How to Build Your Credit Score Fast: 9 Strategies That Work

You could elevate your credit score with tips such as making on-time payments, paying credit card bills more than once a month, becoming an authorized user and fixing credit report errors.

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Updated Feb 10, 2026 · 5 min read

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Want to build a stronger credit score fast? Start by looking for quick wins, like a missed payment, a high credit card balance or an error on your credit report. Fixing these issues can sometimes lead to results in weeks, not years.

If your problem is a thin credit file, building credit takes longer — but there are still smart ways to make progress at a steady pace.

The first step is to check your credit reports so you know what’s holding your score back. Once you spot the issue, you can choose the strategies that are most likely to help.

Below are nine options, starting with the ones that tend to work fastest.

Ways to raise your credit score in 30 days

1. Pay credit card balances strategically

⏰ Why this works fast: Credit scores update when lower balances are reported, often within a billing cycle.

Credit utilization means how much of your credit limit you’re using. A good rule of thumb is to use less than 30% of your limit on each card, and lower is even better. People with the highest credit scores often use less than 10%.

Credit utilization is one of the biggest factors in your credit score. To lower it, you can pay down your balance before your statement closes or make smaller payments throughout the month to keep your balance low. Some people also use extra money, like a tax refund or seasonal income, to pay down their cards.

Most card issuers report your balance to the credit bureaus around the end of your billing cycle. You can check your statement for the reporting date or call customer service to ask when and where your account is reported.

💡 Quick tip: Set calendar reminders to make payments or add alerts to your credit card accounts. Consider setting up all payments to come out of one account, or putting all of your bills on a single credit card, to help streamline the payment process and keep track of balances.

» LEARN: What factors affect your credit scores?

2. Dispute credit report errors

⏰ Why this works fast: If an error is removed, scores can jump quickly.

A mistake on one of your credit reports can lower your score. Disputing errors on your credit report can help you quickly improve your credit because the credit bureaus have 30 to 45 days to investigate and respond to your request.

You can get free weekly reports from all three major credit bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. Review them carefully and look for errors, like payments marked late when you paid on time or accounts that don’t belong to you. Also check for negative items, called derogatory marks, such as a bankruptcy, account in collections or foreclosures that are too old to be listed anymore — most should be removed after about seven years.

💡 Quick tip: It takes some time to request and read your free credit reports, dispute errors and track the follow-up. The process is still worthwhile, especially if you're trying to build your credit ahead of a milestone such as applying for a large loan like a mortgage or auto loan. In those cases, get disputes done with plenty of time to spare.

Need your credit reports in Spanish?

You can request your credit report in Spanish directly from each of the three major credit bureaus:

TransUnion: Call 800-916-8800.
Equifax: Visit the link or call 888-378-4329.
Experian: Click on the link or call 888-397-3742.

Usted puede solicitar una copia de su informe crediticio (gratis y en español) de cada una de las tres principales agencias de crédito:

TransUnion: Llame al 800-916-8800.
Equifax: Visite el enlace o llame al 888-378-4329.
Experian: Haga clic en el enlace o llame al 888-397-3742.

3. Ask for higher credit limits

⏰ Why this works fast: A high credit limit can lower utilization without paying down debt, once approved.

When your credit limit increases while your balance stays the same, it immediately lowers your overall credit utilization, which is a big factor in your credit score calculation. If you’ve had an increase in income or more years of positive credit history, you're likely in a good position to request a higher limit.

Before asking for a credit limit increase, map out how you'll keep your spending steady to avoid using the additional credit. If those higher limits are a temptation, this might not be the best strategy for you.

💡 Quick tip: Contact your credit card issuer to ask about getting a higher limit. See if it's possible to avoid a “hard” credit inquiry, which can temporarily drop your score a few points.

What helps in 1–3 months

4. Pay bills on time

⏰ Why this works fast: Paying on time helps immediately, but the real benefit happens with consistency over time.

Your payment history is the largest scoring factor in both FICO and VantageScore credit scoring systems. Late payments can stay on your credit reports for seven years, but the impact to your score fades over time.

If you miss a payment by 30 days or more, pay what you owe as soon as you can. Contact the lender by phone or online chat and ask if they’re willing to stop reporting the missed payment to the credit bureaus. This works best if the late payment was a one-time mistake and you usually pay on time.

Even if the lender says no, it’s still important to bring your account up to date as soon as possible. Every month the account stays past due can hurt your credit score.

💡 Quick tip: Prevent missed payments by setting up account reminders and considering automatic payments to cover at least the minimum.

5. Become an authorized user

⏰ Why this works fast: Once the account reports, the effect can show within a month or two.

If someone you trust — like a parent, relative or friend —has a credit card with a high credit limit and a history of on-time payments, you could ask to be added as an authorized user. You don’t need to use the card or even have the card number for this to help your credit. This strategy works well for people who are new to credit or have a thin credit file. The effect will be smaller for those with established credit who are looking to rebuild their score after a financial misstep.

For the best results, make sure the account reports authorized user activity to all three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) most credit cards do.

💡 Quick tip: Discuss with the account holder whether you'll have access to the card and account or if you'll just be listed as an authorized user.

6. Get credit for rent and utility payments

⏰ Why this works fast: Getting credit for rent and utility payments can help, especially if you’re new to credit, but it usually works best alongside other strategies like paying down credit cards.

Rent-reporting services can add your on-time rent payments to your credit reports. The boost is usually modest, and not all credit scores include rent or utility payments — for example, VantageScores includes them, but FICO 8 does not. Even so, lenders who review your full credit reports will see your rental history, and a long record of on-time payments can help.

Experian Boost is another option. It’s a free service that links to your bank account and looks for payments to things like utilities, phone bills, streaming services and some rent payments. You choose which payments you want added to your Experian credit report.

Boost works instantly, but the rent-reporting aspect of it will vary based on a consumer's history. For example, some services offer an instant "lookback" of the past two years of payments, but without that, it could take some months to build a record of on-time payments.

💡 Quick tip: Rent and bill payments don’t count toward every credit score, so use reporting services as a supplement — not a replacement — for building credit with cards or loans.

» How does Experian Boost compare to UltraFICO and Ecredable?

What takes longer, but matters

7. Deal with collections accounts

🐢 Why this works slowly: Paying or settling collections helps, but impact varies by scoring model.

Paying or settling a collections account can lower the risk of being sued, and in some cases, the collection agency may agree to stop reporting the debt once it’s paid. An account in collections is a serious negative mark on your credit report, so if the collector agrees to stop reporting the account it could help a lot.

You can also dispute collections on your credit reports if they aren't accurate or if they’re too old to appear on your credit report but are still listed.

Collectors can keep reporting the account, even after you’ve paid it, and the effect depends on the credit scoring model. FICO 8, which many lenders still use, can count paid collections against your score. Newer FICO and VantageScore models usually ignore paid collections.

💡 Quick tip: Request and read your credit reports, then make a plan to handle collections accounts that are listed. If a collections account is accurate but old, check whether it’s close to aging off your credit report before paying — it may be removed automatically.

8. Use a secured credit card

🐢 Why this works slowly: Builds positive history gradually as on-time payments add up.

A secured credit card requires a cash deposit upfront, which usually becomes your credit limit.You use the card like a regular credit card, and making on-time payments can help build your credit.

This is most likely to help someone new to credit or someone looking for a way to add positive credit history to soften the effect of past mistakes. However, be sure to pay your bill each month. A missed payment could result in a late fee or force the issuer to use your deposit to cover the debt.

💡 Quick tip: Look for a secured card that reports your credit activity to all three major credit bureaus to get the biggest boost.

» SEE OUR PICKS: Best secured credit cards

9. Add to your credit mix

🐢 Why this works slowly: Opening a new account can cause a short-term dip in your score, but steady on-time payments and a stronger credit mix can help over time.

An additional credit account may help your credit, particularly if it is a type of credit you don't already have.

If a secured card isn't an option because of the deposit requirement, a credit-builder loan may be a lower-cost choice. Before you apply, check that the loan reports payments to all three credit bureaus. You can confirm this on the lender’s website or by asking directly.

If you already have loans but few or no credit cards, opening a new card may help. A new card can improve your credit mix and lower your overall credit utilization by giving you more available credit.

💡 Quick tip: Consider whether the time spent researching providers and applying is worth the potential lift to your score. Weigh what you'd pay in interest and fees if you're getting a loan or card strictly to improve your credit.

Reddit users say ...

We sifted through Reddit to get a pulse check on what users say about ways to raise your credit score fast. We used an AI tool to help analyze and summarize the feedback. People post anonymously, so we cannot confirm their individual experiences or circumstances.

Many users emphasized there is no true "quick fix" for credit scores, with one stating "Rome wasn't built in a day."

However, several users reported seeing improvements through specific actions like: paying off collection accounts (one user said they saw a jump from 540 to 660 in three months after paying off collections), getting secured credit cards, maintaining low utilization, and being added as an authorized user on someone else's established credit card (one user reported going from 496 to 660 in three months this way).

As one user directly quoted: "Credit score isn't as important as your overall credit profile" — suggesting that building a solid credit history matters more than chasing a specific number.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 15/3 credit card trick?

The goal of the 15/3 rule is to lower your credit utilization, which is one of the most important factors in your credit score calculation. Here’s how it works: Pay around half of your credit card balance 15 days before your statement closing date and the remaining balance (or a large portion of that balance) three days before your statement closes.

For example, if your statement closes on the 30th of the month, you might make one payment around the 15th and another around the 27th. This helps ensure a lower balance is reported, which can improve your score faster than making just one payment on the due date.

How do I get my credit score up 100 points in one month?

A 100-point jump in a single month is possible, but it’s uncommon. It usually happens only when there’s a clear, fixable issue — such as an error on your credit report that gets removed, very high credit card balances that are paid down quickly, or a thin credit file that suddenly gains positive information, like being added as an authorized user.

For most people looking to rebuild their credit, a more realistic goal is improving 30 to 60 points in a month by tackling the highest-impact steps, such as lowering credit card balances, fixing errors and paying bills on time.

What's the best way to build a record of on-time payments?

Regardless of your income, one of the most important financial behaviors or habits you can start is to build a history of paying on time. A credit card offers one of the easiest ways to do this. Set up automatic payments to make sure you pay on time each month. If you want to avoid the temptation to overspend, consider paying the balance as soon as it posts.

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