This article discusses ways to improve your credit score (also known as FICO score) in seven simple steps.
These are 7 "big picture" steps and you will need to drill-down into each on to fully complete the step.
Specifically, this article discusses how to remove negatives entries, also known as derogatory entries, on your credit report.
So if you know that your report contains negative entries and you want to learn the fastest and easiest way to have them removed, read on.
Before you start the process of repairing your score, you should obtain a copy of your credit report.
Everyone is entitled to one free copy of their credit report each year.
This report lists your overall payment history going back several years.
It will show late or missed credit card, payments mortgage payments, car loan or lease payments, etc.
It will also show current items that are up-to-date.

1. Get Incorrect Entries Fixed -- If there are obvious mistakes on your credit report and you are able to document these mistakes, you should make copies of all the appropriate documentation and send it off to the reporting agencies.
   If your documentation is accurate and proves your case, the items will be removed permanently.
   It's also important to keep all communications professional.
   Remember the credit reporting agencies keep records on literally millions of consumers.
   This is not personal at all.
   It is simply data in a computer that has been reported at some point.
   If you can prove that is incorrect, it will be removed.
    
2. Create a Budget -- If your credit report has been less than stellar, it probably got that went over a period of time.
   To avoid a repeat, it's important to create a budget for your family that you can live within so that all your bills can be paid in a timely manner.
    
3. Keep Your Credit Card Payments Up-to-Date -- If you have and use credit cards, you should try to keep the balance on those credit cards at one third or less of your overall credit limit.
   Carrying a balance above this for extended periods has a negative impact on your FICO score.
    
4. Don't Miss Payments -- It's extremely important not to miss payments on any sort of loans or credit cards you may have.
   The absolute worst thing you can do is miss or be late on a mortgage payment.
   A late or missed mortgage payment is a sign to the credit bureaus that you are in severe financial difficulty, since most people would consider having a roof over their heads a basic essential.
   A single missed mortgage payment (or even a late payment) has a dramatic impact on your credit score.
    
5. Don't Just Pay The Minimum Balance -- If at all possible, avoid just paying the minimum balance on your credit card every month.
   There may be times when that is all you can afford.
   That's ok, just try not to do each month after month.
   Making minimum payments also are usually just paying off the interest and not making much of a dent in your overall balance.
    
6. Don't Apply for Numerous Credit Cards - Try to avoid applying for many of them at the same time.
   This is a sign to the credit reporting agencies that you may be in some financial difficulty and are having trouble getting approved..
   In addition every inquiry made on your FICO report has a negative impact on your overall score.
   That's right, just the inquiry itself negatively impacts your score.
    
7. Keep Communication Professional and Open -- Always keep the lines of communication open between the credit reporting agencies, yourself, and companies that are reporting to the agencies open and professional.
   If you are not communicating with them, they don't know your situation.
   In most cases, if you simply make companies aware of your situation they will be willing to work with you to set up a payment plan that works within your budget.
   The have departments to deal with this issue alone.
   It is far less expensive for the company to continue receiving some sort of payment rather than no payment all.
   

Following these 7 simple steps of ways to improve your credit score and keep it clean.
Typically, people let their credit reports become "messy" over time and only take action when they realized that they can't get approved for a mortgage, car lease or loan, or a credit card.
If you take the time to review and correct your report once per year you  will be well on your way to leaving credit worries behind.