The 5-Page Checklist
The Royal Ruby
Credit Reset Checklist
A 90-day reset to take control of your credit — without gurus, gimmicks, or $997 courses.
By Dr. Herman Marigny III & the Royal Ruby Team
Page 01Know Your Starting Line
You can't fix what you can't see. Before you change one thing, you need the truth.
- Pull all three credit reports free at AnnualCreditReport.com (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion)
- Get your real FICO score (not VantageScore) — Experian.com offers it free
- Screenshot or save a PDF of each report — this is your Day 0 baseline
- Write down three numbers in a notebook: Current FICO score, Total revolving debt, Number of negative items
Why this matters: Most people guess at their credit. Guessing costs you thousands in interest. Knowing costs you nothing.
Page 02The Dispute Sweep
Credit bureaus legally have 30 days to verify disputed items. If they can't, it comes off.
- Highlight every account on every report
- Mark anything that's inaccurate, outdated (7+ years), unfamiliar, or paid but still showing a balance
- Dispute online through each bureau's portal OR mail certified letters (stronger paper trail)
- Track every dispute in a spreadsheet: date sent, item, bureau, expected response date
- Follow up at day 31 if no response — this is your leverage
Royal Ruby tip: One clean dispute round can move a score 20–60 points in 30 days. We've seen it in our community.
Page 03Crush Utilization
Credit utilization is 30% of your FICO score. This is the fastest legal lever you have.
- Calculate your current utilization: (total card balances) ÷ (total limits) × 100
- Target: under 30%. Elite target: under 10%
- Pay down the card with the highest utilization ratio first — not highest balance, ratio
- Request credit limit increases on cards you've had for 6+ months (no hard pull if you ask online)
- Pay before the statement closes, not just before the due date — that's when utilization reports
Why this works: Utilization resets every month. You can see score movement in 30 days without paying off debt entirely.
Page 04Build Positive History
Disputing removes damage. This step adds fuel.
- Become an authorized user on a family member's oldest, cleanest credit card
- Open a secured credit card if you have no active accounts — Capital One, Discover, or Self
- Set up autopay for one small recurring bill (Netflix, phone) on the new card
- Pay it off in full every month — never carry a balance
- Add rent reporting through Experian Boost or RentTrack if you rent
Real talk: You don't need 10 cards. You need 2–3 accounts reporting on time, every month, for 24+ months. That's what builds wealth.
Page 05The 90-Day System
Reset isn't a weekend. It's 90 days of small, consistent moves.
Week 1–2: Pages 1 & 2 — pull reports, start disputes
Week 3–4: Page 3 — utilization attack plan
Week 5–8: Follow up on disputes, open new positive account
Week 9–12: Review new reports, measure score movement, set next 90-day goal
- Put a recurring calendar reminder every Sunday: "Credit check-in — 10 minutes"
- Celebrate small wins — 10 points is a win
- Don't check daily. Check monthly. Obsession isn't strategy
Ready to go deeper?
The Ruby Starter Pack bundles this checklist with the full 90-day reset toolkit — budget builder, debt destroyer, and dispute letter templates. Dropping soon — join the waitlist and we'll email you the moment it's live.
Join the Starter Pack waitlist
This guide is educational and not legal or financial advice. Royal Ruby is not a credit repair company. You have the right to dispute inaccurate information on your credit reports for free under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 USC §1681i). If you need formal credit repair services, consult a HUD-approved housing counseling agency or a licensed attorney.