Improving my credit

[amastewa93]

This time last year, I had paid off three maxed out credit accounts in full. Then, I lost my job due to a cut in funding, and my fiancé lost his job due to a store closure (where he was a manager).

This caused my to depend on one credit card to pay for some simple purchases and even my electric bill at one point. Now, I am slowly but surely paying it off, but my credit took a hit (I have about a 600 now --had over 700 before). We are now both gainfully employed, and paying off what we own (student loans, credit cards)...But, is there any way to improve my credit score faster?

[Nutria]

If you're making at least the minimum payments every month, then not really.

What's more important than a great credit score is paying off high-balance high-rate cards ASAP.

[Nutria]

One thing I forgot to mention: with a history of on-time payments, CC companies will start sending you 0% interest balance transfer offers.

Grab them and use them like the life preservers they are. Keep on paying as much as you have been, and your balances will drop that much faster. That brings your usage rate down, which kicks up your score.

In the meantime, it'll just take time for any collections that you had to age out of your score...

One other thing: have you and your SO checked your credit reports for inaccuracies?