To rebuild your credit fast, focus on these key strategies:

• Pay your bills on time, every time. Payment history is the biggest factor in your credit score, so consistently making on-time payments can improve your score quickly, often within 30 days as issuers report to credit bureaus monthly

• Keep your credit utilization low. Use less than 30% of your available credit limit (some experts recommend under 10%). Lower utilization shows you’re not overextending yourself, which helps boost your score

• Consider a secured credit card. Secured cards require a cash deposit as collateral and help build positive credit history when you make timely payments. This can be effective for those with damaged or no credit, though it may take several months to see significant improvement

• Become an authorized user on someone else’s credit card. If the primary user has good credit habits, being added as an authorized user can help improve your credit by association

• Review your credit reports and dispute errors. Obtain free reports from the three major bureaus and correct any inaccuracies that could be dragging down your score

• Pay down existing debts and avoid opening many new accounts at once. Consolidating debt through balance transfers or loans can help lower your utilization ratio and simplify payments, aiding credit rebuilding

• Use services that report rent and utility payments. Some services and tools like Experian Boost can add these positive payments to your credit report, potentially improving your score faster

While there are no instant fixes, consistent application of these steps can lead to noticeable credit improvement within a few months, especially if your current score is low or fair