7 steps to a great credit score ClearScore

 We explain why your credit score might be low and give you 7 simple steps to help you improve it.

Your chances of being accepted for the greatest financial products (such as bonds/home loans, credit cards, and loans) may be increased with a higher credit score. So, it is always worthwhile to try to improve your credit score.

Here are 7 quick measures you may do to raise your credit score if you want to continue working on it:

1. Keep your credit utilisation low

For a better credit score, Be careful not to utilize all of your credit at once. Maintaining a low credit card usage rate—ideally always under 50%—proves to lenders that you can responsibly handle your credit. By login into your account, you may check how much of your credit you've used. ClearScore account.

2. Get organised

Forgetting to pay bills can damage your credit score. Setting up direct debits to pay your utility bills, phone and credit card payments means you can relax, and your credit score will be all the better for it.

3. Fix mistakes on your report

If you have any mistakes on your report (such as a typo in your name or a wrong address) then it can affect your credit score. For example, if your name is wrong on your credit report, some of your credit accounts may not be correctly matched with your report. This means your credit score won’t benefit from any positive behaviours associated with these accounts.

By checking your credit report, you can spot (and fix) any mistakes. To do this, visit the help section of our website, and tell Experian what’s wrong by raising a dispute. You can read more information on our FAQ page.

4. Look out for fraud

By regularly monitoring your credit report, you can check for signs of financial fraud. If you have been a victim of identity theft, there will be evidence of it on your report, such as new credit accounts you didn’t set up or enquiries on your report you don’t recognise.

5. Actively monitor your score

Lenders share all sorts of information about you with credit bureaus, who store this data so it can be used to assess your credit risk. ClearScore partners with Experian, which is one of four major credit bureaus in South Africa. The other three are called TransUnion, Compuscan and XDS. It’s worth checking in with all four companies to get a good overall view of your finances. Some provide access to your data with a free trial (but remember to cancel your subscription before the free trial ends).

6. Plan ahead when you need credit

Credit applications result in enquiries on your credit report, and too many could negatively impact your score. By planning in advance, you get your credit report in shape before making an important credit application. This will improve your chances of being accepted, which will help keep your credit score intact.

7. Build your score – use a credit card little and often

Using credit responsibly is a key element to building your score. Keeping your credit card active, by spending small amounts and paying them off each month, makes you appear more attractive to lenders. This is because it shows you can reliably pay back the money you borrow.

Get started by checking your credit card offers on ClearScore. The products we show you are tailored to your credit score and financial situation, to make sure you get the right product for you.