Many people are wondering how they can improve their credit score. Once a credit rating drops, it is difficult to bring it back up. Not impossible, but difficult. Basically, there are two ways to improve a credit score. A person can make arrangements with the creditors themselves or through a credit consumer counseling agency. Dealing with the creditors yourself will have various outcomes. Letting the credit counselor handle it means that you repay your creditors (under different terms, normally) in 3-5 years. A creditor is under no obligation to work with individuals or consumer credit agencies. The other option is bankruptcy. With chapter 7 most debts are wiped out and the creditors cannot contact you. There are some limitations that cannot be erased such as back taxes, alimony and child support. There are other types of bankruptcy as well but chapter 7 wipes the slate clean for the most part. A credit score is affected by bankruptcy, but not always negatively and not forever. When anyone wants a better credit score, they need to erase or resolve previous debts. Talking to a bankruptcy attorney or visiting with a consumer credit counselor can help clarify how each of them could possibly help improve a credit score.