The Quickest Way to get 999 on Experian

So much contradicting advice has been given on the topic of credit scores, it’s hard to keep track and make sense of it all. Add to that the eternal “debt is good” vs. “debt is evil” debate, and good luck to any young person trying to figure out their next step.

Moreover, a perfect credit score isn’t the only thing that matters. Lenders look at your credit history, income, and other factors before making a decision. A 999 score on Experian doesn’t mean you can get any credit card you want. But it is a start.

So if you’re new to credit scores, and you expect your Experian to be excellent and it’s poor – this is the guide for you.

The Standard Advice

First thing’s first. The basic advice is this:

Register on the electoral roll
Check your report for any errors (addresses, mobile numbers, any typos)
Pay your bills on time (electric, water, mobile, broadband)
Get a credit card
Keep your credit utilisation low (under 25% of your credit limit)
Pay your credit card bill on time (ideally on direct debit)

That’s all true of course. But no one tells young people the specifics: what to do, and what not to do. The more mistakes you make, the longer it’ll take to get your credit score up.

So whether you’re looking for your first card, or trying to finally rebuild your score the right way, there’s one simple way to do it.

1. Use an Eligibility Checker

Most people without credit history will not be eligible for standard credit cards. Let alone, reward cards like American Express. Aim for the most basic card, and a lender that offers an eligibility checker, where you get a definite Yes or No before you apply.

2. Get a Single Credit Card

All you need is one credit card. That’s the credit product that builds your credit history. You don’t need any specialised products, or “credit builders” that charge you anything. If you can’t get a standard credit card, then by all means get a sub-prime card – a card that’s designed for first timers like you, or people who struggle to get credit elsewhere. Note that these cards are free, there are no monthly fees. And there’s no reason for you to ever pay for those.

3. Use it once a month

If you have a monthly subscription, like Netflix, that’s the easiest way to go about it. Simply set your new credit card as the payment method for the service. Done. Alternatively, use your card once a month when you do your groceries shopping. You don’t need to alter anything about your day to day spending, just one single charge a month that goes on your credit instead of your debit card.

4. Set Up Direct Debit

Like any recurring payment, it is all to easy to forget. The worst enemy of your credit score is Missed Payments. Set everything up so that’s not even a possibility: every single bill, including your credit card bill, should be automated. Everything is linked to your main bank account. Even in the case it fails to leave your account (say a technical error) you’re 100% covered by the Direct Debit guarantee. Complete peace of mind.

5. Patience

Seeing your score go up takes time. Don’t be tempted to apply for more cards – Hard Searches hurt your score. Even successful ones, where you get the account you wanted, hurt your scores temporarily.

Final words

Your credit file should be a place of stability and predictability. It’s the one place where boring is good! Lenders want to see you hold onto accounts for a long time, keep hard searches to a minimum, and extending your streak of “no missed payments” month after month.

A word of caution: not all credit apps and platforms are your friend. While they give you sound advice on the one hand, they also push you into getting more and more credit. Shiny reward cards, switch incentives, and product that are unnecessarily complicated, and in fact, designed to confuse you.

Like it or not, it’s a game you have to play. So you might as well follow the rules and make the best of it.

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