Credit Successes

What seems simple to one person might be completely baffling to another. Sometimes, when it comes to credit, a little knowledge is all it takes to send a person’s 489 credit score in the right direction.

Austin M. gained some through CredEvolv. Now he’s moving toward achieving his financial goals.

Austin had a 489 credit score and no idea how to use a credit card. The counselor he connected with on our platform helped him open a new credit card account, showed him how to budget for the card, and stressed the importance of making on-time payments. As several collections came off his credit report, Austin’s score rose to 577 in 7 months, closing in on his mortgage lender’s target score of 620 and his personal goal of 680!

Why are on-time payments so important to improving a 489 credit score?

Your payment history is the single biggest factor in determining your credit score, accounting for about 35% of it. That’s why making on-time payments is non-negotiable if you want to improve your 489 credit score.

• Set reminders for yourself. Use calendar alerts, apps, or automatic payments to ensure you never miss a due date.
• Adopt the mindset that a little is better than nothing. If you’re unable to pay your full balance, at least make the minimum payment. This protects your credit score and helps you avoid late fees. Missing a payment should not be an option.
• Know your due dates. If multiple payments feel overwhelming, contact your lenders to align due dates closer together.

Consistency is key. Every on-time payment builds a positive credit history. Over time, your effort can significantly boost your 489 credit score.

What can and can’t be removed from my credit report?

In a previous Credit Education blog, we discussed an important topic: knowing what can and cannot be legally removed from your credit report. The key to improving your 489 credit score isn’t about wiping away your past. It’s about making sure your report is accurate and taking the right steps to build a stronger financial future.

Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misleading information when it comes to credit repair. Some companies make bold claims that they can erase all negative items from your report. That’s simply not true. In reality, it’s illegal to remove legitimate negative entries from your credit history.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires credit bureaus to maintain accurate, verifiable information. This means that if you’ve missed payments or defaulted on a loan, those records can remain on your report for up to seven years. For bankruptcies, the timeframe can extend to 10 years.

At CredEvolv, we believe in honesty and transparency. Here’s the truth: no company or individual can lawfully delete valid negative information from your credit report. However, our platform connects you with certified, nonprofit credit counselors who can help you challenge inaccurate or outdated items that may be unfairly causing your 489 credit score.

Our expert counseling partners know how to identify reporting errors and unfair practices. By helping you correct mistakes, they ensure your credit report reflects accurate information. That way, you can make real progress toward something better than a 489 credit score like Austin did!

Read more credit success stories here!

It seems counterintuitive, but if done correctly, adding more debt can actually improve your 609 credit score. The same can happen when negative information comes off your credit report. That, of course, seems more obvious.

Combined with a slow, methodical approach, both of these tactics did the trick for CredEvolv client Laura H.!

Laura came to the CredEvolv platform with 609 credit score. She established two new tradelines while her credit counselor coached her on how to use them. Her counselor also had several negative accounts removed from her credit report. Laura stuck with her success plan for 13 months and voila! She achieved a 699 credit score and her lender submitted her home loan application to underwriting.

What is a tradeline on a credit report?

A tradeline is an industry term for a credit account that a lender reports to a credit bureau. Each credit account has its own tradeline, which includes information about the account, the creditor, and the type of credit, such as the account balance, payment history, and account status.

A person can have multiple tradelines on their credit report, one for each credit account in their name. Credit bureaus use tradelines to calculate a borrower’s credit score and assess their creditworthiness. Adding tradelines can have a positive effect on your 609 credit score by way of improved credit history, payment history, credit utilization, and more.

What can and can’t be removed from my credit report?

In a past Credit Education blog, we explored an essential topic: understanding what can and cannot be legally removed from your credit report. The key to strengthening your 609 credit score isn’t about erasing past financial decisions. It’s about ensuring accuracy and taking meaningful steps to build a healthier credit future.

Unfortunately, misinformation about credit repair is everywhere. Some companies claim they can eliminate all negative marks from your report. That’s simply not how it works. In reality, removing valid negative information is against the law.

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), credit bureaus are required to report only accurate, verifiable information. If you’ve missed payments or defaulted on a loan, those records may legally stay on your report for up to seven years. Bankruptcies, on the other hand, can remain for as long as 10 years.

At CredEvolv, we believe in full transparency. The fact is, no individual or company has the legal ability to erase legitimate negative items from your credit report. However, our platform provides access to certified, nonprofit credit counselors who can help you dispute errors or outdated information that might be unfairly dragging down your 609 credit score.

Our counseling partners specialize in identifying inaccuracies and unfair reporting practices. By correcting mistakes, they help ensure that your credit report is a true reflection of your financial standing. This gives you a real opportunity to improve your 609 credit score over time like Laura did!

Read more credit success stories here!

It’s a simple fact of life: if you want to own a home and don’t have the cash to buy it outright, you need a mortgage. Here’s another fact of life: to be approved for a home loan, your 532 credit score must improve to be at or above your lender’s minimum level.

Fortunately, yet another fact of life is that most things are possible with a little help and effort. Just ask Keila S.!

Keila joined the CredEvolv platform with a 532 credit score. Her goal was to reach the minimum score of 620 required to qualify for a mortgage. The nonprofit credit counselor we connected her with had three collections accounts deleted from her report. Meanwhile, Keila paid down her credit cards and established new tradelines.

In five months, her score rose to 627, enough to make a home loan possible!

How can high credit card balances cause a 532 credit score?

Having a high utilization ratio can hurt your credit scores – even when you make the minimum required payments on time every month. It also makes it increasingly difficult to qualify for more credit. In addition to the impact on your 532 credit score, high credit card balances can increase your debt-to-income ratio (DTI).

Lenders look at your DTI ratio to gauge how much of your income is already tied up in debt payments. A lower DTI signals to lenders that you have room in your budget to take on more debt without overextending yourself. On the other hand, a higher DTI might raise red flags, suggesting you could struggle to manage additional monthly payments.

In general:

• A DTI below 36% is good and indicates you have a manageable level of debt.
• A DTI between 36-49% is acceptable but may make it harder to qualify for some loans or the best interest rates.
• A DTI above 50% could limit your borrowing options and indicate that you’re at risk of becoming overwhelmed by debt.

What can and can’t be removed from my credit report?

In a previous Credit Education blog, we covered an important topic: understanding which items can legally come off your credit report and which must remain. Improving your 532 credit score isn’t about erasing past financial choices. It’s about ensuring your report is accurate and making informed decisions to build a stronger financial future.

There’s a lot of confusion surrounding credit repair. Some companies promise they can remove all negative information from your credit history. Unfortunately, that’s not how credit reporting works. In fact, it’s illegal to delete accurate, negative entries from your report.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires credit bureaus to maintain only truthful, verifiable information. If you’ve missed payments or defaulted on a loan, that information can legally stay on your report for up to seven years. Bankruptcies, depending on the type, can remain for up to 10 years.

At CredEvolv, we prioritize transparency. The reality is that no company or individual has the legal authority to remove valid negative marks from your credit history. However, the certified, nonprofit credit counselors on our platform can assist you in disputing errors or outdated information that may be unfairly resulting in your 532 credit score.

Our expert counselor partners know how to spot inaccuracies and questionable reporting practices. By addressing any mistakes, they help ensure that your credit report reflects only accurate and up-to-date information. This gives you the best opportunity to improve your credit standing over time.

What is a tradeline on a credit report?

A tradeline is an industry term for a credit account that a lender reports to a credit bureau. Each credit account has its own tradeline, which includes information about the account, the creditor, and the type of credit, such as the account balance, payment history, and account status.

A person can have multiple tradelines on their credit report, one for each credit account in their name. Credit bureaus use tradelines to calculate a borrower’s credit score and assess their creditworthiness.

As Keila’s story shows, good credit begins with having credit. Partnering with a reputable credit counselor on the CredEvolv platform – someone who can counsel you about opening tradelines that benefit you – is how you can surpass your own credit score goals.

Read more credit success stories here!

Not everyone comes to CredEvolv with multiple late payments, collections, and other derogatory information on their credit report. In some cases, a high debt-to-income ratio (DTI) and no plan to reduce it causes their 532 credit score.

That was Lynne S.’s situation – but not for long!

When she enrolled with us, Lynne had a 532 credit score and a desire to get to 700. The counselor she connected with on our platform created a budget for her to pay down her credit card balances.

In only three months, her 532 credit score shot up 116 points to 648, putting her beyond the minimum score to qualify for a mortgage and within reach of her ultimate goal!

Why does DTI matter when you’re trying to get a loan?

Lenders look at your DTI ratio to gauge how much of your income is already tied up in debt payments. A lower DTI signals to lenders that you have room in your budget to take on more debt without overextending yourself. On the other hand, a higher DTI might raise red flags, suggesting you could struggle to manage additional monthly payments.

In general:

• A DTI below 36% is good and indicates you have a manageable level of debt.
• A DTI between 36-49% is acceptable but may make it harder to qualify for some loans or the best interest rates.
• A DTI above 50% could limit your borrowing options and indicate that you’re at risk of becoming overwhelmed by debt.

Should you try to fix your 532 credit score yourself?

As we’ve pointed out in previous CredEvolv success stories, and as Lynne’s story illustrates, the collaboration between our clients and the counselors we connect them with on our platform is the key to success. That’s why we never recommend attempting your own credit fixes. There are many ways you can mess things up when you try to clear your own credit record.

Improving your 532 credit score isn’t rocket science. It’s also one of those things that is best left to the experts. Specifically, the HUD-certified credit counselors on our platform. That’s because:

• They know what they’re doing.
• They have your best interest at heart.
• They’re not here to keep you in a program for longer than you need to be.
• They’re not out to make a profit off your hard times.

They’re here to coach you to success and show you the responsible credit practices that can improve your life and your 532 credit score. These improvements occur while you’re enrolled in the program, and they can remain for years to come after you’ve achieved the credit score you want and deserve.

Lynne is living proof of that!

Read more credit success stories here!

Sometimes you get so close to a goal that you’re not even disappointed. In fact, you’re inspired to keep going because of all the progress you’ve made from a 554 credit score.

That would describe CredEvolv client John S.

John came to us with a 554 credit score. He needed to improve it to 620 to qualify for a mortgage, but set a personal goal of 650. He paid down his credit card balances and his counselor had some collections accounts removed from his credit report.

Eight months later, he ended up with a 94-point increase from a 554 credit score. That put him on the verge of achieving his goal with a 648 score!

Why are high credit card balances so bad?

Having a high utilization ratio can hurt your credit scores – even when you make the minimum required payments on time every month. It also makes it increasingly difficult to qualify for more credit. In addition to the impact on your 554 credit score, high credit card balances can increase your debt-to-income ratio (DTI).

Lenders look at your DTI ratio to gauge how much of your income already goes to debt payments. A lower DTI signals to lenders that you have room in your budget to take on more debt without overextending yourself. On the other hand, a higher DTI might raise red flags, suggesting you could struggle to manage additional monthly payments.

In general:

• A DTI below 36% is good and indicates you have a manageable level of debt.
• A DTI between 36-49% is acceptable but may make it harder to qualify for some loans or the best interest rates.
• A DTI above 50% could limit your borrowing options and indicate that you’re at risk of becoming overwhelmed by debt.

What can and can’t be removed from my credit report?

In a prior Credit Education blog, we discussed an essential topic: knowing which items can legally come off your credit report and which must remain. Improving your 554 credit score isn’t about erasing past financial history. It’s about making sure your report is correct and taking steps to strengthen your financial future.

There’s a lot of misinformation about credit repair. Some companies claim they can wipe out all negative marks from your credit history. That’s simply not how the system works. In reality, it is illegal to remove accurate, negative information from your report.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) ensures that credit bureaus report only accurate and verifiable data. If you’ve had late payments or a loan default, that information may legally stay on your report for up to seven years. Bankruptcies, depending on the type, can remain for as long as 10 years.

At CredEvolv, we believe in honesty and clarity. The truth is that no company or individual can lawfully erase valid negative items from your credit report. However, the certified, nonprofit credit counselors available through our platform can assist in disputing errors or outdated details that may be unfairly impacting your 554 credit score.

Our counselor partners specialize in identifying reporting mistakes and unfair practices. By correcting inaccuracies, they help ensure your credit report is an accurate reflection of your financial situation, giving you the opportunity to improve your 554 credit score over time.

In John’s case, collection removals and a lower DTI put him two points away from his personal goal when he started on the CredEvolv platform. That’s what we call a winning combination!

Read more credit success stories here.

Your credit report should have less of what doesn’t belong and more of what does. That’s how to elevate a 542 credit score.

This time-tested winning formula worked for Javonte H.

Javonte started on the CredEvolv platform with a 542 credit score. He had an insufficient credit history and some collections accounts on his report. His credit counselor had three of those accounts removed and he established a new line of credit. In 3 months, this boosted his score to 638, exceeding his mortgage lender’s target score of 620 and putting him well on his way to his personal goal of 700!

What can and can’t be removed from my credit report?

In an earlier Credit Education blog, we explored an important topic: understanding which items can legally come off your credit report and which must stay. Building better credit isn’t about erasing your financial past. It’s about ensuring your report is accurate and taking the right steps to improve your 542 credit score.

There’s a lot of confusion surrounding credit repair. Some companies claim they can eliminate all negative entries from your report. Credit reporting doesn’t work that way. In fact, removing legitimate negative information is illegal.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) mandates that credit bureaus only report accurate and verifiable information. For instance, if you’ve missed payments or defaulted on a loan, those records may legally remain on your report for up to seven years. Bankruptcies can be listed for up to 10 years, depending on the type.

At CredEvolv, we believe in transparency and integrity. The fact is, no one can legally remove valid negative items from your credit report. However, our platform connects you with certified, nonprofit credit counselors who can help you challenge inaccurate or outdated information that may be unfairly affecting your 542 credit score.

Our counselor partners are trained to identify reporting errors and unfair practices. By addressing any inaccuracies, they help ensure your credit report reflects only correct and up-to-date information. This gives you the best chance to improve your 542 credit score over time.

How quickly can I fix my 542 credit score on the CredEvolv platform?

Now is the best time to start the process of improving your 542 credit score. No matter what Google or the for-profit credit repair guys tell you, it takes a little time for your credit score to go up. It doesn’t always happen overnight.

Some of our clients see significant improvement after one month. Others like Javonte reach their credit goals and loan readiness in an average of 3 to 5 months, which is a more typical timeframe.

Depending on your individual situation, you may need services like dispute resolution, budget analysis, debt-to-income ratio analysis, payment negotiations, credit card or loan payoffs (or not), and more. These are things that only a HUD-certified nonprofit credit counselor on our platform will know how to deal with effectively.

Once a counselor handles these things for you, results similar to Javonte’s could happen for you!

Read more credit success stories here!

Like any other type of loan, there’s a minimum credit score you need for a mortgage approval. If you can exceed that number, especially when you start with a 521 credit score, even better.

Brandon A. went for the “even better” result.

Like many others who enroll in the CredEvolv program, Brandon wanted to reach the minimum 620 credit score to qualify for a mortgage. His counselor had several late payments and collection accounts removed from his credit report. This helped Brandon achieve his goal and then some, turning his original 521 credit score into a 646!

What can and can’t be removed from my credit report?

In a previous Credit Education blog, we discussed a key topic: understanding what can and cannot come off your credit report. Improving your credit isn’t about wiping away your financial history. It’s about making sure your report is accurate and taking the right steps to build a stronger financial foundation.

There’s a lot of misinformation about credit repair. Some companies claim they can remove all negative marks from your credit history. That’s not how the credit system works. In reality, it is illegal to erase legitimate negative information from your report.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires credit bureaus to report only accurate and verifiable data. If you’ve missed payments or defaulted on a loan, those records can legally stay on your report for up to seven years. Bankruptcies, depending on the type, may remain for up to 10 years.

At CredEvolv, we prioritize honesty and transparency. The truth is, no company or individual has the legal authority to delete valid negative items from your credit history. However, the certified, nonprofit credit counselors available through our platform can help you dispute any inaccurate or outdated information that may be unfairly impacting your 521 credit score.

Our skilled counselor partners are experts at identifying errors and unfair reporting practices. By helping correct mistakes, they ensure your credit report reflects only the most accurate and up-to-date information. This gives you the best opportunity to improve your 521 credit score over time.

In Brandon’s case, the legitimate removal of several collections accounts from his credit report meant the difference between simply achieving the minimum credit score required for a mortgage and increasing his chances of approval by surpassing it. Outstanding job, Brandon!

Read more credit success stories here.

Some significant improvements from a 501 credit score happen quickly. Others occur more slowly over time. The important thing is that they eventually happen.

They usually do when CredEvolv gets involved. They certainly did for Sean B. – and fast!

Sean needed a minimum 620 credit score to qualify for a mortgage. He enrolled in our platform with a 501 credit score. His counselor had a collection account removed from his credit report, and only a month later, his score shot up 98 points to 599! He’s well on his way to crushing the minimum mortgage score and reaching his personal goal of 760!

What are collections on a credit report?

We answered this question in a previous success story, but here’s a refresher:

A collections account happens if you fall behind on payments. The lender or creditor can decide to transfer your account to a collection agency. They can also sell it to a debt buyer.

This can occur anytime from the date you begin missing payments or not paying the full minimum payment to a few months after you become delinquent. Lenders and creditors will usually send you letters or call you regarding the debt before sending to a collection agency. 

“How quickly can I fix my 501 credit score on the CredEvolv platform?”

Now is the best time to start the process of improving your 501 credit score. Forget what Google or the for-profit credit repair guys tell you. It takes a little time for your credit score to go up, and it doesn’t always happen overnight.

Some people see significant improvement in their 501 credit score after one month on the CredEvolv platform like Sean did. Typically, our clients reach their credit goals and loan readiness in an average of 3 to 5 months.

Depending on your individual situation, you may need services like dispute resolution, budget analysis, debt-to-income ratio analysis, payment negotiations, credit card or loan payoffs (or not), and more. These are things that only a HUD-certified nonprofit credit counselor on our platform will know how to deal with ethically and effectively.

Once they handle all of that for you, who knows? You might see results similar to Sean’s. So give CredEvolv a shot at improving your 501 credit score. You might be amazed by what happens next!

Read more credit success stories here.

Goals are good, like improving a 557 credit score. Achieving them is better. Exceeding them is the best!

Just ask Cesar F.

Cesar came to us with a 557 credit score. He needed to improve it to 620 to qualify for a mortgage but set a personal goal of 650. He paid down his credit card balances, his counselor had two collections removed from his credit report, and he ended up exceeding his goal with a 655 score!

How can high credit card balances cause a 557 credit score?

Having a high utilization ratio can hurt your credit scores – even when you make the minimum required payments on time every month. It also makes it increasingly difficult to qualify for more credit. In addition to the impact on your 557 credit score, high credit card balances can increase your debt-to-income ratio (DTI).

Lenders look at your DTI ratio to gauge how much of your income currently goes to debt payments. A lower DTI signals to lenders that you have room in your budget to take on more debt without overextending yourself. On the other hand, a higher DTI might raise red flags, suggesting you could struggle to manage additional monthly payments.

In general:

• A DTI below 36% is good and indicates you have a manageable level of debt.
• A DTI between 36-49% is acceptable but may make it harder to qualify for some loans or the best interest rates.
• A DTI above 50% could limit your borrowing options and indicate that you’re at risk of becoming overwhelmed by debt.

What can and can’t be removed from my credit report?

As we’ve highlighted in a previous Credit Education blog, it’s crucial to understand which items can legally come off your credit report and which must remain. The reality is that improving your 557 credit score isn’t about erasing your financial past. It’s about ensuring your report is accurate and making positive changes moving forward.

There’s a lot of misleading information when it comes to credit repair. Some companies claim they can eliminate all negative marks from your credit history. That’s simply not the case. In fact, removing truthful negative information is against the law.

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), credit bureaus must report only verified, accurate information. For example, if you’ve missed a payment or defaulted on a loan, that record can legally stay on your report for up to seven years. Bankruptcies, depending on the type, may remain for up to 10 years.

At CredEvolv, we want to be clear: no company or individual has the legal ability to remove valid negative items from your credit report. However, the certified, nonprofit credit counselors on our platform can assist you in disputing inaccuracies or outdated details that could be unfairly causing your 557 credit score.

These professionals are trained to identify reporting errors and questionable practices. Their expertise helps ensure that your credit report reflects only what truly belongs there, giving you the best opportunity to improve your financial standing.

In Cesar’s case, the legitimate removal of two collections accounts from his credit report meant the difference between simply achieving his initial credit score goal and surpassing it. Go Cesar!

Read more credit success stories here.

Buying a home is one of the most, if not the most, significant purchases a person will ever make. Most people can’t afford to pay cash for real estate. Others prefer to invest that large sum of money elsewhere. So they decide to borrow the money.

To do that, they need healthy credit. A 552 credit score won’t cut it. That’s why Ryon R. came to us for help.

Ryon needed higher than a 552 credit score to secure a home loan. We connected him with a certified, nonprofit credit counselor, who was able to remove four collections accounts from his credit report. Only four months later, his score shot up to 661 and into his mortgage lender’s approval zone!

What can and can’t be removed from my credit report to improve my 552 credit score?

As we’ve pointed out in a past Credit Education blog, it’s important to know which items can legally come off your credit report and which must remain. Improving your credit isn’t about erasing past financial decisions. Actually, it’s about ensuring accuracy and taking the right steps to increase your 552 credit score.

There’s a lot of misinformation about credit repair. Some companies claim they can remove all negative marks from your credit history. Unfortunately, that’s not how the process works. In reality, it is illegal to erase valid negative information from your report.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) ensures that credit bureaus only report verified and accurate information. For example, if you’ve had a late payment or defaulted on a loan, that record may legally stay on your report for up to seven years. Bankruptcies, depending on the type, can remain on your report for up to 10 years.

At CredEvolv, we believe in providing clear and honest information. To be clear: no company or individual has the legal authority to remove legitimate negative items from your credit report. However, the certified, nonprofit credit counselors available through our platform can help you challenge inaccurate or outdated details that may be unfairly causing your 552 credit score.

These professionals are skilled in identifying errors and inconsistencies in credit reports. Their expertise helps ensure that your credit history reflects only accurate and up-to-date information, giving you the best chance to improve your 552 credit score over time.

In Ryon’s case, the legitimate removal of four collections accounts from his credit report meant the difference between a mortgage approval and a denial. That was huge for him, and it can be for you, too.

Read more credit success stories here.

To have good credit, you have to pay back the money you borrowed. You also have to make those payments on time, every time, and not go overboard with your balances.

When Jose came to us, he had a 630 credit score. As he paid down his credit card balances, his credit counselor was able to remove a few late payments from his credit report. This combined effort catapulted his score to 740 in 7 months, leaving his personal goal of 680 in the dust!

Jose V. learned these things on the CredEvolv platform. Lo and behold, his original 630 credit score improved considerably.

What can and can’t be removed from my credit report to raise my 630 credit score?

As we’ve mentioned in a previous Credit Education blog, understanding what can and cannot be legally removed from your credit report is essential. Boosting your 630 credit score isn’t about erasing past financial history. It’s about making sure your report is correct and taking the right steps to improve your financial health.

There’s a lot of confusion surrounding credit repair. Some companies claim they can eliminate all negative items from your credit history. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works. In fact, removing accurate negative information is against the law.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires credit bureaus to report only verified, factual information. For example, if you’ve missed a payment or defaulted on a loan, that record can legally stay on your report for up to seven years. Bankruptcies may remain for up to 10 years, depending on the type.

At CredEvolv, we believe in transparency and honesty. The reality is that no company or individual has the legal ability to remove valid negative marks from your credit report. However, the certified, nonprofit credit counselors on our platform can assist you in disputing inaccuracies or outdated details that may be unfairly causing your 630 credit score.

These experts specialize in spotting errors and inconsistencies in credit reports. Their knowledge ensures that your credit history accurately reflects your financial situation, giving you the best chance to improve your credit standing and 630 credit score over time.

This approach worked for Jose and countless others who came to CredEvolv for help. It can work for you too!

Read more credit success stories here.

Sometimes, when you’re making progress on improving a 541 credit score, certain things move in opposite directions. Other times, everything moves in the same direction.

Martha L.’s success story incorporates a little bit of both.

Martha had a 541 credit score when she enrolled in the CredEvolv platform. She began paying down her credit card balances, which improved her debt-to-income ratio (or DTI) and pushed her credit score upward. Meanwhile, her credit counselor – who was working with her in lockstep, pulling in the same direction – was able to have a late payment deleted from her credit report.

Their combined efforts resulted in Martha’s 541 credit score reaching 663, well above her and her lender’s goal of 620!

Why does DTI matter when you’re trying to get a loan?

Lenders look at your debt-to-income ratio to gauge how much of your income is already tied up in debt payments. A lower DTI signals to lenders that you have room in your budget to take on more debt without overextending yourself. On the other hand, a higher DTI might raise red flags, suggesting you could struggle to manage additional monthly payments.

In general:

• A DTI below 36% is considered good and indicates you have a manageable level of debt.
• A DTI between 36-49% is acceptable but may make it harder to qualify for some loans or the best interest rates.
• A DTI above 50% could limit your borrowing options and indicate that you’re at risk of becoming overwhelmed by debt.

Should you try to fix your 541 credit score yourself?

As we’ve pointed out in previous CredEvolv success stories, and as Martha’s story illustrates, the collaboration between our clients and the counselors we connect them with on our platform is the key to success. That’s why we never recommend attempting fixing your 541 credit score yourself. There are many ways you can mess things up when you try to clear your own credit record.

Improving your 541 credit score isn’t rocket science. It’s also one of those things that is best left to the experts. Specifically, the credit counselors on our platform. That’s because:

• They know what they’re doing.
• They have your best interest at heart.
• They’re not here to keep you in a program for longer than you need to be.
• They’re not out to make a profit off your hard times.

They’re here to coach you to success and show you the responsible credit practices that can improve your life and your 541 credit score. These improvements occur while you’re enrolled in the program, and they can remain for years to come after you’ve achieved the credit score you want and deserve.

Read more credit success stories here!