how do you improve your credit score?

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1. try not to be late, and try to keep balances 30 % lower from your limits. And also do not repay you old debts unless they have not reached statues of limitations( look how many years that is in your state!)
2. Good Credit is like trust. It can be lost in a flash but takes a long time to build. If you have lost it you will need to buckle down for years and just be on time all the time and not rack up more debt in the place of the old. Over time your score will improve. If you have screwed up your credit - the only thing you really can do is get everything back on track. Every bill paid, and stop being late. Then just keep on track for the rest of your life. over the years your credit will recover and then start to become better and better. The best thing for growing credit is time. So keep all your oldest cards and pay them off but DON'T close them. Keep them open because they are a record of how long you have had your credit. If you remain in good standing with a credit card company that you opened say when you were 20 - and then you have it till your 40 - you will have 20 years worth of history with them - that is a good thing!! even if you don't use it all the time. Just keep it open always. Good luck with it.
3. Stop using your credit cards. “People change their lives only when they say, ‘I’ve had it!’” – Les Brown Think you can’t exist in the 21st century without credit? Do you have at least one credit card? Did you sign up just for the bonus miles or cash back? Sounds like it’s time for you to perform a plasectomy. (That’s what Dave calls cutting up your credit card.) You’ve heard all the lies, now here are a few facts about credit. Myth: No on can live without credit cards. Fact: Actually, 24% of American households are getting by just fine without any type of credit according to a Federal Reserve survey of consumer finances. Try using your debit card or cash instead. If millions of Americans can live without credit, so can you! Myth: Credit cards help me get airline miles, cash back and other discounts. Fact: Yeah, credit cards also help you get into debt. Consumer Reports say that only 25% of airline miles are ever redeemed – and credit card companies know it. Earning a few airline miles is not worth thousands of dollars in debt. Myth: I can just pay off the balance at the end of every month. Fact: You’ll be in the minority. According to CardWeb.com, only 40% of credit card users pay off their balance when they receive the bill. Plus, overspending is inevitable when you use a credit card. It’s just easier to swipe a piece of plastic than it is to flash the cash. Myth: “Ninety days same as cash” is the smart way to buy. Fact: “Ninety days same as cash” is a scam. Retailers know that most consumers won’t pay their balance in 90 days, which means you get stuck with outrageous interest rates and back charges to boot. Myth: I’m required to have a credit card to buy a house. Fact: Several quality mortgage companies provide underwriting which allows you to purchase a home without a credit card. If your mortgage lender requires a credit card for your home loan, run – don’t walk – to a lender who will actually help you achieve freedom from credit.