... / 90 Day Blueprint... / Quick-Win Fixes: Dispute Errors & Slash Utilization in 30 Days

A 2024 CFPB study found 1 in 5 consumers had at least one error serious enough to hurt a loan application.

• Hunt for duplicate accounts, wrong limits, phantom collections, and mis-dated late payments.
• Errors on open accounts hurt more than mistakes on closed ones.
• Business files often misreport your SIC/NAICS code, pushing you into a “riskier” industry category.

Action plan

1. Use the color-coding worksheet (download below) to flag red-alert errors first.
2. Compare the same item across all three bureaus; a mismatch is proof the error isn’t yours.
3. Grab screenshots of business-credit pages—bureaus rarely archive them for you.

A concise, evidence-backed letter beats any paid “credit-repair” service.

• Where to file
  • Personal: online portals at Equifax, Experian, TransUnion or certified mail.
  • Business: D-&-B iUpdate, Experian Business “Intelliscore Dispute,” Equifax Business dispute form.
• Include: creditor name, account number, the exact error, and what should replace it.
• Attach clear PDFs—bureaus reject screenshots alone.

Action plan

1. Download the ready-to-use dispute letter template here → Credit Dispute Letter Template (Google Doc).
2. Populate one letter per bureau; add supporting docs (receipts, statements, payoff letters).
3. Calendar a 35-day follow-up. If a bureau stalls, escalate to the CFPB.

Balances update monthly, so trimming utilization before the next statement date can move scores within weeks.

• Mid-cycle payment: Pay down the card 3-5 days before the statement closes.
• Temporary shuffle: Use a 0 % balance-transfer card to zero out high-APR cards, then repay during the promo.
• Utilization snowball: Attack the single card over 30 % first; the score model penalizes isolated high-use cards.

Action plan

1. List statement-closing dates for every revolving account (see tracker download).
2. Schedule auto-payments two days before each closing date.
3. Over Weeks 3–4, push each target card below 30 %—ideally under 10 %.

Higher limits lower utilization even if you pay nothing.

• Major issuers (AmEx, Capital One, Discover) allow soft-pull limit-increase requests every six months.
• If denied, move unused credit from another card with the same bank.
• Many business-card issuers skip hard pulls when raising limits on an EIN.

Action plan

1. Verify whether the request triggers a hard or soft inquiry.
2. Apply on cards already under 20 % utilization—banks favor low-risk profiles.
3. Confirm the new limit reports to bureaus on the next cycle.

Fixing errors and slashing utilization are the quickest legal ways to raise a credit score. Launch disputes now, trim balances before statements close, and explore soft-pull limit boosts. In 30–45 days you can turn credit headwinds into measurable score gains and cheaper financing.