 TITLE: Can Paying off Collections Raise Your Credit Score? CONTENT: How to Improve Your Credit Scores After a Collection\n----------------------------------------------------\nThe good news about collection accounts on your credit reports? As they age, they count less toward your credit scores. And even while you have a collection or collections on your credit reports, there are many other ways to improve your credit scores.\nThe best way to start improving your credit score is to prevent new derogatory information from appearing on your credit reports. You can achieve this by making all of your debt payments on time, without exception. If your bills are paid on time, your debts will never go into default and there will never be a need for a debt collector to get involved.\nEnsuring that your credit card debt is as low as possible is another great way to improve your credit scores. Credit scoring models consider your credit utilization ratio, or amount of credit card balances relative to total credit limits, when calculating your scores. Maintaining low balances ensures a low utilization ratio, which can improve credit scores.\nFinally, don't apply for credit unless you need it. Each time you do so, the lender will likely pull one, if not more, of your credit reports. This will result in a hard inquiry on your reports, which can lower your scores temporarily. And while inquiries are the least influential factor in your credit scores, they can still be a red flag to lenders. END