How many points can you raise your credit score per month?

Question

I'd like to raise my score about 100 points in the next 18 months. I checked it in May and June and it increased by 9 points.

Answer 1

I've seen credit scores jump (or drop) in excess of 20 points in a month so 100 points in 18 months is absolutely reasonable, depending upon what is causing it to be low.  If you are lucky, there will be derogatory information that is close to 7 years old that will age off within the next 18 months.  

35% of your score goes to payment history and the aging of a bad history and the accumulation of a good recent history will help.

30% of the score goes to outstanding debt so try to reduce it.

15% is based upon the lenght of time that you've had credit so don't cancel old credit cards even if you don't use them because it can hurt you.

10% is based upon the number of inquiries.  If you don't apply for credit, you won't have the kind of inquiries that cound against you.  Pre-approved credit offers to not.  Applying for a cell phone likely will.

10% of the score is based on the types of credit you currently have. The number of loans and available credit from credit cards you have makes a difference.

Don't forget to get your free annual credit reports.  Challenge anything that is on there that you disagree with.  It is up to the reporting company to justify to the credit report folks that it is a legitimate derogatory item or they have to delete it, which may help your score.

Answer 2

See I am not sure why that happened , there could be numerous reason why your score went up.  Other than paying on time, not going over the limit, not opening up more credit, keeping your debt ratio in check ( only using 30-40% of your available credit limit), and no inquiries, these are just a few of the  things that will help your credit score to increase.  Now how much, and how long it will take no one knows.  If you have questions on Credit (FICO) Scores you should either go online and do some research on it, or you can read some books by the experts like Stephen Snyder (Life after Bankruptcy). and Suze Orman book on credit and Fico scores.

Answer 3

100 points in 18 months is overly optimistic.