Also try opening a new credit card account; however, remember to keep your total revolving debt ratio to just 30% below your credit limit, so that you can rack up as much as 50 points to your credit score. Shop Around For Bad Credit Personal Loans The market for bad credit personal loans is on a high note these days. Pay Off Your Debt, And Pay On Time If you re starting to get stuck in a rising pile of debt, especially credit card debt, you can ask a family member to pay off the high interest first, and make arrangements with your family member to pay off what you owe in a month or so. Always make it a habit to pay on time, and according to most credit experts, paying your bills on time does wonders in getting a handsome credit score. Once you get a small business loan, learn to manage your debt. Always make it a point to make timely, as well as monthly, paytments to your lenders, so that your business credit profile remains active and maintains its high score. In addition, remember to keep your total debt ratio nothing more than 30%, since this will help lessen your businesses' overall debt exposure, and will ensure that you remain favorable in the eyes of prospective lenders. Credit monitoring services also cannot fully detect any fraudulent activity, because there are a number of details in your account which credit agencies are often not alerted, or notified about. - The problem with some credit monitoring agencies is that they charge fees which are unethically exorbitant. Today, a number of accredited credit bureaus gather and sell credit information, which are often stored in large databases, where prospective lenders, employers, insurers, government agencies, courts, and even landlords can easily open up and take a look at their client s files. An individual can also get his or her own credit report from major credit agencies like Experian, Equifax, TransUnion and other small companies that serve regional or local markets. Other loans and forms of credit also hurt your credit history, and may have serious effects on your financial health. Aside from credit card payments, other loans or bills like unpaid apartment rentals and medical bills can also hurt your overall credit score. Here are five ways to hurt your credit score.