{"id":484,"date":"2021-07-01T20:11:07","date_gmt":"2021-07-02T03:11:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/?page_id=484"},"modified":"2024-07-09T08:17:41","modified_gmt":"2024-07-09T15:17:41","slug":"get-a-better-credit-score","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/get-a-better-credit-score","title":{"rendered":"How to Get a Better Credit Score"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"\">Having a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/what-is-a-good-credit-score\">good credit score<\/a> is essential if you ever want to open a credit card, apply for a mortgage or get a car loan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Lenders will look at your credit score as a summary of how creditworthy you are and they&#8217;ll use that assessment to decide what interest rate you&#8217;ll pay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Getting a better credit score is a relatively straightforward process, but it does require some strategy, effort, and time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Since your credit score can significantly limit \u2014 or enhance\u2014\u00a0 your financial prospects, it\u2019s worth making it as strong as possible. Here&#8217;s how to do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Understanding your credit score<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">\u00a0Your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/what-is-a-credit-score\">credit score<\/a> is a number between 300 and 900. Your credit score reflects how you\u2019ve used credit in the past and may change based on how you\u2019re currently using it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Here are typical <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/credit-score-ranges-in-canada\">credit score ranges<\/a>, along with their ratings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"\">\n<li class=\"\"><strong>300 to 560<\/strong>: Poor<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>561 to 659<\/strong>: Fair<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>660 to 724<\/strong>: Good<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>725 to 759<\/strong>: Very good<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>760 to 900<\/strong>: Excellent<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Your credit score is calculated by two main credit bureaus in Canada: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/equifax-credit-score\">Equifax<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/transunion-credit-score\">TransUnion<\/a>, using proprietary algorithms as well as scoring models that may be provided by companies like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/fico-score\">Fair Issac Corporation<\/a>, or FICO. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Borrowers with credit scores in the \u201cgood,\u201d \u201cvery good,\u201d and \u201cexcellent\u201d range tend to get approved for more credit products, higher credit limits, and lower interest rates.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><strong>\u00bb MORE:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/how-to-check-your-credit-score\">How to check your credit score<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to get a better credit score<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">&nbsp;Here are some simple ways to improve your credit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. <strong>Pay your bills on time<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">When you pay your bills, you\u2019re establishing a payment history. Lenders want to see that you always make your payments so they can trust that you\u2019ll consistently pay them, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Whether it\u2019s for your credit card or mobile phone, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/credit-cards\/credit-card-bill-best-time-to-pay\">bill payments<\/a> are reported to the credit bureaus, and being late or missing one could lower your credit score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Even if you\u2019re in a challenging financial situation, try making at least the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/credit-cards\/minimum-payment-credit-card\">minimum payment<\/a>, as it will keep your account in good standing.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. <strong>Keep your credit utilization ratio low<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The amount of available credit you\u2019re using is known as your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/what-is-credit-utilization\">credit utilization ratio<\/a>. For example, if you have a credit card with a limit of $1,000 with a running balance of $800, your credit utilization ratio is 80%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Your credit utilization ratio is a big factor in determining your credit score. Even if you always pay your bill in full each month, the credit bureaus may not like that you\u2019re often near your limit. Try keeping your utilization ratio under 30%, which lenders see as less risky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. <strong>Limit how often you apply for credit<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Whenever you apply for new credit, the lender performs a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/what-is-a-soft-credit-inquiry\">hard inquiry<\/a> on your credit report, which generally results in a temporary drop in your credit score. While one new credit application a year likely won\u2019t be a big deal, applying for multiple forms of credit in a short period is not a good idea, since each inquiry could hurt your credit score. Lenders may also wonder why you\u2019re trying to access so much credit and may be wary of approving you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-lightest-green-background-color has-background\"><strong>Nerdy Tip:<\/strong> If you\u2019re shopping around for a loan like a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/mortgages\/mortgage-meaning\">mortgage<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/banking\/how-car-loans-work\">car loan<\/a>, consolidating your inquiries for the same type of credit into a short period is advantageous. Lenders will understand that you\u2019re rate shopping and group these inquiries as one.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. <strong>Use a secured credit card<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/credit-cards\/what-is-a-secured-credit-card\">Secured credit cards<\/a> are a great option for people who want to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/credit-cards\/best-credit-cards-to-rebuild-credit\">rebuild or establish a credit score<\/a>. These cards require you to deposit security funds that serve as your credit limit. The advantage of a secured card is that the issuer will report your payment history to the credit bureaus.\u00a0 Making consistent payments can help you build a better credit score over time. Once your score is in good standing, you can apply for a traditional <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/credit-cards\/secured-vs-unsecured-credit-cards\">unsecured credit card<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Getting a better credit score takes time<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">There&#8217;s no instant way to improve your credit. According to the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, it takes 30 to 90 days for new information to show up in your credit report, and each new piece of information could result in a small change to your score. That means it could take at least a year before you see any meaningful increase, such as moving from one credit score rating to the next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">As long as you follow the tips outlined above, your score will eventually rise. While it\u2019s not a quick or flashy fix, responsible use of your credit is the only way to get a better credit score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-nerdwallet-blocks-faq c-block-faq\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/FAQPage\"><div class=\"c-block-faq__wrapper\"><div class=\"c-block-faq__header\"><h2 class=\"c-block-faq__title\"><\/h2><\/div><div class=\"c-block-faq__section-list\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-nerdwallet-blocks-faq-section\"><div class=\"c-block-faq-section c-block-accordion-wrapper\"><div class=\"c-block-accordion__header\"><h3 class=\"c-block-accordion__title\">Frequently asked questions about getting a better credit score<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"c-block-accordion-list\">\n<div class=\"c-block-faq-item c-block-accordion-item c-block-accordion-item--active\" itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"c-block-accordion-item__header\"><div class=\"c-block-accordion-item__title\" itemprop=\"name\">What\u2019s the fastest way to fix your credit score?<\/div><\/div><div class=\"c-block-accordion-item__content\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\"><div class=\"wp-block-nerdwallet-blocks-faq-item\" itemprop=\"text\">\n<p class=\"\">The quickest way to boost your credit score is to lower your credit utilization rate by paying down your revolving debt and focusing on making on-time payments. These are the two biggest contributing factors to your credit score, so prioritizing them will likely result in positive movement. However, your credit report may take a few months to reflect these changes.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"c-block-faq-item c-block-accordion-item c-block-accordion-item--active\" itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"c-block-accordion-item__header\"><div class=\"c-block-accordion-item__title\" itemprop=\"name\">How can I repair a damaged credit score?<\/div><\/div><div class=\"c-block-accordion-item__content\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\"><div class=\"wp-block-nerdwallet-blocks-faq-item\" itemprop=\"text\">\n<p class=\"\">If your credit score is damaged, you must first bring your accounts into good standing. Then, you can rehabilitate your score by focusing on on-time payments, reducing your credit utilization, and increasing your credit mix. Derogatory marks may stay on your credit report for around six years, so it will take time before your score fully rebounds. Even a low score can move into the \u201cexcellent\u201d range with time and effective management.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"nwb-authors nwb-authors__footer wp-block-nerdwallet-blocks-authors-card\">\n\t<div class=\"nwb-authors__wrapper\">\n\t\t<h4 class=\"nwb-authors__title\">\n\t\t\tAbout the Authors\t\t<\/h4>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nwb-authors__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/author\/janine-devault\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"nwb-authors__image\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/05\/Janine_headshot-150x150.jpeg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"120\" height=\"120\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Janine DeVault photo\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/author\/janine-devault\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Janine DeVault<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nwb-authors__bio\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Janine DeVault is a freelance writer and content strategist who specializes in topics related to travel and personal finance. She\u2019s passionate about creating content that empowers people to take control&hellip;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/author\/janine-devault\" title=\"Read more about Janine DeVault\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Read more about Janine DeVault and explore their articles<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nwb-authors__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/author\/barry-choi\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"nwb-authors__image\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/BarryChoi-e1626212860872-100x100.jpg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"120\" height=\"120\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Barry Choi photo\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/author\/barry-choi\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Barry Choi<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nwb-authors__bio\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Barry Choi is a freelance personal finance and travel expert. His website moneywehave.com is one of Canada&#039;s most trusted sites when it comes to all things related to money and&hellip;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/author\/barry-choi\" title=\"Read more about Barry Choi\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Read more about Barry Choi and explore their articles<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t<section class=\"c-block-card-grid container\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"c-block-card-grid__title\">\n\t\t\t\tDIVE EVEN DEEPER\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card-grid-scroll column-four\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card-grid-scroll__column\">\n<div id=\"post-56742\" class=\"c-block-card post-56742 page type-page status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry content-classification-personal-finance topic-personal-finance cluster-personal-finance\">\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__inner c-block-card__inner--large\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"c-block-card__image-wrapper\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/average-credit-score-in-canada\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"435\" height=\"290\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/02\/GettyImages-613518378-435x290.jpg\" class=\"c-block-card__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"Average Credit Score in Canada by Age and Location\" \/>\t<\/a><!-- .c-entry__thumbnail -->\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\n<h4 class=\"c-block-card__title\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/average-credit-score-in-canada\" rel=\"bookmark\" class=\"c-block-card__title-link\">\n\t\tAverage Credit Score in Canada by Age and Location\t<\/a>\n<\/h4>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content\">\n\t\t<p>Knowing your credit score and how close it is to the average can help you be more prepared to apply for financial products.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__authors\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline--wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/author\/sandra-macgregor\" class=\"author url fn\" rel=\"author\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/Sandra-MacGregor-e1626212852416-40x40.jpg\" class=\"avatar avatar-32 photo wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>Sandra MacGregor<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .c-card__content-wrapper -->\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- #post-56742 -->\n<\/div><div class=\"c-block-card-grid-scroll__column\">\n<div id=\"post-482\" class=\"c-block-card post-482 page type-page status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry content-classification-personal-finance topic-personal-finance cluster-personal-finance\">\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__inner c-block-card__inner--large\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"c-block-card__image-wrapper\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/how-to-check-your-credit-score\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"460\" height=\"192\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/GettyImages-619405492-e1625170587794-460x192.jpg\" class=\"c-block-card__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"How to Check Your Credit Score in Canada\" \/>\t<\/a><!-- .c-entry__thumbnail -->\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\n<h4 class=\"c-block-card__title\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/how-to-check-your-credit-score\" rel=\"bookmark\" class=\"c-block-card__title-link\">\n\t\tHow to Check Your Credit Score in Canada\t<\/a>\n<\/h4>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content\">\n\t\t<p>You can check your credit report for free by contacting Canada\u2019s two main credit bureaus, Equifax and TransUnion. Your credit score isn\u2019t always included in your report and may require paying a fee.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__authors\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline--wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/author\/sandra-macgregor\" class=\"author url fn\" rel=\"author\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/Sandra-MacGregor-e1626212852416-40x40.jpg\" class=\"avatar avatar-32 photo wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>Sandra MacGregor<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/author\/janine-devault\" class=\"author url fn\" rel=\"author\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/05\/Janine_headshot-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"avatar avatar-32 photo wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>Janine DeVault<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .c-card__content-wrapper -->\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- #post-482 -->\n<\/div><div class=\"c-block-card-grid-scroll__column\">\n<div id=\"post-369\" class=\"c-block-card post-369 page type-page status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry content-classification-personal-finance topic-personal-finance cluster-personal-finance\">\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__inner c-block-card__inner--large\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"c-block-card__image-wrapper\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/how-credit-reports-work\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"460\" height=\"191\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/GettyImages-1214479802-e1625169976763-460x191.jpg\" class=\"c-block-card__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"How to Get a Free Credit Report in Canada\" \/>\t<\/a><!-- .c-entry__thumbnail -->\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\n<h4 class=\"c-block-card__title\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/how-credit-reports-work\" rel=\"bookmark\" class=\"c-block-card__title-link\">\n\t\tHow to Get a Free Credit Report in Canada\t<\/a>\n<\/h4>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content\">\n\t\t<p>Your credit report is a record of your credit history that&#8217;s used to calculate your credit score. Get your free credit report by contacting a credit bureau.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__authors\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline--wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/author\/sandra-macgregor\" class=\"author url fn\" rel=\"author\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/Sandra-MacGregor-e1626212852416-40x40.jpg\" class=\"avatar avatar-32 photo wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>Sandra MacGregor<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/author\/janine-devault\" class=\"author url fn\" rel=\"author\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/05\/Janine_headshot-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"avatar avatar-32 photo wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>Janine DeVault<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .c-card__content-wrapper -->\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- #post-369 -->\n<\/div><div class=\"c-block-card-grid-scroll__column\">\n<div id=\"post-65631\" class=\"c-block-card post-65631 page type-page status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry content-classification-credit-cards topic-credit-cards-syndication cluster-credit-cards-syndication\">\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__inner c-block-card__inner--large\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"c-block-card__image-wrapper\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/credit-cards\/what-is-rent-reporting-and-is-it-a-good-thing\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"435\" height=\"290\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/05\/GettyImages-913439064-435x290.jpg\" class=\"c-block-card__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"Rent Reporting Could Help Canadians Build Credit, but at What Cost?\" \/>\t<\/a><!-- .c-entry__thumbnail -->\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\n<h4 class=\"c-block-card__title\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/credit-cards\/what-is-rent-reporting-and-is-it-a-good-thing\" rel=\"bookmark\" class=\"c-block-card__title-link\">\n\t\tRent Reporting Could Help Canadians Build Credit, but at What Cost?\t<\/a>\n<\/h4>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content\">\n\t\t<p>While many prospective homebuyers could benefit from rent reporting, there are downsides to the optional service.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__authors\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline--wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/author\/georgia-rose\" class=\"author url fn\" rel=\"author\"><img alt='Georgia Rose profile photo' decoding=\"async\" src='https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6b9e515bc45988c863ac8ac39e7bdd34?s=32&#038;d=mm&#038;r=g' class='avatar avatar-32 photo' height='32' width='32' \/>Georgia Rose<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .c-card__content-wrapper -->\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- #post-65631 -->\n<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Want to improve your credit? These strategies will demonstrate your creditworthiness to lenders and may help you build a better credit score. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":626,"parent":104,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/article-sidebar.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"[]","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":"","_nw_pros_cons_block_schema":""},"content-classification":[13],"topic":[267],"cluster":[268],"pp_author":[23,1246],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Get a Better Credit Score - NerdWallet Canada<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Want to improve your credit fast? 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