5 simple steps to help you keep your credit report and score in tip-top shape.

1. Help Your Credit
5 Simple Steps
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2. Step 1: Pay Your Bills
Setup an bullet proof system for paying your bills
• Sign up for bill pay through your bank
• Sign up for payment alerts from your credit cards
• Setup alerts in your digital calendar or phone
• Do whatever it takes to ensure you never miss a payment
How you pay your bills is the biggest positive or
negative factor in scoring your credit
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3. Step 2: Credit Utilization
Use a small percentage of your available credit
• Good credit scores are balance of using credit, but not too much
• Using more than 50% of your available credit is considered risky
• Excellent credit scores typical use less than 30% of their credit
Regularly check your credit report and score to see
how your use of credit is seen by creditors.
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4. Step 3: Dispute Inaccuracies
Dispute errors and inaccuracies on your credit report
• Over 19% of credit reports have mistakes
• Once corrected, nearly 1% errors raise scores more than 20 points
• You don’t want to be the 1%
Are you the 1%? Regular review of your credit report
and score will keep you out of the 1%.
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5. Step 4: Applying for Credit
Avoid applying for lots of new credit at one time
• When you apply for new credit, the lender does a “hard” credit inquiry
• Credit inquiries are reported and scored negatively
• Numerous credit applications can ding your credit score
Watch your credit report for unknown credit
inquiries. These can alert your to identity fraud.
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6. Step 5: Closing Credit Cards
Don’t Close Credit Card Accounts You Don’t Use
• Closing credit cards can lower your available credit
• Your percentage of credit use will suddenly
• Credit (use) utilization is a major credit scoring factor
Track your credit utilization with a monthly review of
your accounts on your credit report.
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7. How is Your Credit Doing?
Regularly review of your credit report and score
• Check for mistakes and inaccuracies
• Protect yourself from identity fraud
• Look for opportunities to improve
Get a Free Credit Report and Score every 6 months
from Quizzle.com
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