Credit Repair Planner
A step-by-step guide to improving your credit score
What moves the needle most
| Action | Typical Impact | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Remove error (collection account) | +50 to +150 | 30-60 days |
| Pay down utilization from 80% to 20% | +50 to +100 | 1-2 billing cycles |
| Pay off collections | +10 to +50 | 30-60 days |
| Become authorized user (old account) | +20 to +50 | 30-60 days |
| Remove hard inquiry dispute | +5 to +15 | 30 days |
* Impact varies based on your overall credit profile. These are typical ranges.
Your action plan
1
Get your credit reports
Day 1
2
Check for errors
Days 2-3
3
Dispute errors
Days 4-7
4
Pay down credit card balances
Weeks 2-4
5
Address negative items
Weeks 2-8
6
Build positive history
Ongoing
Avoid credit repair scams
- No company can remove accurate negative information from your report
- Never pay upfront fees before services are performed
- Be wary of promises to create a "new credit identity"
- You can do everything a credit repair company does, for free