How can I rebuild my credit score after clearing £10,000 of debt?

In the last year or two, I have cleared over £10,000 of credit card debt I had spiralled into over years of using the cards for non-essentials.

But my credit score is still poor - so much so I can barely face checking it.

Is there anything I can do to fast-track my score to rising to fair, good or even excellent territory?

I have done some of the things that are generally recommended, such as updating my address on the electoral register and making sure some utility bills are in my name.

I am worried that lenders will be put off by my score and that I will find it hard to get any future cards (which I would of course use more sensibly) or even buy a home.

Helen Kirrane of This is Money replies: Congratulations on being free of credit card debt. That is an achievement which requires a serious amount of discipline.

Credit scores are designed to help banks and lenders predict the likelihood that someone will miss a payment by at least 90 days, during the next 24 months.

Having a low credit score could prevent you from being able to take out any loans you may need and, in the worst case scenario, means you could miss out on important milestones such as borrowing to buy a home.

It's great that you want to take the next steps to build your credit score from the ground up, but it can be a daunting task.

We spoke to John Webb, consumer expert at credit agency Experian, and Andrew Hagger, director of personal finance website MoneyComms for advice on where to start.

John Webb replies: Firstly, congratulations on clearing your existing credit card debt. This is a significant achievement and will positively impact your financial health.

When you apply for credit in the future, lenders will not only look at your credit report but may also consider how much you can afford to borrow. They will also look at their own records, if you've banked with them recently.

They generate their own score based on this information, so clearing your debt could be beneficial, especially when it comes to affordability.

There are several factors that might explain why your credit score hasn't improved as expected.

If you've paid off the balances recently, it might take around four to six weeks for this to reflect on your credit report and positively impact your score.

Similarly, if you've recently registered on the electoral roll, this might not be showing yet but could positively affect your score once updated.

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It's also possible that as you cleared the credit card debt, and then closed those accounts, it may have lowered your credit score.

This is because credit reports look at the average age of your credit accounts - with a longer time considered better as it shows you can consistently borrow and pay it back.

To help remedy this, you may want to consider opening a 'credit builder' card (after checking your eligibility), using it minimally each month and paying it back in full. For example you could use it to spend less than £50 on a small food shop.

Building your credit score takes time and there isn't a quick fix. However, being registered on the electoral roll and having a current account is a good start.

Over time, building a history with accounts like gas and electricity, mobile phone contracts, or home TV and broadband could positively impact your score - just make sure they're paid on time each month.

If you had any difficulties with your previous credit cards, such as missed payments, these could have less impact over time. Especially if they are older than one year.

Andrew Hagger replies: Don't be afraid to check your report because of your low score – you're not alone in this sort of situation and it's positive that you want to take action to repair your credit record.

One of the best ways to improve your score is to prove that you can manage your existing credit – so use a credit card to pay for essentials that you'd normally buy, maybe fuel or travel costs or some food shopping, and repay your balance in full each month.

There's no quick fix, but if you ensure you are never late with a credit card repayment and use your card regularly, over time you will show that you're capable of managing your credit responsibly and your score will gradually improve.

Repeatedly opening new accounts in a short space of time could flag you as a risk to lenders, lowering your credit score and access to more and better offers.

It's important that you maintain your existing accounts well and only open accounts when you really need them.