If Your Credit Score Is Under 700, Make These 6 Moves ASAP

You really try to be responsible with your money.

But, no matter what you do, your credit score never seems to make it over that 700 hump.

Yup — you’ve got some algorithm spitting out a three-digit number that’s basically controlling your entire life. We get it: It’s frustrating.

Don’t give up just yet, though! These six moves just might be the kickstart you need to finally get your credit score moving in the right direction.

Best of all? You can do all these things by the end of this week.

1. Write a Love Letter

…to your creditors.

If you generally have a pretty solid credit history, save for a few missteps, then sending a well-executed goodwill letter to those you owe could help get you back in good graces with them and improve your credit score.

You’ll want your letter to cover the following bases:

• Explain why and how long you’ve been a loyal customer of the creditor.
• Take responsibility for the mistakes that led to the blemishes on your credit history.
• Describe the steps you’re taking to ensure these mistakes don’t happen again.
• Appeal to their sense of empathy. Show that you want forgiveness but also that you are determined to do better going forward. Show them you deserve this!
• Keep your letter clear and to the point.

Don’t forget to include important information, like your account number and the date and amount of the missed payment you want removed from your credit history. Once you’ve written your goodwill letter, address it using the information on the creditor’s website.

2. This Guy Added Nearly 300 Points to his Credit Score — See How You Can Raise Yours, Too*

You’ve got big plans. Maybe you’ve got your eye on a new car. Or you’re hoping to buy a house in the next few years. Or you’d even like to start your own business. But here’s the thing: No matter what your goals are, you might not realize how much your credit score is standing in your way.

The good news? A free website called Credit Sesame makes it easy to put your credit score on track to reach your goals. We even talked to one guy, James Cooper, of Atlanta, who used Credit Sesame to raise his credit score nearly 300 points in six months.*** He says they showed him exactly what to do — he was even able to open his first credit card.

What could adding 300 points to your score mean for your goals? It could easily save you thousands of dollars over the life of a car loan or mortgage.

Within 90 seconds, Credit Sesame will give you access to your credit score, any debt-carrying accounts and a handful of personalized tips to improve your score. You’ll even be able to spot any errors holding you back (one in five reports have one).

Make sure your plans don’t get sidelined by bad credit. Sign up for free (it only takes about 90 seconds) and see how much you could improve your score.

3. Stop Paying Your Credit Card Company

If you have credit card debt, you know. The anxiety, the interest rates, the fear you’re never going to escape…

And the truth is, your credit card company doesn’t really care. It’s just getting rich by ripping you off with high interest rates — some up to 36%. But a website called AmONE wants to help.

If you owe your credit card companies $100,000 or less, AmONE will match you with a low-interest loan you can use to pay off every single one of your balances.

The benefit? You’ll be left with one bill to pay each month. And because personal loans have lower interest rates (AmONE rates start at 6.40% APR), you’ll get out of debt that much faster. Plus: No credit card payment this month.

You don’t need a perfect credit score to get a loan — and comparing your options won’t affect your score at all. Plus, AmONE keeps your information confidential and secure, which is probably why after 20 years in business, it still has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

It takes less than a minute and just 10 questions to see what loans you qualify for — you don’t even need to enter your Social Security number. You do need to give AmONE a real phone number in order to qualify, but don’t worry — they won’t spam you with phone calls.

4. This App Can Help Save You Up To $720 This Year

Keeping track of your monthly bills and subscription services can feel like a game of whack-a-mole. And just when you think you’ve got a handle on it, another random charge pops up on your bank statement. $5 here, $10 there… it can seriously add up.

Luckily, an app called Rocket Money can show you exactly where you’re wasting money on forgotten subscriptions and bills that are overcharging you. It saves its members an average of $720 per year.

The app is super simple to use. You can use it to easily hunt down and cancel unwanted subscriptions and even help negotiate lower monthly rates with your internet company, phone company and other bills — on average, they can help lower your bills by about 20%.

Rocket Money’s app has saved its 5 million-plus users about $500 million in canceled subscriptions.

It takes just a few minutes to get started and see how much you could save this year. Just register an account and link your bank accounts, then sit back while Rocket Money goes to work.

5. You Can Become Debt Free — Without Paying it All Off

It doesn’t matter how much debt you’re in. Trying to stay on top of it all can be overwhelming.  Especially when the overdue credit card notices and threats from creditors start rolling in…

The good news is, a company called National Debt Relief could help you pay off your debt for significantly less than you owe, and in less time. No bankruptcy, no loans and no need to have good credit.

How? It offers a strategy a lot of people don’t know about, called debt relief.

Here’s how it works: If you owe at least $10,000 in unsecured debt (credit card debt, personal loans, medical bills, etc.), National Debt Relief’s experts will create a customized plan just for you. As the monthly payments add up, they negotiate with your creditors to reduce the amount you owe. You then pay off the rest in a lump sum.

On average, you could become debt-free within 24 to 48 months.

National Debt Relief has already helped more than 500,000 people pay off over $5 billion in  debt.

Find out what your best options are for taking control of your debt and living the life you want. It takes less than a minute to sign up for a free consultation.

6. See if You Qualify for Up to $750 Before Payday

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a little extra breathing room between paychecks? With the cost of everything constantly on the rise, we could all use a break, right?

With a Current Paycheck Advance*, you can get up to $750 before payday after you qualify.

Here’s how it works: After you create an account and set up an Eligible Payroll Deposit, your eligibility will be evaluated based on your account activity, among other factors. You can check if you’re currently eligible for an advance in the Current app by going to the “Services” tab and selecting “Paycheck Advance.”

If you qualify, you can access up to the qualified amount of your incoming paycheck before payday—either instantly for a fee** or in up to 3 business days for no fee. Just tap into the app to request your advance. No credit checks, no lines of credit, no credit reporting, and no hassle.

Stop waiting on payday. Set up an Eligible Payroll Deposit with Current to see if you qualify for Paycheck Advance and get cash when you need it most.

*For eligible customers only. Your actual available Paycheck Advance amount will be displayed to you in the mobile app and may change from time to time. Conditions and eligibility may vary and are subject to change at any time, at the sole discretion of Finco Advance LLC, which offers this optional feature. Finco Advance LLC is a financial technology company, not a bank. For more information, please refer to Paycheck Advance Terms and Conditions (https://cdn.current.com/agreements/paycheck_advance_terms_v2.pdf).

**Expedited disbursement of your Paycheck Advance is an optional feature that is subject to an Instant Access Fee and may not be available to all users. Expedited disbursements may take up to an hour. For more information, please refer to Paycheck Advance Terms and Conditions (https://cdn.current.com/agreements/paycheck_advance_terms_v2.pdf).