Your credit score isn’t just a number — it’s the key to lower interest rates, higher credit limits, and even rental approvals or job opportunities. If your score is dragging you down, the good news is: you can fix it.
In this article, I’ll show you how I increased my credit score by 150 points, and share the exact credit score boosting tricks I used — fast, legally, and without hiring any expensive services.
📉 My Starting Point: A Low Credit Score of 540
A year ago, I had a credit score of just 540. Late payments, high balances, and some bad decisions haunted my credit profile. I was constantly getting rejected for loans and credit cards.
But within 8 months, I went from 540 to 690, and eventually crossed the 700+ mark.
Here’s how I did it — and how you can too.
🔟 10 Proven Tricks to Boost Your Credit Score
1. ✅ Checked My Credit Report for Errors
First step: I pulled my free credit reports from all three bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — using AnnualCreditReport.com.
What I found:
- A paid-off loan still showing as unpaid
- Incorrect late payment on a credit card
I disputed these errors online and had them removed within 30 days.
Score increase: +25 points
🔍 Pro Tip: Always check for errors — 1 in 5 people have mistakes in their credit reports.
2. 📉 Paid Off Credit Card Balances Strategically
I learned about the credit utilization ratio — the amount of credit you’re using compared to your limits.
Mine was over 80%. I brought it down to under 30% by:
- Paying off small cards first
- Asking for higher credit limits
- Not closing paid-off cards
Score increase: +35 points
💡 Keep utilization under 10% for maximum score impact.
3. 💵 Negotiated “Pay for Delete” Deals
I had two small collections totaling $450. Instead of just paying, I negotiated with the collection agencies and got them to agree to remove the accounts from my report after payment.
Score increase: +20 points
✉️ Always get the agreement in writing before sending payment.
4. 🕒 Set Up Auto-Pay to Avoid Missed Payments
Late payments stay on your report for 7 years and can destroy your score. I set up automatic payments for:
- Credit cards
- Loans
- Utilities (to avoid collections)
Since then, I haven’t missed a single payment.
Score increase: +15 points (over time)
5. 🚀 Became an Authorized User
A friend added me as an authorized user on their 10-year-old credit card with perfect payment history and low usage. That account’s history appeared on my credit report within 30 days.
Score increase: +30 points
🧠 Choose someone with a clean record and low balance — their credit behavior affects your score.
6. 📈 Used a Credit Builder Loan
I took out a $500 credit builder loan from a credit union. The money was held in a savings account, and I paid $45/month for 12 months.
The payments reported as an installment loan, diversifying my credit mix.
Score increase: +10 points
7. 🔁 Rotated Small Charges Monthly
To keep my credit cards active and utilization low, I:
- Used cards for small recurring bills (like Netflix or Spotify)
- Paid off the full balance every month
Why? Inactive cards can be closed, which shortens your credit history and lowers your score.
8. 📝 Disputed Old Negative Items
I used manual disputes for some old late payments and charge-offs that were over 5 years old. Some were removed due to insufficient documentation from creditors.
Score increase: +10–15 points
⚠️ Never dispute accurate recent accounts — it can backfire.
9. 💳 Opened a Secured Credit Card
With bad credit, it was hard to get approved for regular credit cards. I opened a secured credit card with a $300 deposit.
Used it like a debit card, paid in full, and built positive history.
Score increase: +15 points over 6 months
10. 🧠 Stayed Consistent and Patient
The biggest trick? Consistency.
- Paid on time every single month
- Didn’t apply for unnecessary new credit
- Avoided closing old accounts
Credit improvement is a marathon, not a sprint — but the results are worth it.
📊 Before and After: My Credit Score Journey
| Time Frame | Credit Score | Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| Month 0 | 540 | Starting point |
| Month 2 | 590 | Errors corrected + debt paid |
| Month 4 | 640 | Collections deleted + secured card |
| Month 6 | 690 | Added authorized user + builder loan |
| Month 8+ | 705+ | Consistency, low utilization |
🙋 FAQs: Credit Score Boosting
❓ How fast can I raise my credit score?
It depends on your starting point. Some see results in 30–60 days, but full improvement can take 6–12 months.
❓ Can I boost my score without paying off all debt?
Yes. Even reducing utilization on one credit card can lift your score significantly.
❓ Is it safe to use credit repair companies?
Most charge high fees and do things you can do yourself for free. Be cautious of scams.
🔑 Final Takeaways
Raising your credit score by 150 points is absolutely possible if you:
- Understand the rules
- Pay consistently
- Tackle errors and collections smartly
- Use credit strategically
You don’t need to be a financial expert. You just need the right plan, patience, and persistence.
🎯 Ready to Fix Your Score?
Here’s a quick checklist:
✅ Pull your credit reports
✅ Dispute errors
✅ Pay down credit card balances
✅ Set up auto-pay
✅ Use a secured card or credit builder loan
✅ Become an authorized user
✅ Stay consistent