If Your Credit Score Is Under 700, Make These 6 Moves ASAP (2024)

Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners.

You really try to be responsible with your money.

But, no matter what you do, your credit score never seems to make it over that 700 hump.

Yup — you’ve got some algorithm spitting out a three-digit number that’s basically controlling your entire life. We get it: It’s frustrating.

Don’t give up just yet, though! These six moves just might be the kickstart you need to finally get your credit score moving in the right direction.

Best of all? You can do all these things by the end of this week.

1. Write a Love Letter

…to your creditors.

5 Companies That Send People Money When They’re Asked Nicely

When you log into your bank account, how do your savings look? Probably not as good as you’d like.

It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings. But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?

Ask one of these companies to help….

If you generally have a pretty solid credit history, save for a few missteps, then sending a well-executed goodwill letter to those you owe could help get you back in good graces with them and improve your credit score.

You’ll want your letter to cover the following bases:

  • Explain why and how long you’ve been a loyal customer of the creditor.
  • Take responsibility for the mistakes that led to the blemishes on your credit history.
  • Describe the steps you’re taking to ensure these mistakes don’t happen again.
  • Appeal to their sense of empathy. Show that you want forgiveness but also that you are determined to do better going forward. Show them you deserve this!
  • Keep your letter clear and to the point.

Don’t forget to include important information, like your account number and the date and amount of the missed payment you want removed from your credit history. Once you’ve written your goodwill letter, address it using the information on the creditor’s website.

2.This Guy Added Nearly 300 Points to his Credit Score — See How You Can Raise Yours, Too*

You’ve got big plans. Maybe you’ve got your eye on a new car. Or you’re hoping to buy a house in the next few years. Or you’d even like to start your own business. But here’s the thing: No matter what your goals are, you might not realize how much your credit score is standing in your way.

📌 Don't Miss:

Get Paid Up to $140/Month Just for Sharing Your Honest Opinion

The good news? A free website called Credit Sesame makes it easy to put your credit score on track to reach your goals. We even talked to one guy, James Cooper, of Atlanta, who used Credit Sesame to raise his credit score nearly 300 points in six months.*** He says they showed him exactly what to do — he was even able to open his first credit card.

What could adding 300 points to your score mean for your goals? It could easily save you thousands of dollars over the life of a car loan or mortgage.

Within 90 seconds, Credit Sesame will give you access to your credit score, any debt-carrying accounts and a handful of personalized tips to improve your score. You’ll even be able to spot any errors holding you back (one in five reports have one).

Make sure your plans don’t get sidelined by bad credit. Sign up for free (it only takes about 90 seconds) and see how much you could improve your score.

If Your Credit Score Is Under 700, Make These 6 Moves ASAP (1)

3.Ask This Website to Help Pay Your Credit Card Bill This Month

No, like… the whole bill. All of it.

While you’re stressing out over your debt, your credit card company is getting rich off those insane interest rates. But a website called Fiona could help you pay off that bill as soon as tomorrow.

Here’s how it works: Fiona can match you with a low-interest loan you can use to pay off every credit card balance you have. The benefit? You’re left with just one bill to pay every month, and because the interest rate is so much lower, you can get out of debt so much faster. Plus, no credit card payment this month.

If your credit score is at least 620, Fiona can help you borrow up to $100,000 (no collateral needed) with fixed rates starting at 5.20% and terms from 4 to 144 months.

Fiona won’t make you stand in line or call a bank. And if you’re worried you won’t qualify, it’s free to check online. It takes just two minutes, and it could save you thousands of dollars. Totally worth it.

All that credit card debt — and the anxiety that comes with it — could be gone by tomorrow.

4. Stop Wasting Money on Overdraft Fees

We’ve all been hit with an overdraft fee at one time or another. It’s like a cruel joke — “Woops; looks like you don’t have any money. Here, now pay this fee!”

It’s a major part of how banks make their money. But a debit card with Chime® will let you overdraft up to $200 without any fees. Seriously. Then, the next time you deposit money, Chime puts that money toward repaying what they spotted you — no fees.

All you have to do is take a few minutes to sign up for an account. Then, when you set up a monthly direct deposit of at least $200, you’ll be able to enroll.* It’s super easy — plus, you won’t have to stress about overdrafting anymore.

5.You Can Become Debt Free — Without Paying it All Off

It doesn’t matter how much debt you’re in. Trying to stay on top of it all can be overwhelming. Especially when the overdue credit card notices and threats from creditors start rolling in…

The good news is, a company called National Debt Relief could help you pay off your debt for significantly less than you owe, and in less time. No bankruptcy, no loans and no need to have good credit.

How? It offers a strategy a lot of people don’t know about, called debt relief.

Here’s how it works: If you owe at least $10,000 in unsecured debt (credit card debt, personal loans, medical bills, etc.), National Debt Relief’s experts will create a customized plan just for you. As the monthly payments add up, they negotiate with your creditors to reduce the amount you owe. You then pay off the rest in a lump sum.

On average, you could become debt-free within 24 to 48 months.

National Debt Relief has already helped more than 500,000 people pay off over $5 billion in debt.

Find out what your best options are for taking control of your debt and living the life you want. It takes less than a minute to sign up for a free consultation.

6.Ask This Company to Reduce a Big Chunk of Your Credit Card Debt

Not trying to be dramatic, but card debt is like a dark, suffocating abyss that swallows your finances and leaves you feeling trapped and helpless.

So, what if you could just… get rid of credit card debt that’s weighing you down?

A company called Freedom Debt Relief could help you do just that. Its negotiators could work directly with your credit card companies to reduce your overall credit card debt.

It’s free to talk with a Freedom Debt Relief debt consultant to determine the best strategy for your situation. You’ll need to show why you’re struggling to make your payments and tell them a little bit about your finances.

Then, Freedom Debt Relief will work out just how much of your debt they could reduce — they’ve already helped over 850,000 people settle over $15 billion in debt.

Once enrolled in the program, Freedom Debt Relief will negotiate a settlement with your creditor, and if you approve the offer they come back with, you’ll pay off that reduced balance though a monthly program deposit.

It’s free to see just how much of your debt you can get rid of.

*High Yield Savings (APY is Annual Percentage Yield). Ask for details. Additional terms, conditions, fees & exclusions may apply. Rates may change without notice. $100 required to open account. There is a $10.00 excess transaction fee for every transaction over six for pre authorized withdrawals, automatic or telephonic transfers, checks, drafts, and debit card or similar transactions from your account per account statement cycle. If the account is closed before interest and/or bonus is credited, accrued interest and/or bonus may be forfeited for that statement cycle. Fees could reduce earnings. Information is as of April 7, 2022.

**National Average APY information as of 04/18/2022, according to the FDIC National Rates and Rate Caps.

Contact Freedom Debt Relief to see if you are eligible for their program

*Like Cooper andBuitureria, 60% of Credit Sesame members see an increase in their credit score; 50% see at least a 10-point increase, and 20% see at least a 50-point increase after 180 days.

Credit Sesame does not guarantee any of these results, and some may even see a decrease in their credit score. Any score improvement is the result of many factors, including paying bills on time, keeping credit balances low, avoiding unnecessary inquiries, appropriate financial planning and developing better credit habits.

*Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit card provided by Bancorp Bank N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC.

*Results may vary. Some may not see improved scores or approval odds. Not all lenders use Experian credit files, and not all lenders use scores impacted by Experian Boost.

** Credit score calculated based on FICO® Score 8 model. Your lender or insurer may use a different FICO® Score than FICO® Score 8, or another type of credit score altogether. Learn more at Experian.com.

The 8 Best Ways to Earn a Passive Income in 2023

You’ve probably heard the term passive income. It sounds appealing right?

According to the definition of passive, it would mean you’re earning income without participating or having to do anything at all. Free money? Sign me up!

If you’re interested in establishing a flow of passive income, here’s a guide to understanding the term and getting started.

Check it out here!

Ready to stop worrying about money?

Get the Penny Hoarder Daily

Privacy Policy

If Your Credit Score Is Under 700, Make These 6 Moves ASAP (2024)

FAQs

How fast can you go from 700 to 800 credit score? ›

If you possess a good credit history and maintain a low credit utilization ratio, reaching an 800 credit score could be achievable within a few years. Conversely, if your credit history is poor or your credit utilization ratio is high, the journey might take longer.

What can I do with a credit score of 700? ›

A 700 credit score is also good enough to buy a house. You can even find lenders that will consider you for higher-value homes requiring “jumbo” mortgages. Your credit score is one of many factors that determine mortgage interest rates.

Is a 900 credit score possible? ›

Highlights: While older models of credit scores used to go as high as 900, you can no longer achieve a 900 credit score. The highest score you can receive today is 850. Anything above 800 is considered an excellent credit score.

How to go from 700 to 850 credit score? ›

  1. 1. Make On-Time Payments. ...
  2. Pay Down Revolving Account Balances. ...
  3. Don't Close Your Oldest Account. ...
  4. Diversify the Types of Credit You Have. ...
  5. Limit New Credit Applications. ...
  6. Dispute Inaccurate Information on Your Credit Report. ...
  7. Become an Authorized User.
4 days ago

How rare is an 800 credit score? ›

According to a report by FICO, only 23% of the scorable population has a credit score of 800 or above.

What credit score do you need to buy a house? ›

The minimum credit score needed for most mortgages is typically around 620. However, government-backed mortgages like Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans typically have lower credit requirements than conventional fixed-rate loans and adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs).

Is a 1000 credit score possible? ›

A credit score of 1,000 is not possible because the standard credit score range used by FICO and VantageScore is 300 to 850. Other credit scoring models have a high of 900 or 950, but they are industry-specific and only used by certain financial institutions.

Has anyone gotten an 850 credit score? ›

How many Americans have an 850 credit score? Only 1.31% of Americans with a FICO® Score have a perfect 850 credit score. While a score this high is rare among any demographic, older generations are more likely to have perfect credit. Baby boomers make up a whopping 59.4% of the people with an 850 credit score.

Is a 200 dollar credit line good? ›

A $200 credit limit is good if you have limited or bad credit. Credit cards for newcomers and people rebuilding their credit often have credit limits starting at $200, so a limit close to that amount is to be expected.

How to boost credit score overnight? ›

5 Ways to Boost Your Credit Score Overnight
  1. Review Your Credit Reports and Dispute Errors.
  2. Pay Bills On Time.
  3. Report Positive Payment History Like Utilities to Credit Bureaus.
  4. Keep Old Accounts Open.
  5. Keep Your Credit Balances Under 30%

How to get late payment forgiveness? ›

A goodwill letter is a formal letter to a creditor or lender, such as a bank or credit card company, to request forgiveness for a late payment or other negative item on your credit report. In the letter, you typically: Explain the circ*mstances that led to the late payment or issue.

What is the average credit score in the US? ›

What is the average credit score? The average FICO credit score in the US is 717, according to the latest FICO data. The average VantageScore is 701 as of January 2024. Credit scores, which are like a grade for your borrowing history, fall in the range of 300 to 850.

How long does it take to reach an 800 credit score? ›

The longer you've been using credit, the more it means to your credit score. Members of the 800 Club average just under 22 years of using credit. Even the youngest ones, Millennials, average more than 14 years.

How to jump from 750 to 800 on credit score? ›

To increase your credit score to 800, you'll need a nearly flawless payment history, a credit utilization rate well below 30%, a healthy mix of credit types, and an extensive credit history. The average American has a credit score of 716, well within the range of what is considered a good credit score.

Is there a big difference between 750 and 800 credit score? ›

A 750 credit score is Very Good, but it can be even better. If you can elevate your score into the Exceptional range (800-850), you could become eligible for the very best lending terms, including the lowest interest rates and fees, and the most enticing credit-card rewards programs.

How long does it take to go from 700 to 750? ›

If you are already at 700, then it will take you a few months to get to 750 with consistent good credit behavior – like paying your bills on time, maintaining a low credit utilization rate, not applying for multiple new credit accounts at once, and keeping old credit cards open even if you don't use them much.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Eusebia Nader

Last Updated:

Views: 5740

Rating: 5 / 5 (80 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Eusebia Nader

Birthday: 1994-11-11

Address: Apt. 721 977 Ebert Meadows, Jereville, GA 73618-6603

Phone: +2316203969400

Job: International Farming Consultant

Hobby: Reading, Photography, Shooting, Singing, Magic, Kayaking, Mushroom hunting

Introduction: My name is Eusebia Nader, I am a encouraging, brainy, lively, nice, famous, healthy, clever person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.