The five rules of credit maintenance
1. Pay everything on time, every time
Payment history is 35% of your FICO score. Set every account to autopay for at least the minimum, then pay the rest manually. One 30-day late payment can drop a good score by 60–110 points.
2. Keep utilization low — all the time
Aim to use less than 10% of each card's limit, and never exceed 30%. Utilization has no memory, so paying cards down before the statement closes (not just the due date) shows a lower balance to the bureaus.
3. Keep old accounts open
Length of history is 15% of your score. Your oldest card is an anchor — put a small recurring charge on it, autopay it, and leave it open even if you rarely use it.
4. Limit new applications
Each hard inquiry can cost a few points, and new accounts lower your average age. Apply only when there is a clear reason, and bunch mortgage or auto rate-shopping into a 14-day window.
5. Check your reports regularly
Errors appear constantly — a paid collection re-reported, a balance that should be zero, an account that is not yours. Review all three bureau reports at least twice a year and dispute inaccuracies immediately.
Protect your wins
If The Credit Rush helped you remove inaccurate negative items, these habits keep your file clean going forward — and our client portal lets you keep tracking your score long after your disputes close.