There are common actions that will have a negative impact on your credit. How many keep a credit card just for emergencies or only use it for Christmas then pay it off? That reduces your score. They see that as “binge spending” and a zero balance is like a “loaded gun” with no proof you can handle it. Carrying a balance of more than 50% of the credit line also dings you. Every single statement you carry 50% or more, you take a hit. For a credit card, the best thing you can do is use it throughout the month, gas, lunch, utility bills, etc, then pay it down to 5% at the end of each month. This establishes a pattern of responsibly using revolving credit.
You can also dispute the negative things on your score, not the incorrect info, I’m saying ALL THE NEGATIVE. Once you dispute they have 10days to provide documentation, and they flat out won’t. I found several fraudulent things, and a few things I took care of but never came off. I disputed everything and it all came off. I started at about 640 in 2011, and I’m currently at 805.
I used MyFico.com. It guides you through everything, auto populates the dispute letters etc.
I STRONGLY suggest it to anyone that wants to improve their score
