| Many people have credit scores that are less than | | | | bureaus use your history purchases to determine what |
| perfect. To date, there are over 30 million people in the | | | | your limit is. For example, if your credit card has a limit |
| U.S. alone with severe credit blemishes. Though it is a | | | | of $3,500, but the most you have ever charged is |
| common problem, a bad credit score can prevent you | | | | $2,500 the bureau will assume that $2,500 is your |
| from getting a loan or credit card that has reasonable | | | | charging limit. If you have a habit of charging this |
| terms. If you need to raise your credit score fast, here | | | | amount on your card every month, it may look like you |
| are three things to try: | | | | are constantly maxing out the card--even if you pay |
| Reduce the Balance on Your Credit Cards | | | | the balance. To remedy the situation or to quickly raise |
| Making installment payments on your loans can help | | | | your credit score, ask your credit card company to |
| raise your credit score, but reducing your credit card | | | | update your limit information with the bureau or pay |
| balances can help raise it even faster. Credit card | | | | your balance before your statement period closes. |
| balances are an example of a revolving account. | | | | Dispute Old Negatives |
| Revolving accounts only look good if there is a large | | | | Just as you can dispute errors on your credit report, |
| gap between the amount of credit you are using and | | | | you can also dispute negatives. This can sometimes |
| the available credit limit. If possible, try to get your credit | | | | be the easiest way to raise your credit score fast. |
| card balances reduced to less than 30 percent of your | | | | Often times, collection agencies and lenders have |
| credit limit. | | | | moved your information around so much that their |
| Check Your Credit Card Limits | | | | records are a mess. If this is the case, they may not |
| Because many credit card companies, such as | | | | bother to pursue a situation or dispute. If they no longer |
| American Express and Capital One, do not officially | | | | want to make the effort to collect the money, the |
| report your credit limit to the credit bureaus, the | | | | negative item can be dropped from your report. |