You don’t have to be a credit expert to know that tactics like keeping your debt low and paying bills on time are proven ways to improve your FICO score. But they aren’t the only ways to see a spike. These lesser-known tactics can also do the trick—fast.
1. Apply for new credit.
Your credit utilization ratio, or your debt compared with credit limits, accounts for 30 percent of your score—so you want a healthy one of 30 percent or less. In addition to paying down debt, you can ask your current lender for a limit increase or open a new card that you rarely, if ever, use.
