- 1). Visit AnnualCreditReport.com and pull a copy of your credit report. You will be able to pull one credit report for free per year by mandate of the Federal Trade Commission, however, additional credit reports, as well as access to your credit score, requires payment. You will have to enter your full legal name, social security number, date of birth and credit card information to verify your identity and log onto the service.
- 2). Review your credit report for any possible errors. Check payment history, lines of credit, former addresses and any other names you went by (such as a maiden name) to ensure that all of the information is correct. If there are any errors, report them immediately to the credit bureau through the website.
- 3). Note any negative items on your credit report. Negative items include collections, judgments, liens and bankruptcies. Remember that most lenders will refuse new loans to anyone with any of these items outstanding. Work to have these paid in full. While repayment of these debts will not remove them from your report, they will be marked paid in full, which is a better reflection on your score than an unpaid negative item.
- 4). Keep all debt payments current. If you are currently 30 days or more late with any creditor, contact that creditor and work towards current payments. Attempt to have any late payments removed from your report by the creditor, if at all possible.
- 5). Note your credit card and line of credit debt. If you keep your credit card and line of credit balance to less than 30 percent of the credit limit, you lessen the effect of the balances on your credit score. If your balance is above 30 percent of the limit, even if you pay it in full each month, the balance will have a negative impact on your credit score.
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