditor or debt collector removing the negative information from your credit report. If that doesn't work, try to settle for less than the full amount and insist that your credit report be updated immediately to indicate that the account has been paid. Negotiate only with the entity currently managing the delinquent account. For example, an old credit card charge-off may have been assigned or sold to a debt collector. Check your credit report for current contact names and telephone numbers.

5

Review your progress by ordering another copy of your credit report and score 30 to 45 days after making your payments. You're entitled to three free credit reports a year from AnnualCreditReport.com, but you must order your credit score separately each time for a fee.