Your credit score follows you wherever you go: when you move, when you change jobs, and when you apply for a new credit card or get a new loan.
The big three credit reporting agencies are Equifax, Trans Union, and Experian. They all use the same formula to calculate your score, but each one bases the calculation on slightly different information about your credit history. Hence, your score from each agency is a bit different. These agencies make millions of dollars each year by collecting this credit-related information about you and then selling it to businesses and creditors who request it.
If your credit score is lower than 720, you have either a fair or a poor credit score. This means you will not qualify for the best rates on credit cards and loans. Luckily, there are proven ways to improve your credit score.
Here are 5 ways to raise your credit score.
First, you must check your scores regularly from all three agencies. You can actually get your credit score for free online once every 12 months from each of the big three reporting agencies. It is also advisable to subscribe to any number of monthly online credit reporting services that give you...