{"id":27255,"date":"2024-03-13T15:26:36","date_gmt":"2024-03-13T15:26:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/?p=27255"},"modified":"2024-03-13T15:26:38","modified_gmt":"2024-03-13T15:26:38","slug":"how-long-does-it-take-to-improve-your-credit-score","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-improve-your-credit-score\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Does It Take To Improve Your Credit Score?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Improving your credit score might seem like a complex and time-consuming process, but it doesn\u2019t have to be. It\u2019ll take some patience but if you make the effort, you\u2019ll be able to see your score go up quite quickly. The question is, just how long does it take to improve your credit score?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The answer to this question won\u2019t be the same for everyone. <strong>The length of time it takes to improve your credit score will depend on a number of factors.<\/strong> These include what your credit score is now and how much it needs to improve. It also depends on your financial situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69f294c1d88d2\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69f294c1d88d2\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-improve-your-credit-score\/#how_quickly_is_a_credit_score_updated\" >How quickly is a credit score updated?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-improve-your-credit-score\/#1_a_company_you_have_an_account_with_reports_your_activity\" >1. A company you have an account with reports your activity<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-improve-your-credit-score\/#2_when_you_request_an_update\" >2. When you request an update<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-improve-your-credit-score\/#how_long_does_it_take_for_your_credit_score_to_recover_after_it_has_gone_down\" >How long does it take for your credit score to recover after it has gone down?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-improve-your-credit-score\/#what_factors_impact_your_credit_score\" >What factors impact your credit score?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-improve-your-credit-score\/#1_missed_repayments_on_your_payment_history\" >1. Missed repayments on your payment history<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-improve-your-credit-score\/#2_not_registered_on_the_electoral_register\" >2. Not registered on the electoral register<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-improve-your-credit-score\/#3_no_credit_history\" >3. No credit history<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-improve-your-credit-score\/#4_types_of_debt_taken\" >4. Types of debt taken<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-improve-your-credit-score\/#how_long_do_negative_marks_stay_on_your_credit_report\" >How long do negative marks stay on your credit report?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-improve-your-credit-score\/#best_ways_to_improve_and_raise_your_credit_score_quickly\" >Best ways to improve and raise your credit score quickly<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-improve-your-credit-score\/#1_pay_your_bills_on_time\" >1. Pay your bills on time<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-improve-your-credit-score\/#2_reduce_your_credit_utilisation\" >2. Reduce your credit utilisation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-improve-your-credit-score\/#3_monitor_your_credit_report_regularly\" >3. Monitor your credit report regularly<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-improve-your-credit-score\/#4_consider_consolidating_debts\" >4. Consider consolidating debts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-improve-your-credit-score\/#final_words\" >Final words<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_quickly_is_a_credit_score_updated\"><\/span><strong>How quickly is a credit score updated?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Your credit score is updated by the Credit Reference Agencies.<\/strong> The three main ones in the UK are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/equifax\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/equifax\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Equifax<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/experian\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/experian\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Experian<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/transunion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TransUnion<\/a>. Credit scores are created from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/credit-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">credit reports<\/a> held with these agencies. They&#8217;re updated every time one of two things happen, these are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_a_company_you_have_an_account_with_reports_your_activity\"><\/span><strong>1. A company you have an account with reports your activity<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When a business reports your activity to the credit bureaus, your credit score will update. However, it may not happen on the day you make the transaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, let\u2019s say you have a credit card that you pay off in full at the start of the month. The credit card company will update your credit file to reflect this. But companies often report all their credit card account activity at the same time each month. If their reporting date is at the end of the month, that\u2019s when your credit score will update.<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_when_you_request_an_update\"><\/span><strong>2. When you request an update<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you ask one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/credit-reference-agencies\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/credit-reference-agencies\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Credit Reference Agencies<\/a> for an update to your credit score, it\u2019ll be done for you. If you sign up to get your credit score for free, this will be done every 30 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_long_does_it_take_for_your_credit_score_to_recover_after_it_has_gone_down\"><\/span><strong>How long does it take for your credit score to recover after it has gone down?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The length of time it takes for credit scores to recover after they&#8217;ve gone down depends on certain factors. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>How much your credit score has dropped by<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What caused your score to drop<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What your financial situation is and what you do to improve it<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Generally, if you&#8217;re doing what you can to repair your score, you should start to see an improvement in about 6 months<\/strong>. That&#8217;s why you&#8217;re better off being careful and looking after your credit score to prevent it from going down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what_factors_impact_your_credit_score\"><\/span><strong>What factors impact your credit score?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your credit score can be affected by a number of factors. Some will have a bigger impact on it than others. Here are some of the things that can cause your credit score to change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_missed_repayments_on_your_payment_history\"><\/span><strong>1. Missed repayments on your payment history<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the most important factors that can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/what-affects-your-credit-score\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/what-affects-your-credit-score\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">impact your credit score<\/a> is your payment history. Missed or late payments will have a negative impact on your score. <strong>By making payments on time, over the course of a few months your credit score will rise.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_not_registered_on_the_electoral_register\"><\/span><strong>2. Not registered on the electoral register<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Being registered on the electoral roll helps businesses to identify you. Your credit file will show if you\u2019re registered or not. So, if you not on the electoral roll, get signed onto it. It\u2019s an easy way to give your credit score a quick boost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_no_credit_history\"><\/span><strong>3. No credit history<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you haven\u2019t borrowed any money before you won\u2019t have a credit history. <strong>With no credit history you\u2019ll struggle to borrow money and you\u2019re likely to have a poor credit score<\/strong>. Your best option is to take out a credit builder credit card. You use these like a normal credit card but the interest rates on them tend to be high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As long as you pay them off each month, they\u2019ll help to build your credit history and score. You should start to see a difference after about 6 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_types_of_debt_taken\"><\/span><strong>4. Types of debt taken<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Having different types of debt can help improve your credit score, but only if handled carefully. Whether its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/loans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">loans<\/a>, credit cards or a mortgage, it\u2019s good to show that you can handle a mix of credit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_long_do_negative_marks_stay_on_your_credit_report\"><\/span><strong>How long do negative marks stay on your credit report?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Negative marks will stay on your credit report for a set period of time depending on what the mark is for. While these marks are on your report, they\u2019ll impact your credit rating. The table below shows how long some of the negative marks stay on your credit file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>What the negative mark is for<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>How long it stays on your credit report<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>You made an application to borrow money<\/td><td>Up to 12 months<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>You made a late or missed payment on one of your debts<\/td><td>6-7 years from the date it happened<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>You received a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/how-long-does-a-default-stay-on-your-credit-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">default<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/what-is-a-ccj\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">county court judgement<\/a><\/td><td>6-7 years from the date it was issued<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"best_ways_to_improve_and_raise_your_credit_score_quickly\"><\/span><strong>Best ways to improve and raise your credit score quickly<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are things you can do to help <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/improve-your-credit-score\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">raise your credit score<\/a>. It won\u2019t go up overnight, but follow these tips and after a few months you should start to see it go up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_pay_your_bills_on_time\"><\/span><strong>1. Pay your bills on time<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Making late payments is one of the biggest factors that cause a poor credit score. If you\u2019ve got credit cards, make sure you pay at least the minimum amount when its due. Keeping on top of your repayments will help your credit score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_reduce_your_credit_utilisation\"><\/span><strong>2. Reduce your credit utilisation<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To help your credit score, try to use around 30% or less of your credit limit. For example, keep your credit card balances below your limit. Doing this shows you\u2019re not desperate for money and can manage it well. It helps to improve your credit score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_monitor_your_credit_report_regularly\"><\/span><strong>3. Monitor your credit report regularly<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don\u2019t know what\u2019s being reported on your credit report, you won\u2019t know what you need to do to improve it. <strong>Keep a regular check on your credit report so you can see if it\u2019s gone up or down<\/strong>. That way you can see what affects it and you\u2019ll know how to avoid it happening again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_consider_consolidating_debts\"><\/span><strong>4. Consider consolidating debts<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve got lots of debts, you might find them hard to manage. Bringing them all together in one loan can help you in more ways than one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Moving your debt to an account with lower interest can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/best-ways-to-save-money\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">save you money<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>By paying off one loan instead of 2 or 3, you may find your repayments are lower overall and easier to manage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>By keeping on top of your repayments it\u2019ll help improve your credit score<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"final_words\"><\/span><strong>Final words<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Improving your credit score isn\u2019t an overnight fix<\/strong>, but with patience and some effort you\u2019ll soon see your credit score raise. By doing things like paying your loans like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/loans\/short-term-loans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">short term loans<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/loans\/bad-credit-loans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bad credit loans<\/a>, etc., on time, registering on the electoral roll, and borrowing below your credit limits, you can help it improve faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you monitor your credit report, you\u2019ll not only see what affects it, but you\u2019ll also see the progress you\u2019re making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your credit score is important as it shows how well you manage money. It makes a difference when you need to open new financial accounts or borrow money. That\u2019s why looking after your credit score is worth doing. If you don\u2019t know what your score is, find out and start looking after it today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Disclaimer:<\/strong> The information given above is provided for reference only. This is not financial advice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Improving your credit score might seem like a complex and time-consuming process, but it doesn\u2019t have to be. It\u2019ll take some patience but if you make the effort, you\u2019ll be able to see your score go up quite quickly. The question is, just how long does it take to improve your credit score? The answer [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":48,"featured_media":27256,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[267],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27255","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-loans"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27255"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/48"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27255"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27255\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27946,"href":"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27255\/revisions\/27946"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27256"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27255"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27255"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27255"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}