Pay all bills on time, every time
Bring credit card balances below 30% of each limit
Pay credit card balances in full if possible
Make multiple payments during the month to lower reported utilization
Catch up on any past-due accounts immediately
Dispute inaccurate items on your credit reports
Check all three credit reports for errors
Ask for a credit limit increase on existing cards
Avoid closing old credit cards
Keep older accounts open and active
Become an authorized user on a well-managed credit card
Use a secured credit card if you have limited credit
Avoid applying for multiple new accounts at once
Limit hard inquiries
Set up automatic payments for at least the minimum due
Negotiate to remove collections or late payments if possible
Pay off collections accounts when appropriate
Keep installment loan payments current
Use credit lightly and consistently
Monitor your credit score regularly
Freeze unnecessary new credit applications while rebuilding