My score was 511 in december last year since then i have not missed a payment and my score went up to 608 but i was paying out over 500£ per month so i consolidated all my debt into 1 loan and payed off all my 6 accounts do you think this will bring my score up?? Also i have cleared the balance of a store card should i keep it open and use it now and again and clear it in full every month or just close it?? P Thank you in advace.

Tips for Increasing Your Credit Score :

Get a Copy of Your Credit Reports. Find out what exactly the three major credit bureas (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) have recorded in your credit history. Under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, everyone is entitled to one free credit report a year from the three major credit bureaus. Not every bureau will necessarily have the same information, and because of that it's more than likely that each of the credit reports differs slightly. It's very worthwhile to request a report from each of the credit bureaus, and examine each of them individually.

Examine Your Credit Report Carefully. Virtually every consumer will have at least one error on a report from a major credit bureau. The major credit bureaus generate your credit report based on the information reported to them. They don't verify the information, so it is imperative that you perform your own checks regularly. Note any inaccuracies you may see.
In addition to inaccurate negative information, we would advise noting any inaccurate personal information as well, such as outdated addresses, employers or maiden names. With identity thieves on the prowl for information that they can use to craft a new identity, it is highly advisable to keep all personal information on your credit report to a minimum and current as possible.

Dispute and Document. Complete a dispute form (one may be provided with your credit report) or write a letter to the credit bureau in question. If a credit bureau is reporting inaccurate, incorrect, erroneous, misleading or outdated information, by law the credit bureau must remove the information upon investigation.

In your report or letter, you don't need to get fancy, but you do need to be clear about what you are disputing and why you are disputing it. Clearly identify each mistake, and address each item individually. An easy way is to send a photocopy of your credit report with each mistake circled, along with any supporting documents you may have.

Make sure you retain a copy of all forms, letters and supporting documents that you send to the credit bureau, and a record of when it was sent, such as a certificate of mailing or other receipt. The credit bureau must investigate any relevant dispute within 30 days of receipt of your letter. Any item that is not verified as accurate must be deleted from your record.

Note that under the FRCA, even if you receive a notice that the disputed item has been verified as accurate, you can request the method of verification. The credit bureau must give you this information within 15 days of request.

Patience. If the negative information on your report is accurate and verifiable, time and the conscientious use of credit may be the most effective weapons. Late payments and charged-off accounts roll off of your report after seven years, and bankruptcies after ten. Creditors look at your pattern of payments as well as one-time occurrences, so keep in mind a good pattern of payment can make a positive impact on those blemishes.

The government has put pressure on banks and lenders to tighten the criteria for lending anyway. I personally wouldn't cancel my store card but if I did use it I'd make sure it was paid off in full if possible each month, this helps with you credit score. Good for you endeavouring to get out of the debt rat race. Hope this helps