Make your payments on time
Pay your bills on time. It is the most effective way to improve your credit score.
Catch up on past-due accounts
If you have an account with multiple late or missed payments, get caught up on what is past due, then work out a plan for making future payments on time. That won’t erase the late payments but can improve your payment history going forward.
Keep the amount of credit used relatively low
While there is not an official published limit, many financial experts recommend keeping the amount of credit used below 30 percent.
Apply for and open new credit only when necessary
Opening a new credit card can increase your overall credit limit, but the act of applying for credit creates a hard inquiry on your credit report. Too many hard inquiries can negatively impact your credit score, though this effect will fade over time.
Monitor and fix errors on your credit report
Obtain your free annual credit report from www.annualcreditreport.com. Check for inaccuracies and report them right away.