Is your credit score playing a frustrating game of freeze tag? You’ve worked hard, paid your bills on time, and maybe even cut down on debt—but your credit score just refuses to budge. I get it. When you feel like you’re doing everything right, but your credit score stays stuck, it can be incredibly discouraging.
What many people don’t realize is that there’s a whole lot more going on behind the scenes of your credit score than just timely payments and low debt.
In this guide, we’re going to dig into the often overlooked reasons your credit score might be stuck in place and (more importantly!) how you can fix it. Ready to finally get that number moving?
First things first: credit scores aren’t random. They are based on specific data points that determine how "creditworthy" you appear to lenders. This score can affect everything from your ability to get a mortgage to the interest rates you pay on a car loan.
To get things moving, we need to understand how the score is calculated and what could be holding it back.
Credit bureaus like Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion use the following data points to calculate your score:
While you might be familiar with these basics, some deeper, hidden factors could be playing a significant role in why your score is stuck. Let’s get into the details and uncover the less obvious reasons that are keeping your credit score stagnant.
Most people know that using too much of your available credit can hurt your score, but the threshold for what’s considered "too much" might be lower than you think.
Many people assume that keeping credit utilization under 30% is good enough. And while that’s true for a fair score, to really boost your score, the sweet spot is actually under 10%.
Think about it like this: The lower your credit utilization, the more financial breathing room you appear to have. Lenders love seeing that you have access to credit but don’t rely on it heavily.
If you’re consistently using above 30%, even if you’re paying off the balance each month, your credit score could stay stuck because you’re being seen as too reliant on available credit.
Even if you’ve had a credit card for several years, your credit history could still be considered “thin.” A thin credit file means you don’t have enough diverse credit accounts or a long enough history for the credit bureaus to get a full picture of your creditworthiness. This could be especially true if you only have one or two credit cards and no loans.
Here’s why this matters: Creditors and bureaus look for variety. They want to see that you can handle multiple types of credit responsibly, whether that’s credit cards, installment loans, or a mortgage.
Without enough diversity, your credit profile lacks depth, which makes you a more uncertain bet for lenders.
If your credit score is stuck, it could be because your credit report contains errors. Believe it or not, mistakes on credit reports are more common than you’d think.
These could include incorrect balances, accounts that aren’t yours, or late payments that should have been removed. Errors can drag your score down, sometimes significantly, without you even realizing it.
For example, a delinquent account that should have been removed years ago could still be hanging around, silently keeping your score low. Or maybe an account you closed is still listed as active, impacting your credit utilization rate.
Did you know that every time you apply for a credit card, auto loan, or mortgage, a “hard inquiry” is made on your credit report?
While one or two inquiries won’t do much damage, multiple hard inquiries in a short period can hurt your score. Why? Multiple inquiries make it look like you’re desperate for credit, which can be a red flag for lenders.
This effect is temporary — inquiries only affect your score for about a year — but they stay on your report for two years. If you’ve applied for several credit cards or loans recently, this could be contributing to your stuck score.
It’s important to understand that credit scores don’t update in real time, and sometimes the improvements you’re expecting just need a little more time. If your credit report contains negative marks like late payments or collections, those items can take months or even years to fade from your report.
A late payment can stay on your credit report for up to seven years, even if you’ve since made every payment on time. Collections and charge-offs can linger for a long time, too. The good news? As these negative items age, their impact on your score lessens. But if you’re expecting a quick turnaround, this can feel like forever.
You might think that closing an old, unused credit card would help your score by simplifying your finances. But in reality, closing an account can lower your credit score in two key ways.
First, it shortens the length of your credit history, which makes up 15% of your score. Second, it reduces your available credit, which can increase your credit utilization ratio.
Even if you’re not using a card, keeping it open can benefit your score by maintaining your credit history and giving you more available credit.
Once you’ve identified the reasons your credit score might be stuck, it’s time to talk about the long game. Quick fixes are great, but building and maintaining a healthy credit score takes consistent effort over time. The goal is to establish habits that keep your financial profile strong for the long haul.
If your credit score feels stuck, don’t stress—this happens to a lot of people, and it doesn’t mean you’re doomed. Often, it’s the little-known factors or hidden obstacles that are causing the stall.
By uncovering these issues, whether it’s your credit utilization ratio, errors on your report, or simply waiting for negative marks to age off, you can take control of your financial future. Remember, patience is key, but with the right strategies and a proactive mindset, you’ll start to see that score rise.
