How to increase your credit score - without taking on debt

Improving your credit score doesn’t have to mean taking out loans, opening credit cards, or going into debt. In fact, some of the most effective credit-building strategies are completely debt-free. Whether you're preparing for a major purchase or just want to strengthen your financial standing, here are several ways to increase your credit score without borrowing money.

1. Use Experian Boost to Report Utility and Streaming Payments

Experian Boost is a free tool that allows you to report on-time payments for utility, telecom, and streaming services (like Netflix, HBO Max, or Spotify) to your Experian credit file. Since these payments typically aren't included in traditional credit reports, this can give your score a meaningful bump, especially if you have a thin or limited credit file.

Experian claims users see an average FICO® Score increase of 13 points, though results vary. There is no hard credit inquiry, and you can choose which accounts to include. This is a quick win that reflects the financial responsibility you’re already demonstrating.

On the other hand, some users don't see a significant increase when using Experian Boost. However, according to Experian, your score will not decrease as a result of using this service. As an important side note, any increase to your credit score will only apply to the Experian scores, such as the FICO credit score. Some users also report that non-Experian financial products might ignore the 'boosted' score, eliminating the benefit you might receive.

2. Become an Authorized User on a Trusted Account

Being added as an authorized user on someone else's credit card account (such as a family member or close friend) can boost your credit score. You benefit from the account’s positive payment history and credit utilization, even if you never use the card yourself.

This strategy is particularly useful for people with no or limited credit history. However, it’s important to ensure the primary account holder maintains a low balance and pays on time — their habits will reflect on your report. People often consider this method a short-term strategy as it involves a level of risk exposure to someone else's credit. You can contact your (or whatever bank the authorized user banks with) to remove yourself as an authorized user.

3. Fix Errors on Your Credit Report

A 2021 study by the Federal Trade Commission found that one in five consumers had an error on at least one of their credit reports. Mistakes such as incorrect late payments, duplicated accounts, or accounts that don’t belong to you can significantly hurt your score.

You’re entitled to a free credit report from each of the three major bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) annually through AnnualCreditReport.com. Review each report carefully, and if you spot an error, file a dispute directly with the bureau. Most disputes are resolved within 30 days.

4. Lower Your Credit Utilization Ratio

Credit utilization refers to the percentage of your total available credit that you're currently using. Even if you don't take on new debt, you can lower your utilization rate and improve your score in several ways:

• Pay down existing balances as much as possible.
• Request a credit limit increase on existing credit cards without increasing your spending. Depending on your payment history, this can be an extremely easy way to help out your credit score. Some credit card providers, like Chase bank, might automatically increase your credit limit after a certain amount of successful payments.
• Make multiple payments each month to keep balances low.

Try to keep your utilization under 30% of your available credit, and ideally under 10% for optimal scoring.

5. Keep Old Accounts Open

The length of your credit history makes up about 15% of your credit score. One way to help this metric is by keeping your oldest accounts open, even if you don’t use them often. As long as these accounts don’t charge annual fees or carry debt, they continue to contribute positively to your score.

Closing old accounts, especially your oldest, can shorten your average credit age and negatively affect your credit profile. Periodically use those cards for small purchases and pay them off to keep them active.

For example, if you have a credit card with no annual fee that you opened ages ago, you might consider leaving it open and putting a very small balance on it every month (say, a cup of coffee). This keeps the credit account on your report, increasing your average age of credit. This will also help offset the drop in your credit score should you open a new credit line somewhere else.

Example: How Average Age of Credit Is Calculated

Account Type	Opened Date	Account Age (Years)
Credit Card #1	August 2015	10
Credit Card #2	June 2019	6
Mortgage	January 2020	5.5
Student Loan	September 2013	12
Personal Loan	March 2022	3.5
Average Age of Credit		7.4 Years

6. Pay All Bills On Time, Every Time

Your payment history accounts for 35% of your credit score. That means consistent, on-time payments are one of the most important things you can do to build and maintain strong credit. This doesn’t just apply to credit cards and loans — many services like cell phones, insurance, rent, and utilities may now be factored in through services like Experian Boost or rent reporting.

If you struggle with remembering due dates, set up automatic payments or calendar reminders. Apps like Mint, You Need a Budget (YNAB), and Rocket Money (formerly Truebill) can help manage recurring bills and send alerts when payments are due. Even one 30-day late payment can drop your score significantly. Some lenders or credit card providers also give you the opportunity to split up payments into installments, saving you from delinquent marks. However, as with all financial products that charge interest, keep an eye out for how splitting payments might affect the fees or interest added on to your balance.

7. Check Your Credit Score Regularly

Keeping tabs on your credit score helps you understand the impact of your actions and catch potential issues early. Many banks and credit card issuers now provide free access to your score, and tools like Credit Karma, Experian, and NerdWallet let you track it over time without affecting your credit.

By monitoring your score regularly, you’ll gain insight into what’s working, where you can improve, and how your credit profile evolves month to month. This feedback loop makes it easier to stay motivated and make smart decisions.

Most of these credit tools operate off of a 'soft' credit inquiry, which shouldn't impact your FICO credit score. Learn more about soft inquiries here.

Final Thoughts

Improving your credit score doesn’t have to involve debt. From using tools like Experian Boost to reporting rent payments, fixing credit report errors, and monitoring your score, there are actionable steps you can take today that cost little or nothing.

However, RapidCashConnect realizes that increasing your credit score can take time and care. Whether you're working to boost your score for future borrowing or just trying to gain financial stability, our application process is designed to support you where you are.

If you're ready to explore flexible lending options while continuing your credit-building journey, apply now with RapidCashConnect — no hard credit pull required.