Low credit score? No problem!
Having a low credit score can be stressful, but the good news is that it
doesn't have to stay that way forever. If you're struggling with a low
credit score and wondering how to improve it to 700+ and beyond, you're in
the right place. There are secret strategies that go beyond the usual
advice like paying off your debt and checking your credit report.
In this article, you'll discover five secret strategies to
jump-start your credit score from low to 700+. These methods
aren't widely known but can make a huge difference in your credit journey.
By implementing these strategies, you can open doors to
better loan rates, lower interest, and easier approval for
credit cards, mortgages, and more.
Let’s dive into these secret credit-boosting hacks that can
dramatically change your credit score and help you achieve a healthy
financial future.
What does a Low Credit Score Mean?
Before jumping into these secret strategies, it's important to understand
what a low credit score means. A credit score is a number that reflects your
creditworthiness and shows lenders how risky you are as a borrower. It’s
calculated based on several factors like your payment history,
credit utilization, and the length of your credit history.
Here’s what the different Credit Score ranges generally mean:
| Credit Score Range | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 300-579 | Poor credit score, high-risk borrower |
| 580-669 | Fair credit scores, may face higher rates |
| 670-739 | Good credit score, favorable rates |
| 740-799 | Excellent credit score, lower rates |
| 800+ | Exceptional credit score, best rates |
As you can see, if you're starting with a score in the low range,
it's time to take action and improve it, especially if you want to take
advantage of the best financial opportunities.
Why is a 700+ Credit Score Important?
A 700+ credit score is considered the golden standard. Once
you hit the 700 mark, you’ll be eligible for some of the best
interest rates on loans and credit cards, saving you money over time.
A high score also gives you the ability to:
-
Qualify for mortgages with lower rates
-
Get approved for car loans with better terms
-
Save on insurance premiums
-
Gain access to premium credit cards with rewards and perks
-
Qualify for higher credit limits
Having a 700+ credit score means that lenders trust you to manage
your credit well, which can make a significant difference in your
financial freedom.
How Can You Jump-Start Your Credit Score to 700+?
While improving your credit score may seem daunting, it's very possible
with the right strategies. The best part?
You don’t have to wait years to see results. There are
strategic moves you can make that can boost your credit score quickly
and significantly. In this post, we’ll dive into
five secret strategies that will help you take your credit score to
700+ and beyond!
Let’s look at each strategy in more detail.
Secret Strategy #1 – The Authorized User & Beneficiary Boost
One of the most effective ways to boost your credit score quickly is
to become an authorized user on someone else’s credit card. But
here’s the secret that most people don’t know:
You don’t need to use the card yourself for this to work. All you
need is to be listed as an authorized user on someone else’s account,
typically someone with an excellent credit score.
How Does the Authorized User Hack Work?
When you’re added as an authorized user on a credit card, the account's
positive payment history gets reported on your credit report. This
can boost your credit score by increasing your
credit history and improving your credit utilization ratio.
Even though you’re not the one using the card, your credit score can benefit
from their good habits.
The Beneficiary Listing Tactic
A lesser-known twist on this strategy is what we call the
"Beneficiary Listing" tactic. Here’s how it works:
-
Find a trusted friend or family member with a
good credit score.
-
Ask them to list you as an authorized user on their card, even if
they don’t plan on letting you use it.
-
This will boost your credit score as if you’ve been using the card
responsibly all along!
This strategy is especially powerful for new credit users or those who have little or no credit history. Just being associated with someone else's positive credit habits can result in a noticeable increase in your credit score.
Real-World Example
Consider Sarah, who had a low 590 credit score. She asked her
sister, who had an 800+ credit score, to add her as an
authorized user on her credit card. Sarah didn’t use the card at all,
but within a few months, her score shot up by 40 points! This
happened because Sarah’s credit report now showed the same positive payment
history as her sister’s.
Secret Strategy #2 – Negotiated Removal of Negative Items
When you're trying to boost your credit score, you may feel like you're
fighting an uphill battle, especially if you have negative marks on
your credit report. But here’s a secret strategy that most people
don’t know about: Negotiating the removal of negative items from your
credit report.
How Does the Negotiated Removal Hack Work?
Many people don’t realize that just because something negative shows up on
your credit report, doesn’t mean it’s permanent. You can actually
negotiate with creditors or collection agencies to have
negative items removed, or you can ask for
"goodwill adjustments".
This process works especially well if you’ve had a
good payment history with the creditor or if the negative mark was a
one-time mistake. Here’s how you can approach this:
-
Contact the Creditor or Collection Agency: Write a
polite and professional letter explaining your situation. Highlight
your positive payment history (if applicable) and ask if they would
consider removing the negative mark as a "goodwill adjustment."
-
Pay for Deletion: If the item is a collection, you might be able
to negotiate to pay off the debt in exchange for its removal from
your credit report. This is known as a pay for deletion agreement.
However, be aware that not all creditors will agree to this, but it's
worth trying.
Negotiation Tips
-
Be polite and respectful. Creditors are more likely to work with
you if you approach them in a friendly manner.
-
Have supporting evidence ready, like proof of payments or
documentation showing your financial hardship if it’s relevant.
-
Make it clear that you want to resolve the issue, not just
complain. Creditors are more inclined to help when you seem committed to
making things right.
Real-World Example
John had a $300 medical bill that was sent to collections, and it
severely impacted his credit score. After negotiating with the collection
agency, he offered to pay off the full amount in exchange for removing the
negative mark from his credit report. The collection agency agreed, and
John’s credit score increased by 50 points after the deletion was
reported!
Secret Strategy #3 – Strategic Credit Limit Increase Requests
One secret strategy to increase your credit score is
asking for a credit limit increase. This hack works because it
affects your credit utilization ratio, which is a major factor in
determining your credit score.
How Does the Credit Limit Increase Hack Work?
Your credit utilization ratio is calculated by dividing your
credit card balances by your credit limits. A
lower ratio is better for your credit score. For example, if you have
a $1,000 credit limit and only use $200, your credit utilization is
20%. But if your credit limit increases to $2,000, and you still only
use $200, your credit utilization drops to just 10%.
By requesting a credit limit increase without requesting a hard
inquiry (which may impact your score), you can
improve your credit utilization ratio without having to pay down your
debt.
When to Request a Credit Limit Increase?
It’s important to time your request well:
-
Don’t request too often: Asking for a credit limit increase every
few months may make you appear desperate to creditors.
-
Only request after a good period of credit management: Ideally,
you should wait at least 6-12 months of good credit behavior before
asking for an increase.
-
Consider your current credit score: If you have a
low score, it may be better to wait until your credit has improved
before asking for a higher limit.
Real-World Example
Anna had a $500 credit limit on her card and was using
$400 each month. Her credit utilization ratio was 80%, which
was hurting her credit score. After six months of responsible use, she
requested a $1,500 increase, which lowered her utilization ratio to
26%. After a few months, her score increased by
30 points.
Secret Strategy #4 – The Credit Builder Loan + Invisible Credit Tools Combo
If you don’t have any credit history—or if you’re rebuilding your
credit—you can combine a credit builder loan with
invisible credit reporting tools to give your score a quick
boost.
How Does the Credit Builder Loan Work?
A credit builder loan is a type of loan designed specifically for
people looking to build or improve their credit score. These loans are
usually small amounts, and the lender places the loan funds in an account
that you can access only after the loan is paid off. While you make monthly
payments on the loan, the lender reports your payments to the credit
bureaus, which helps build your credit history.
Even though you don’t get access to the funds immediately, the payments
still count toward your credit score—especially if you make them on
time.
Invisible Credit Reporting Tools
In addition to credit builder loans, there are
invisible credit reporting tools that help you build your credit
score by reporting nontraditional payments like rent or
utilities. These payments aren’t typically included in your credit
report, but with platforms like Experian Boost and RentTrack,
you can have these items reported to the credit bureaus, helping you build
credit quickly.
Real-World Example
David had no credit history and was finding it difficult to get approved
for traditional credit products. He took out a
credit builder loan for $500 and set up RentTrack to report
his monthly rent payments. Over the course of 6 months, he was able to raise
his credit score by 50 points, despite having no credit history
initially.
Secret Strategy #5 – Tailored Dispute Blitz & Preemptive Reporting Fixes
The final secret strategy involves disputing inaccuracies on your
credit report and taking preemptive action to fix issues before they
appear on your credit report.
How Does the Dispute Blitz Hack Work?
The Dispute Blitz is a strategic approach where you dispute
every inaccuracy on your credit report, no matter how small. This
tactic can clear up negative marks and mistakes that may be dragging your
score down. A simple error—such as a missed payment that wasn’t
actually missed—could be costing you points without you even knowing
it.
Preemptive Reporting Fixes
Additionally, you can take a preemptive approach by contacting
creditors before negative marks are reported to the bureaus. This
gives you a chance to fix issues, like late payments or account
discrepancies, before they hurt your score.
Real-World Example
Emily had noticed a mistake on her credit report where a late
payment was reported for a credit card she’d never missed. She submitted a
dispute to the credit bureau and the card issuer. The error was
corrected, and her score jumped by 40 points after the dispute was
resolved.
Wrapping Up – Boosting Your Credit Score to 700+ & Beyond!
In this article, we’ve explored five secret strategies that can help
you take control of your credit score and
jump-start your way to 700+. Whether you're aiming to boost your
credit for a major purchase, such as a house or car, or just want to improve
your financial standing, these strategies can help make that possible faster
than you might think.
Let’s Recap These Hacks for Your Credit Score
-
Become an Authorized User on a Credit Card: By having someone with
a good credit history add you as an authorized user, you can instantly
benefit from their positive credit behavior,
boosting your credit score significantly.
-
Negotiate the Removal of Negative Items: If you have negative
marks on your credit report, you can negotiate with creditors or
collection agencies to have them removed or reduced, helping improve your
credit profile.
-
Request a Credit Limit Increase: Increasing your
credit limit can lower your credit utilization ratio, which
is a key factor in improving your credit score. Requesting a
higher limit can help without needing to pay off your debt.
-
Use a Credit Builder Loan + Invisible Reporting Tools: If you're
new to credit or rebuilding your credit, taking out a
credit builder loan and using tools like RentTrack and
Experian Boost can help build your credit history and score
fast.
-
Dispute Errors and Take Preemptive Action: Regularly
dispute inaccuracies on your credit report and take action to
resolve potential issues before they negatively impact your score. A clean
credit report is essential for improving your credit score.
Why These Strategies Work?
The beauty of these strategies is that they work quickly and don’t
require large sums of money or drastic lifestyle changes. By using these
simple hacks, you can take control of your credit and make your
financial goals a reality. Improving your credit score to 700+
doesn’t have to be a daunting task, and with the right strategies, it can be
easier than you think.
Final Words - Take Action NOW!
If you’re serious about improving your credit score, now is the time to
take action. Start by implementing one or two of these
secret strategies, and track your progress. Even if you’re starting
from a low score, there’s no reason why you can’t work your way up to a
700+ score. The key is persistence and following the right steps.
Remember: Improving your credit score is within your control. With
patience, effort, and the right strategies, you can
take your credit score to new heights.
Need More Credit Hacks?
If you're eager for more tips on how to jump-start your credit or
want to learn additional financial strategies, make sure to stay tuned for
our future articles and resources. By continuously building your knowledge,
you’ll be able to maintain and grow your credit for years to come!