ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW TO IMPROVE YOUR CREDIT SCORE

Today, it is highly essential for people to have a good credit score. After all, various banks and other lending institutions use it as a benchmark of your creditworthiness. This includes financial lenders, property managers, and insurance providers, among many others. A credit score provides an overview of your past repayment habits, along with your current financial position.

Let’s say that your credit score is 650 – one that is typically considered as a ‘bad credit score.’ If you could reach a minimum of 720, which is at the bottom of the ‘excellent’ credit range, lenders would start to see you in a different light.

What is a credit score?

A credit score is a metric to assess your creditworthiness, created from the information that is present in your credit history. When you apply for a line of credit, every financial lender will predict your future behaviour based on this score. It will include how many applications you’ve filled recently, how much you owe, how many credit products you have utilised, and whether or not you have paid them timely. The most recent information on your report will have the most impact as lenders will be more interested in your current financial position.

It is on the basis of this score that financial lenders will place trust in you and extend credit at reasonable interest rates. A good credit score is indicative of a reliable candidate, subsequently helping you attain the lowest possible interest rates by the financial institution.

A credit score ranges from 300 to 900, where a score between 300 and 549 is considered by many as a weak score, while a score between 750 to 850 is considered excellent. By focusing on understanding the factors that impact your score and taking conscious measures to improve it, you can significantly improve this rating. Let’s talk about some of the ways through which you can improve your credit score.

Avoid taking too much debt at one time

Make sure that the number of loans that you take during a particular period isn’t excessive. The ideal scenario is to smoothly repay one loan and then take another one to keep your credit score from crashing. If you take several loans at once, it will show that you are in a cycle where you have insufficient funds. As a result, your credit score will drop further. On the other hand, if you take one loan and successfully repay it, it will give a substantial boost to your credit score.

Review your credit report

To improve your credit rating, you need to know what is working in your favour and what is potentially harming it. Take out a copy of your credit report that you can avail from any significant national credit bureau like TransUnion. Do keep in mind that it’s not uncommon for banks and other credit companies to make a mistake. If you spot any account that you don’t recognize, dates that don’t match, or any unnecessary fee or penalties, don’t be afraid to call the financial company in question for details pertaining to the same.

Pay your bills on time

If you have a history of late payments, you need to turn that around and make sure that your bills are paid on time. If you have to, make a note in your calendar and keep a close track of your bank account savings and spending. It’s essential to do whatever you can to get those monthly bills paid on time. Keep that up for several months, and you’ll see a significant improvement in your credit score.

Is it realistic to improve your credit score by 100 points?

Rod Griffin, director of public education for Experian, says: “Yes. The lower a person’s score, the more likely they are to achieve a 100-point increase.” This is simply because there is much more upside and small changes can result in higher score increases. If you are someone who’s struggling with a low score, you are better off to make gains than someone with a strong credit score. If, however, you’re starting from a higher score, you don’t exactly need a full 100 points to make a difference in the credit products that you can receive. By merely continuing to polish your credit will prove to be sufficient.

In the end, if you pay your bills on time, keep your credit card balances modest and apply for credit only when you really need it, you’ll have nothing to worry about. For a detailed analysis of your personal financial situation and tips on how to improve the same, reach out to us at hello@clix.capital or give us a call at 1800 200 9898.