I assume you have a history of late payments? Because it should help your score if you paid on time, even if it took a long time to pay things off.
You might try picking up one no-fee credit card and use it for small purchases, and pay it in full every month. A history of on-time payments in full will help you. But getting a new card will drop your score at first, so be aware of that.
Also, the length of your credit history is important. If you have a credit card account that you've had for years, don't close it, even though it is paid off (and even if you misused it for a while). Leave it open, but with no charges, or use it for your small purchases that you pay off in full every month.
Of course this requires discipline not to fall behind again.
The other radical answer is to only buy what you can afford, save for big purchases, and never borrow again. Then it doesn't matter what your score is.
