Thread: 715 Credit Score, How Can You Raise It?

I have a 715 FICO score utilizing 46% of my available credit lines. How can I raise my score. Would I best apply for new cards or request increased lines on existing cards.

There is another option, pay the lines down.

What is your target credit score?

I think if you just continue what you are doing; using only 46% of your limit and paying on time, your score will increase eventually.

Obviously lowering your utilization is the fastest way to improve your credit score, 46% is high. First call your current creditors and inquire about getting CLI's without a hard pull. Hard pulls bring down your score but by how much depends on the thickness of your file. After six months the effect is lessened and after a year the affect is gone but will continue to report for two years.

If that doesn't work you have some decisions to make. If they require a hard pull you need to decide if you think they will approve it with a hard. Your score is good enough for most cards to add new cards. New cards lower your score even more by having the hard inquiry in addition to lowering you average age of credit. Again, by how much will depend on the thickness of your file.

Now how much will this improve your 715 credit score? That will depend on how much of an increase in available credit you have compared to your current balances.

The short of it is that it's just as much art as science since we can't access the formulas we use. But contacting your current creditors for soft pull CLI's is the no brainer first move.

Originally Posted by boomhower

After six months the effect is lessened and after a year the affect is gone but will continue to report for two years.

How did you find out about this? Is there a way to verify this?