Credit Score Articles Tips and Techniques for Improving Your Credit Score Tip! Instead of opening up a number of credit cards to raise a credit score, find a credit card with a low APR to consolidate onto one credit card. However, caution is advised on people with a short credit life in opening a number of credit cards because it can ultimately lower a person's credit score, accounts for 15 percent of a person's credit information. It is impossible to overestimate the importance of a good credit score in today's world. If your score has been damaged by poor decisions in the past, now is the time to commit to improving it. There are many steps you can take to help you repair your credit score, and get that all-important number as high as possible. The first thing you need to do is to pull your free credit reports to seem what information is contained in your file. Check the reports carefully, and note any inaccuracies. Confirm that every account listed on your report belongs there; credit reporting agencies are notorious for including inaccurate information. If there are any accounts that look unfamiliar, research them more thoroughly, and (if necessary) take steps to have them removed. Another step that may help you improve your credit score is to consolidate all of your high interest credit card debt into one low interest loan. There are many agencies that can help you get a consolidation loan as long as you haven't yet hurt your credit score with a series of late or missed payments. Consolidating your debt means you will pay less interest and more principal even as your monthly payments drop. As you lower your debt-to-income ratio, your credit score will go up. If you are reluctant to take out a new loan, you can try to transfer your balances from high interest credit cards onto cards with lower rates. Many cards will off a limited time 0% interest rate on balance transfers which can save you a bundle even in the short term. Because your entire monthly payment will then be going to pay down your principle, your debt ratio will decrease rapidly. Tip! An individual's race, sex, age, level of education, or marital status has no bearing on a credit score, nor does the fact that an application for credit was previously turned down. One of the most important steps you can take to improve your credit is to make all of your payments on time. Late payments are costly on many fronts. Late fees add to your principal and mean paying off your debt will take longer than it should. In addition, every late payment goes onto your credit report as a negative which hurts your credit score. Work with your creditors to adjust payment due-dates if necessary, but make your payments on time and in full every month. All the work you put into rebuilding your credit score will pay large dividends in the future. Having a higher credit score will help you qualify for more credit in the future, and at lower interest rates. If you are thinking of applying for a mortgage or a car loan in the future, your chance of success is much greater if you work now to improve your credit score. The benefits will far outweigh the sacrifices you will make along the way. Tip! Pay with cash Using debit cards and cash are good ways to control your debt (and therefore maintain a great credit score). Michael Martin is a knowledge seeker and publisher of FinancialKnowledgeCenter.com. Here he provides more information on credit cards, credit counseling and Tips to Improve Your Credit that will engage your curiosity and stimulate your mind.