Everything we wish every client knew before hiring anyone — including us. Read the whole thing right here, or grab the PDF for later.
Three private companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — keep separate files on you, built from what your creditors report. Lenders don't report to all three equally, which is why your three scores are never identical and why fixing one report isn't enough.
You're entitled to free reports from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com — the official, federally mandated source. Read every line. Most people find at least one thing they don't recognize.
Payment history (~35%), amounts owed (~30%), length of history (~15%), new credit (~10%), and credit mix (~10%). Nearly two-thirds of your score comes from just paying on time and keeping balances low.
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, bureaus must investigate items you dispute, generally within about 30 days, and remove anything they can't verify. You can do this yourself for free, or hire a company like ours to run the process relentlessly for you.
The share of your credit limits you're using is recalculated constantly — so paying a maxed card down below 30% (better, below 10%) can move your score in a single statement cycle. It's usually the quickest lever you control.
Closing old accounts shortens your average credit age and shrinks your available limits — hitting two scoring factors at once. If the card is fee-free, keep it open with a small recurring charge.
Secured cards, credit-builder loans, and becoming an authorized user on a trusted person's old, clean account all add positive data to your file. Removals shrink the negative; these grow the positive.
Walk away from anyone who demands payment before doing work, guarantees a specific score, tells you to dispute accurate items, or offers a "new credit identity" (a CPN) — the first violates federal law and the last can implicate you in fraud.
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