I have worked hard to maintain a high credit score over the years. I remember when I applied for my first credit card; correction, when I was introduced to credit cards on campus. I had no clue what I was doing then. I was given an application that allowed applying for all the major credit cards there was. I guess it's clear how it all unfolded... A young teenage girl approved for three or four major credit cards, living on her own for the first time and uninformed about what having 'credit' really means. After having no credit, which we understand is as good as bad credit; my growing credit plummeted to really bad credit. Over the years I have had to work really hard to improve, and maintain it.

PAY OFF YOUR CREDIT CARDS:

Pay off your credit cards (or credit accounts). However, if there is a high balance on the account call anyway to get the high interest rate reduced so that the monthly payment is not as high, and avoid paying only the interest on the account. If you are unable to pay off the account in full, then paying more than the minimum monthly payment is essential to improving your credit score (FICO score).

CALL CREDITORS:

Call all creditors and asked for a better interest rate on every credit account. Let them know that you intend on making that credit card the major account used and share with them your intent to reduce the number of accounts you have. If the agent you spoke with was unable to help you, then ask for a supervisor (insist on speaking with a supervisor if necessary) and start the spiel all over again.

REVIEW BENEFITS:

In an effort to determine which credit account to keep sit down and review the benefits of all the credit cards and then make a decision based on the information gathered.

CANCEL EXCESSIVE ACCOUNTS:

Cancel excessive accounts if your debt to income ratio is high. If you have too much debt and not enough income, then this will cause the credit score to plunge.

REVIEW CREDIT REPORT:

It is very important to review your credit report monthly. This can also be accessed at freecreditreport.com. It is vital to make sure that the credit bureaus are reporting your credit limits correctly. If not then you have the right to dispute it by writing them and requesting that they update the information (challenge the information if you must).