Let’s be honest: seeing your credit score stuck below 600 is frustrating. It can feel like every door is closed—higher interest rates, denied applications, even difficulty renting an apartment. I’ve worked with countless people in this exact situation, and here’s the truth that most “credit repair” ads won’t tell you: There are no quick fixes, but with the right strategy, meaningful improvement is absolutely achievable. How to Fix a Credit Score Under 600.
The good news? A score under 600 isn’t a life sentence. According to the FDIC, credit scores are dynamic and can improve over time with consistent, responsible financial habits . In fact, I’ve seen borrowers raise their scores by 50-100 points in a matter of months by following the right steps .
Here’s exactly what you need to do, step by step, to fix your credit score in 2026.
Step 1: Understand Exactly Where You Stand
Before you can fix your credit, you need to know what’s broken. A score under 600 falls into the “Poor” category for both major scoring models :
| FICO Score | Rating | VantageScore | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300-579 | Poor | 300-499 | Very Poor |
| 580-669 | Fair | 500-600 | Poor |
| 670-739 | Good | 601-660 | Fair |
A score below 600 signals to lenders that you may be a higher risk borrower. But here’s what matters: the same factors that created this score can be used to improve it once you understand them .
Get Your Free Credit Reports
Your first step is to pull your credit reports from all three major bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You’re entitled to free weekly reports through AnnualCreditReport.com, the official site mandated by the federal government .
Important: These free reports show the detailed information that determines your score, not the score itself. For fixing credit, the detailed data is actually more useful because this is where you’ll find errors you can dispute .
Step 2: Audit Every Report for Errors
This is the step most people skip—and it’s often the fastest way to boost your score. According to a Federal Trade Commission study, approximately one in five people has an error on at least one of their three credit reports .
What to Look For:
- Accounts that don’t belong to you (possible identity theft)
- Duplicate accounts (the same debt listed multiple times)
- Incorrect payment statuses (a payment marked late when you paid on time)
- Old negative items that should have fallen off (most negative marks disappear after 7 years)
- Incorrect balances or credit limits
How to Dispute Errors:
If you find mistakes, file a dispute with the credit bureau that reported the error. You can do this online through each bureau’s website. According to the FDIC, you have the right to dispute any inaccuracies and receive a timely response .
If the error is confirmed, it will be removed, and your score can improve quickly—sometimes within 30-45 days .
Step 3: Understand What’s Actually in Your Score
Your credit score is calculated using five specific factors. Knowing their weights helps you prioritize your efforts :
| Factor | Weight | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Payment History | 35% | Whether you pay bills on time. This is the biggest factor by far |
| Credit Utilization | 30% | How much of your available credit you’re using |
| Length of Credit History | 15% | How long you’ve had credit accounts |
| Credit Mix | 10% | Having different types of credit |
| New Credit | 10% | Recent applications and hard inquiries |
Here’s what this means for you: your payment history and credit utilization alone account for 65% of your score. Focus your energy here first .
Step 4: Make On-Time Payments Your #1 Priority
Because payment history makes up 35% of your score, this is the single most powerful action you can take .
“Even one late payment that’s more than 30 days late can have a significant negative effect on your credit score,” according to research from Middle Tennessee State University .
How to Never Miss a Payment:
- Set up autopay for at least the minimum payment on all accounts. According to the FDIC, this is one of the most important things you can do to strengthen your credit score
- Change your due dates if many bills are due at the same time. Most creditors will work with you on this
- Set calendar reminders on your phone for all due dates
- If you’re concerned about missing a payment, call your creditor before it happens—they may have hardship options
What About Existing Late Payments?
If you already have late payments on your report:
- If you’re within 30 days: Pay immediately and ask the creditor not to report it. Many offer one-time courtesy adjustments
- If it’s already reported: Focus on building new positive history. The impact of old late payments diminishes over time as you add more on-time payments
Step 5: Lower Your Credit Utilization
Credit utilization makes up 30% of your score—the second most important factor. It measures how much of your available credit you’re using .
The 30% Rule:
The magic number to aim for is below 30% of your total available credit. For example, if you have $10,000 in total credit limits, try to keep your balances under $3,000 .
But here’s the secret: people with the highest credit scores often keep utilization in the low single digits—under 10% .
How to Lower Your Utilization:
- Pay down balances aggressively. Focus first on cards that are closest to their limits—they have the biggest impact on your score
- Make multiple payments each month. Credit card companies report your balance on the statement closing date, not the due date. Pay before that date to show a lower balance
- Don’t close old credit cards. Closing a card reduces your total available credit, which increases your utilization ratio
Step 6: Don’t Close Old Credit Cards
This is one of the most common well-intentioned mistakes that hurts credit scores .
Closing a credit card can damage your score in two ways:
- Increases your utilization ratio (you lose that card’s credit limit)
- Shortens your credit history (if it’s your oldest account)
Even if you’ve paid off a card and don’t use it anymore, keep it open. The FDIC specifically notes that “having a long credit history can help your credit score” .
If it has an annual fee: Call the issuer and ask to “product change” to a no-fee version rather than closing the account .
Step 7: Add Positive Credit History with the Right Tools
Once you’ve stabilized your existing accounts, it’s time to add new positive history. Several tools are specifically designed for people with low credit scores .
Option A: Secured Credit Card
A secured credit card requires a refundable cash deposit (typically $200-$500) that becomes your credit limit. Use it for small purchases and pay in full every month. The activity reports to all three bureaus, building positive history .
What to look for:
- $0 annual fee
- Reports to all three credit bureaus
- A path to “graduate” to an unsecured card after 6-12 months of responsible use
The Discover it® Secured Card is a good example—you can check prequalification online with zero credit impact .
Option B: Credit-Builder Loan
A credit-builder loan works in reverse: you make small monthly payments to a lender, and at the end of the term (usually 6-24 months), you receive the money. The payments are reported to credit bureaus, building your history with zero risk of going into debt .
Option C: Become an Authorized User
Ask a trusted family member or friend with good credit to add you as an authorized user on their credit card. The primary cardholder’s positive payment history and low utilization will appear on your credit report and can boost your score .
Warning: This only works if the primary cardholder has good habits. If they miss payments or run up high balances, your score can drop too .
Option D: Experian Boost
This free service adds utility, phone, and streaming service payments to your Experian credit file. People with poor credit may see an immediate increase to their FICO® Score when these on-time payments are added .
Step 8: Limit New Credit Applications
Every time you apply for credit, the lender performs a “hard inquiry” on your credit report. Each hard inquiry can temporarily lower your score by 5-10 points .
The exception: When shopping for mortgages or auto loans, multiple inquiries within a 14-45 day window count as a single inquiry .
How to Apply Smartly:
- Use prequalification tools that only use soft inquiries (no score impact) before applying
- Space applications 3-6 months apart
- Only apply for credit you actually need
Step 9: Address Negative Items Strategically
If you have accounts in collections or charge-offs on your report, ignoring them won’t make them go away .
What to Do:
- Review your reports to identify all negative items
- Contact creditors to negotiate payment plans. Some may agree to update the reporting status after a debt is settled
- Pay off or settle old debts when possible. Even if the record stays on your report, paying it off stops further damage
- Consider a debt consolidation loan if you have multiple high-interest debts. This can simplify payments and help you pay down balances faster
Step 10: Be Patient—This Takes Time
Here’s the reality check: credit repair doesn’t happen overnight. But with consistent effort, you can see meaningful improvement .
Realistic Timelines:
Real-World Example:
A borrower in the Dallas-Fort Worth area started with a 605 credit score. Six months later, after following the steps above, she qualified for a home loan with a 672 score—saving almost $200 a month on her mortgage payment. That’s $2,400 a year, and more than $70,000 over the life of a 30-year mortgage .
What NOT to Do (Avoid These Traps)
❌ Pay for “Credit Repair” Services
“Credit repair scammers often lure people with the false promise that they can easily remove your bad credit history in a short amount of time,” warns the FDIC. “But there are no quick and easy ways to remove credit problems on your record” .
You can dispute errors and improve your credit yourself for free. Never pay upfront fees to someone promising to “fix” your credit .
❌ Close Old Credit Cards
As mentioned above, this often hurts more than it helps .
❌ Apply for Multiple Cards at Once
Each application triggers a hard inquiry. Multiple inquiries in a short period can make you look financially desperate to lenders .
❌ Max Out Your Cards
Even if you pay in full each month, high balances reported on your statement date will hurt your utilization ratio. Pay before the statement closes .
Your 90-Day Action Plan
Week 1: Assessment
- Pull all three credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com
- Review every account for errors
- Calculate your current credit utilization
- Identify all late payments and negative items
Week 2: Immediate Corrections
- Dispute any errors you found
- Set up autopay on all accounts
- Make a plan to pay down high-balance cards
Week 3: Build Positive History
- If you don’t have active credit, apply for a secured card or credit-builder loan
- Ask a trusted family member about becoming an authorized user
- Set up Experian Boost
Week 4-8: Reduce Utilization
- Pay down credit card balances aggressively
- Make payments before statement closing dates
- Keep all accounts current
Week 9-12: Monitor Progress
- Check your credit score (many banks offer free access)
- Review credit reports again for any new errors
- Adjust your payoff plan as needed
The Bottom Line
Fixing a credit score under 600 is absolutely possible—but it requires patience, consistency, and a clear strategy. Focus on what matters most:
- Pay every bill on time (35% of your score)
- Keep credit utilization below 30% (30% of your score)
- Don’t close old accounts (protects your credit history)
- Add positive history with secured cards or authorized user status
- Be patient—meaningful improvement takes 6-12 months
Your credit score is a reflection of your habits, not your worth. With consistent effort, those habits—and your score—will change.