{"id":5649,"date":"2025-07-23T12:51:43","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T17:51:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.accrediteddebtrelief.com\/blog\/?p=5649"},"modified":"2025-07-23T12:51:43","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T17:51:43","slug":"the-complete-guide-to-understanding-improving-your-credit-score","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.accrediteddebtrelief.com\/blog\/the-complete-guide-to-understanding-improving-your-credit-score\/","title":{"rendered":"The Complete Guide to Understanding &#038; Improving Your Credit Score"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Your credit score can impact big parts of your life. For everything from car loans to mortgages, your credit score is an indicator of&nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.accrediteddebtrelief.com\/blog\/good-habits-that-will-help-you-repair-your-credit-score\/\">how good you are<\/a> at borrowing and paying back money. And the better the credit score, the easier it is for you to access the resources you need to live your life.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The choices you make can directly impact that number. So whether you\u2019re trying to bounce back from bad habits or working to achieve new heights, this guide will help you understand what your credit score is, what affects it and what steps you can take to make it better.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Goes into a Credit Score?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ranging between 300 and 850, your credit score is a three-digit number that factors in your current and past ability to borrow money, then pay it back. In short, your credit score offers information to lenders about how risky it is to engage in business with you.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:20px\">Breaking Down a FICO Credit Score<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>35% of your credit score accounts for your payment history, aka your ability to stay current<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>30% covers how much you owe on your accounts (this includes your credit utilization)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>15% accounts for your credit history, or how long you\u2019ve had credit and how it\u2019s fluctuated over the years<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>10% covers your \u201ccredit mix:\u201d in other words, the variety and quantity of your credit lines\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>10% accounts for any new credit lines you\u2019ve recently opened<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>No matter what you\u2019re working towards, your credit score can be a key asset or a major hurdle. Your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.myfico.com\/credit-education\/credit-scores\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">credit score<\/a> can impact your ability to access things like loans, lower interest rates, housing and even employment.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even small changes in your score can mean big differences in how much money you spend on interest or fees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:20px\">What does your credit score say about your financial reputation?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Credit Score<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Meaning<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>&lt;580<\/td><td>Lenders would consider you a risk, as your credit is much worse than other U.S. consumers.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>580-669<\/td><td>Your credit score is below average, but some lenders may be open to offering new credit lines.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>670-739<\/td><td>You\u2019re pretty average compared to other Americans; most lenders consider these scores to be fairly good.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>740-799<\/td><td>Lenders would consider you trustworthy, and you don\u2019t have much trouble opening new cards or getting loans.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>800+<\/td><td>You\u2019re a safe bet \u2014 most consumers have lower scores, making you stand out from the crowd.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Bills Affect Your Credit Report<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your bills are to your credit score as bricks are to a house: Any missing blocks, and the structural integrity of the home will be compromised. And there are surefire ways to build a strong structure:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pay Bills On Time<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>The biggest piece of your score is paying your bills on time. Make a payment even a few days late, and it can hurt your score. Paying every bill on time builds trust and makes your score go up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Keep Your Credit Utilization Low<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Credit utilization is simply how much of your total credit limit you\u2019re actively using.&nbsp; For example, if your credit card limit is $1,000 and you owe $800, that\u2019s 80% utilization. (And that\u2019s too high!) To achieve a better credit score, try to stay under 30%, and, if possible, under 10%. Want a surefire way to keep it low? Pay off your card completely each month!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Leave Old Accounts Open<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Older accounts show a longer history of good money habits. So resist the urge to close those older, paid-off credit cards \u2014 they can actually help your score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"4\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Limit Hard Credit Checks<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Whenever you apply for a new loan or credit card, the company will run a \u201chard credit check\u201d or \u201cpull.\u201d Too many of these will alert credit rating companies that something\u2019s amiss, and could potentially impact your score.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"5\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Show Your Versatility<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Good at paying your monthly credit card bill? Great. Good at paying your credit card bills, car loan and student loans? Even better \u2014 different types of well-maintained accounts improve your overall score.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Credit Report Basics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your credit report is the full story behind your credit score. It shows everything you\u2019ve borrowed and paid (or not paid), and it\u2019s the source of your credit score.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:20px\">How to Get a Free Credit Report<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Per Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), you\u2019re entitled to a<a href=\"https:\/\/consumer.ftc.gov\/articles\/free-credit-reports\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> free credit report<\/a> from each of the three big credit bureaus \u2014 Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion \u2014 once every year. If you\u2019re concerned about your score, plan ahead by spreading out your report requests every four months.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:20px\">How to Spot Mistakes on Your Credit Report<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Look at your history for payments marked late that weren\u2019t, accounts you don\u2019t own or paid-off loans that still show a balance. These errors can drag your score down without you knowing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:20px\">How to Dispute Mistakes on Your Credit Report<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>All three credit bureaus have a way for consumers to file disputes online. If you need support for an issue on your report, be sure to reach out \u2014 they\u2019re obligated by law to respond to your request.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Smart Moves to Build Your Credit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Improving your credit can feel like an uphill battle, especially if your credit history has a record of problems. But to achieve the dream of homeownership, for example, you\u2019ll need a good credit score to get approved for a mortgage at a fair rate.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:20px\">Try Credit Builder Tools<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re just starting out or rebuilding, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.consumerfinance.gov\/about-us\/newsroom\/cfpb-study-shows-financial-product-could-help-consumers-build-credit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">look into<\/a><strong> <\/strong>options like secured credit cards or credit-builder loans could be helpful. These programs are designed to help raise scores and build good credit habits.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:20px\">Deal With Bad Marks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Officially referred to as \u201cderogatory items,\u201d these are demerits on your report. They can include missed payments, bills sent to collections or bankruptcies. Derogatory items can stay on your report for up to seven years, but their impact fades over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">You\u2019re in Control of Your Score<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>De-mystifying your credit score is an empowering first step: By understanding what it is and how it works, you now have the tools to understand how to change it for the better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After all, it\u2019s never too late to improve your credit score<strong>.<\/strong> Every bill you pay on time and every balance you lower moves you closer to a stronger financial future with more possibilities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your credit score can impact big parts of your life. For everything from car loans to mortgages, your credit score is an indicator of&nbsp; how good you are at borrowing and paying back money. And the better the credit score, the easier it is for you to access the resources you need to live your [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":5650,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[73],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5649","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-financial-wellness"],"accredited":{"author":{"name":"Sophia Grant","url":"https:\/\/www.accrediteddebtrelief.com\/blog\/author\/sgrant\/"},"categories":[{"name":"Financial Wellness","slug":"financial-wellness","url":"https:\/\/www.accrediteddebtrelief.com\/blog\/category\/financial-wellness\/"}],"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.accrediteddebtrelief.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ADR_Blog_Images_5-1024x576.png"},"acf":{"edited_by":"","reviewed_by":"","fact_checked_by":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Complete Guide to Understanding &amp; Improving Your Credit Score - Top Dollar<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Want to understand and improve your credit score? 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