Improving your credit score in Canada is mostly about two things: paying every bill on time (35% of your score) and keeping utilization low (30%). The remaining 35% — credit age, mix, and inquiries — moves slowly. Here's the realistic 60/90/180-day plan.
Pull both your Equifax and TransUnion reports
Free at consumer.equifax.ca and transunion.ca. Look for collections, late payments, or accounts you don't recognize.
Dispute every error
Online dispute at each bureau. They have 30 days to respond. A single removed late payment can lift your score 50+ points.
Pay every card down to under 30% utilization
Then aim for under 10% before the statement closes. This is the single fastest score lever.
Set autopay for the minimum on every account
Removes the risk of an accidental late payment torpedoing your score by 80–100 points.
Pay statement balance in full, before statement closes
Set a calendar reminder 3 days before each statement date. Pay the full balance to $0. Bureaus report $0, utilization shows as 0%.
Add one new card if your file is thin
Only if you have <2 cards. Pick a no-fee starter (Tangerine Money-Back, BMO CashBack). Improves your credit mix and total available credit.
Avoid all hard inquiries for 6+ months
No card applications, no mortgage pre-approvals, no car loan inquiries. Each hard pull drops 5–10 points.
Maintain on-time payments through 6 statement cycles
Six clean months of payment history is the threshold where bureaus start treating you as low-risk.
Let utilization stay below 10% for 3+ months
Sustained low utilization signals you're not credit-dependent. Score climbs steadily.
Pay any collections via 'pay for delete'
Negotiate in writing that the collector removes the entry from your file in exchange for full payment. Don't pay until you have it in writing.
Pull your score monthly to track progress
Use Borrowell or Credit Karma. Watch the trend, not the daily fluctuation. A 50–100 point lift over 6 months is realistic from Fair → Very Good.
A secured credit card uses a refundable deposit as your credit limit. The card reports to both bureaus exactly like an unsecured card — same impact on payment history and utilization, no downside.
Best Canadian options: Capital One Guaranteed Mastercard ($75 deposit min), Home Trust Secured Visa ($500 min, no annual fee), Plastk Secured ($300 min, points). Use it for one $20 purchase per week, autopay full balance. After 6 months, apply for an unsecured card and get your deposit back.
Track progress with our credit score estimator and check your real score free at Borrowell or your bank.