Pay all bills on time
Pay credit card balances down as much as possible
Keep credit card utilization below 30%, ideally below 10%
Make multiple payments during the month if needed
Ask for a credit limit increase without increasing spending
Become an authorized user on a well-managed credit card
Dispute inaccurate items on your credit report
Pay off collections or negotiate pay-for-delete if possible
Avoid opening too many new accounts at once
Avoid closing old credit cards
Keep old accounts open and active
Use a mix of credit types responsibly
Set up autopay for at least the minimum payment
Bring past-due accounts current
Check credit reports from all three bureaus regularly
Request rapid rescoring if you recently paid down debt
Avoid hard inquiries unless necessary
Use credit-builder loans or secured cards if you have thin credit
Ask creditors for goodwill adjustments on late payments
Keep balances low before statement closing dates