Have you ever checked your credit and it was lower than you thought it was? Even if you are on top of payments, your credit score can be low for other reasons than just lack of paying your bills. But what are the other ways? Keep reading to find out!

Don’t check too often

Although you may think that checking your credit multiple times in a short period of time is a good idea, maybe one place will show it as higher. Don’t do this! Checking your credit will lower it if you check it multiple times within a few weeks. If you want to ensure it is going up, follow the rules of increasing your credit and then only check occasionally.

Little fees add up

Any unpaid bills that you have out in the world really add up and can plummet your credit score. Do you have an unpaid medical bill? Even if it’s small. Do you have an unpaid parking ticket? Pay it as soon as possible! Little bills will add up and affect your credit score. To check these issues, pull a full credit report and ensure that you are all paid up.

Personal Information

One of the simplest and most frustrating reason why your credit score is lower than it should be is because of incorrect information. Errors occur everywhere, even on credit scores.  If your credit score has incorrect information, this could drag your score down. If your report does have an error, make sure that you call your credit bureau right away and file a claim. Although they won’t be fixed right away, it will be worth it.

Don’t try every trick

If you are trying to increase your credit score, don’t print off a list and try every trick in the book. Using your credit a little too much can also hurt it. Even if you are paying off your cards regularly, maxing out your card will hurt your credit. Try and keep your balance low and don’t try every trick at once.

Using your credit card

Make sure to still use your credit card! With no credit, there’s no way to show that you are a responsible user. This can ding your credit score. Although it seems crazy, make sure that you use your card from time to time as well. For example, put all your groceries or your gas on your credit card. This way your bill isn’t too big, but it is something you would always have to pay for anyways.

Here you have our best ways to keep your credit score as high as possible. Without doing these things, you will be on your way to owning a new home or simply having a high credit score in no time. Do you have any more tricks? Share them with us in the comments below!