 TITLE: What to Do When You Max Out Your Credit Cards CONTENT: Rebuild Your Credit\n-------------------\nWhether this is the first time you've maxed out your credit cards or it's a common occurrence, you may notice your credit scores fluctuate along with your periods of heavy debt.\nIf your credit has suffered from maxing out your credit cards, it's a good idea to work toward rebuilding it so you don't have to deal with a poor credit score in the future. Here are a few tips on how to approach rebuilding your credit:\n*   **Find out where your credit stands.** You can get a free copy of your credit reports and FICO® Score☉ from Experian so you know exactly what is in your credit file.\n*   **Pay all your bills on time.** Maxed-out cards also often come with missed or late payments, as some people who are heavily reliant on credit might also have cash flow problems. Payment history is the most important factor in calculating your credit score, so paying your bills on time is a crucial step to improving your credit. Consider using bill pay to ensure you don't miss any payments.\n*   **Keep your credit utilization low.** As mentioned above, maxing out credit cards will spike your overall credit utilization ratio, one of the most important factors credit scoring models use to calculate your credit score. If you maxed out your credit cards, your credit utilization ratio would be 100%—more than three times the recommended ratio of under 30%. Keep paying down your credit card debt so you can lower your credit utilization ratio.\n*   **Check out Experian Boost™† .** This tool can help you increase your FICO® Score instantly by giving you credit for utility and telecom payments that you are already making.\nThe process of paying down your credit card debt and improving your credit takes time, so be patient and stick with your plan. But the money you'll save and the boost to your credit will be worth it. END