 TITLE: Can I Get an Unsecured Credit Card With a 500 Credit Score? CONTENT: How to Improve Your Score Before Applying for a Credit Card\n-----------------------------------------------------------\nImproving your credit can take time, but it's more than possible for those who are serious about turning things around. Getting a secured credit card or partnering with a cosigner can certainly help. Aside from that, there are other things you can do to increase your credit score over time. Consider doing the following:\n*   **Always pay your bills on time.** Your payment history makes up 35% of your FICO® Score. Getting in the habit of making timely payments is one of the most effective ways to improve your credit.\n*   **Pay down high balances on revolving accounts.** Remember, using more than 30% of your available credit can do harm on your scores. If you have credit accounts that are going unused, keeping them open can help you improve your overall utilization ratio, just be sure to keep an eye on them.\n*   **Be mindful of opening new accounts.** Having lots of recent credit applications and new accounts on your credit report can cause lenders to think you're a heightened lending risk.\n*   **Periodically check your credit report.** Experian lets you check your credit report and scores for free without affecting your credit score. Review your report carefully; if you spot information you believe to be inaccurate, dispute it right away. Having incorrect information removed could instantly increase your score. END