Technically, yes, you can buy a better credit score, but probably not how you're thinking. There's no company out there that you can pay to raise your credit score overnight. However, if you need to improve your credit score before you finance your next car, there are services that can help – as long as you're already making bill payments regularly.
Paying for a Better Credit Score
Even though you can't pay someone to change your credit score, you can pay for services that work to raise your credit score by reporting payments you're already making to the national credit bureaus. A positive payment history is one of the most important things you can keep up with to raise your credit score.
There are many different services that allow you to take advantage of your payments which may not be being reported to the national credit bureaus. Let's take a look:
Rental payments can raise your credit score. Using a payment reporting service can help you take advantage of the payments you already make on things like your rent or utility bills. Most services require you to sign up for a monthly fee, but some are more affordable than others.
Boost your credit score by letting automatic payments hit your payment history. With a service like Experian Boost, things like streaming service payments or automatic payments to your phone company can kick your credit score up a notch. Some of these services don't cost you anything, but others carry recurring charges.
A "piggybacking" service may help, but its practices can be questionable. It adds you as an authorized user on multiple accounts, then removes you from those accounts after the improvements hit your credit reports. You're essentially borrowing someone else's good credit score and payment history; this can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, though. Instead of paying for this service, start at a smaller scale. Ask a relative with good credit to take you on as an authorized user on a credit card. This way, you get the benefit of their good credit without the moral questions.
Have You Tried a Credit Repair Company?
Adding a few meager accounts isn't likely to give you enough points to go nuts in a luxury car showroom, but you can make another small change to help – cleaning up your credit reports.
Removing old or inaccurate accounts from your credit reports can also improve your credit score. You can do this without paying someone, but it takes time and dedication which you may not be willing to invest. Instead of doing it yourself, why not pay someone to do the legwork for you?
Credit repair companies can keep unwarranted credit reporting from dragging down your credit score. Signing up for this service allows for a specialist to take the time you may not have to combat incorrect or old items that are still haunting your credit reports.
What Is Credit and Why Do I Care About It?
Credit dictates many opportunities for consumers in today's world. The better your credit score is, the more plentiful your opportunities to take on credit are likely to be. You also usually qualify for lower interest rates with better credit, which saves you money when you borrow.
This is important because things like auto loans depend on your credit score to determine your eligibility. If your credit score is too low, you may not be able to qualify for a loan you can comfortably afford to repay. This is in part because borrowers with poor credit typically qualify for higher interest rates, and stretching a loan term out to lower them can end up costing you more than the car is worth in the end.
However, there are a group of lenders that can help even if your credit situation isn't the best. These lenders, called subprime lenders, work through special finance dealerships and assist consumers with bad credit by looking at additional factors besides credit score to determine auto loan eligibility.
Build Better Credit With an Auto Loan
You know what else improves your credit score? Car loans. Getting an auto loan from a subprime lender is one of the easiest ways to perk up your credit naturally. When you take out a car loan, it adds to many different areas of your credit profile to bring up your score with each on-time payment.
If you need an auto loan, but have been hitting dead ends due to your credit score, we can help. Here at Auto Credit Express, we've cultivated a network of special finance dealers that are signed up with subprime lenders that work with borrowers in many types of credit situations. Let us help you find a dealership in your area by filling out our fast and free car loan request form.
