How to repair your credit score

Here are the major steps for repairing your credit score. Go to Bankrate.com for complete details:

1. Order your credit reports — Here are the top three credit bureaus:

Equifax
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
(800) 685-1111

Experian (formerly TRW)
P.O. Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013-0949
(888) 397-3742

Trans Union Corp.
760 W. Sproul Rd.
Springfield, PA 19064-0390
(800) 888-4213

2. Examine your reports carefully. Bankrate.com offers this primer on how to read and understand your credit report.

3. Correct any errors in your report – Sometimes it’s necessary to contact your creditors to resolve mistakes. Bankrate’s 7 steps to fixing your credit report will help you tackle the serious errors.

4. Solve and dissolve debt — Devise a spending plan to reduce your debt and set a schedule to pay on time, every time. Check out Bankrate’s 10 steps to paying off credit cards for more ideas.

5. Build a solid credit history — Secured credit cards offer people with no credit and those repairing their credit this opportunity. Shop around for the best deal available, but limit your applications. Opening a savings account at your bank shows creditors that you are working to save and that you have reserves to repay debts.