Credit Score Build & Repair Planner
Build or fix your credit score step by step
Tell us about your credit
What's your current credit score range?
Don't know? Check free at Credit Karma, your bank app, or pull your reports at AnnualCreditReport.com
Do you know your credit card balances and limits?
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long do negative items stay on my credit report?
Most negative items remain for 7 years from the date of first delinquency: late payments, collections, charge-offs, and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Chapter 7 bankruptcy stays for 10 years. Hard inquiries stay for 2 years. Medical collections under $500 are no longer reported by the three major bureaus as of 2023.
Can I dispute items on my credit report for free?
Yes. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives you the right to dispute any inaccurate or unverifiable item for free. Submit disputes directly to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion at AnnualCreditReport.com. Bureaus must investigate within 30 days and remove items they cannot verify.
Do medical collections hurt my credit score?
Medical collections under $500 are no longer included in credit reports from the three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) as of 2023. Larger medical collections still appear but carry less weight in newer scoring models (FICO 9, VantageScore 4.0). Dispute any removed items that still appear.
Does checking my own credit score hurt it?
No. Checking your own score is a 'soft inquiry' and has zero effect on your credit. Only 'hard inquiries' (when lenders pull your credit for loan or card applications) temporarily lower your score by a few points. You can check your score as often as you want.
How fast can I improve my credit score?
Paying down high credit card balances can show improvement within 30–45 days (one billing cycle). Disputing and removing errors can improve your score within 30–60 days. Building a solid 12-month payment history with secured cards or credit-builder loans typically takes 6–12 months to show significant improvement.
Should I pay off a collection account or dispute it?
Dispute first — collectors must verify the debt or remove it. If the debt is verified and yours, a 'pay for delete' agreement (paying in exchange for removal) is worth requesting in writing. Paying without a deletion agreement will mark it 'paid' but the collection remains on your report for the full 7-year period.
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