"just pay your credit card bill on time and your score will go up" no mf call your credit card company right now and threaten to leave. they'll hand you hundreds to thousands in savings in 15 minutes you're paying 25.24% APR, a $95 annual fee, and getting 1% cashback on a card you've had for 3 years (that APR went up a quarter point this week btw. the Fed hiked, your rate is pegged to it, and they don't have to send you a letter) meanwhile banks are spending $300-$500 to acquire each new customer you're sitting on real negotiating leverage and you're not using it the breakup call script: call the number on the back of your card. say: "I'm considering closing this account. I've received better offers from other banks and I'd like to know what you can do to retain me as a customer before I make my decision" they'll transfer you to the retention department. these people have a budget to keep you. they can do things regular reps can't: - waive your annual fee (save $95-$895/year) - lower your APR (average cut is about 6 points according to LendingTree) - add bonus points or cashback as a retention offer - wipe late fees from the past 12 months - upgrade your card to a better tier for free the success rates are insane. according to LendingTree surveys: - 76% of people who asked for a lower APR got one - 93% who asked for a waived or reduced annual fee got it - 81% who asked for a late fee removal got it the negotiation, in this order: "what's the best APR you can offer me?" if they say 19.99%, say "I have offers at 15.99% from [competitor]. can you match or beat that?" they usually come down another 2-3 points "can you waive my annual fee this year?" if they say no: "I've been a customer for [X] years and I'm looking at [competitor card] with no annual fee. I'd rather not close my oldest account but I can't justify the fee" "I noticed a late fee from [month]. I've been a reliable customer for [X] years. can you reverse that as a courtesy?" "are there any retention offers available on my account?" this is where the 10,000-30,000 bonus points come out just for asking the line that finds money when they say no: "I understand. can you note on my account that I asked, and transfer me to someone who can close it?" what you can realistically save per card: annual fee waived: $95-$895 APR cut on a $5,000 balance: $250-$750/year late fees reversed: $29-$40 each retention bonus: worth $100-$300 do this for every card you have. most people have 3-4 and if they won't budge? move the balance to a 0% transfer card and leave the old card open at $0. keeps your account age, kills their interest. you weren't bluffing. you were negotiating one call. 15 minutes. real money back in your pocket you've been overpaying because you never asked them to stop (if you need to fix bad credit to get the 0% transfer cards and the top cc offers, link in bio. 30-90 days)