Rapid rescore

Only a lender can request one, usually during a mortgage application. You give the loan officer proof, such as a statement showing a card paid down or a letter confirming an error was fixed, and the lender submits it to the bureaus. Experian says it's often completed within two to five days, and Equifax says three to five business days, depending on your situation.

A rescore can't change accurate negative information or create new history; it only speeds up an update that would have arrived anyway. It's most useful when a paydown would move your middle score across a pricing band or a program minimum. Ask the loan officer to estimate the effect first, since you're paying down real money to change a number.