@stepstep wrote:Hi all,
First time poster, but I have been lurking on these boards for a year or so on and off and have made some progress on my credit. It has been REALLY slow going, probably because I haven’t been doing much about the old baddies, but paid down over $9,000 in old debt since 6/2011.
These scores are pulled from Credit Check Total:
8/23/10 - EX – 502 EQ – 541 TU – 527
8/8/11 - EX – 577 EQ – 586 TU – 569
8/8/12 - EX – 584 EQ – 585 TU – 573
8/6/13 - EX – 594 EQ – 598 TU – 582
5/15/14 - EX – 607 EQ – 633 TU – 604
I started out rebuilding my credit 2.5 years ago with a Capital One credit card with a $300 limit (not secured) which recently was increased to $2,000. This has a high APR, but I rarely have more than $350 balance on it, if any. I was just recently approved for a Discover IT with $1,500 limit (also high APR) & October I was approved through Ford Credit for a car at 5.9%.
To start off I should say that I currently have the funds to PIF all my debts if I needed to. Not instantly, but within 24 - 48 hours could have the funds available in my account. I want to buy a house in the near future and have a small savings account in a bank for a down payment that I have limited access to. (Out of sight & access, out of mind, money doesn’t get spent on frivolous things.) I don’t know if it matters much to you all, but if you were wondering why I didn’t pay the bills with this money at the time they were due, this was a trust that I was recently given access to and $ was tied up until then.
Currently I am not worrying about the late payments that are on my report. I would like to start with paying off all derogatory items.
AMEX – Charge off $361, Paid in full 5/15/14.
This probably would have dropped off my credit by the end of the year, but I would like the opportunity to have an account with them in the future.
Good for you!
The Best Service Company – Collection $1,487
Due to a Bank of the West account that closed NSF. – 7/8/08 is when this went to NSF. I would like to pay them next.
Pay this off, it has about a year and a couple of months and it will be excluded.
Credit Coll – Collection $652
I am unsure what this debt is for.
Send a DV, if you agree with the debt, send a PFD.
I C System – Collection $252
I am unsure what this debt is for.
Send a DV, if you agree with the debt, send a PFD.
LVNV Funding – Debt Purchase $721
I am unsure what this debt is for.
Send a DV, if you agree with the debt, send a PFD.
Midland Fund – Debt Purchase $2,520
HSBC credit card. I do not know what the date of delinquency is. How do I find out? At any rate these people are horrible and they will be the last debt paid if I can help it.
Send a DV, if you agree with the debt, send a PFD.
Rash Curtis & Associates – Medical ~$490
I paid the Dr directly (December '13) & check is cleared.
Send a GW, it's paid!
I have read & searched the boards, but what is the proper way to find out what the 3 collection accounts original creditor is? I have read the sticky forms and see PFD & GW letters, but not sure what verification format to use. I am in California if that makes a difference.
Use the GWs as a guide, write your own. Make it short and sweet and dripping with kindness and forgiveness.
PFDs should be written the same way, a short story about why it went bad, then ask for them to delete if you pay.
I am a bit of a paperwork hoarder and know that once they told me the original creditor I will have a file on them.
Any advice on the best place to start would be much appreciated!
July 2013 score: EQ FICO 819, TU08 778, EX "806 lender pull 07/26/2013
Goal Score: All Scores 760+, Newest goal 800+
Take the myFICO Fitness Challenge
Current scores after adding $81K in CLs and 2 new cars since July 2013
EQ:809 TU 777 EX 790 Now it's just garden time!
June 2017 update: All scores over 820, just pure gardening now.