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Fixitquick's credit repair journal

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fixitquick
Contributor

Fixitquick's credit repair journal

** Sorry in advance for the long read - my sincere thanks if you read it and have input! **

 

In order to keep track and hopefully get some good feedback, I wanted to start a log.  If this is against any terms or whatnot, feel free to delete, but I saw that others had done it and received great tips, so hopefully it'll be OK.

 

Let me start by saying that like a lot of others that I've read about on here, I got into credit trouble while in my early/mid 20's.  Now that I'm approaching my 30's (within a couple of months), I want to get this stuff straightened out as much as possible, as quickly as possible - even though I know that many of my negatives will just require time, discipline, and patience.  I have job security, make pretty good money, and would like to someday own my own home (18-24 months, or less).  I know that I need to make signficant improvement before I can even consider this.

 

I've been avoiding my credit scores for several years.  I've known by the rejections that my scores wouldn't be great...not to mention the sub-prime financing that I received on my car, almost 2 years ago (which I would also like to refinance, depending on timeframe to improve credit scores).

 

Regardless, I've started diving into this mess and would appreciate any insight that any of you can provide.

 

I requested all 3 "free" credit reports and paid for my TU & EQ reports via myfico.com - all on 8/22.

 

I begin my journey with the following:

 

TU: 510 -  18 account, 15 derogatory; 105% utilization

EQ: 512 - 19 accounts, 16 derogatory; 122% utilization

 

** Updated on 02/11/13 - see page 4

 

Again, if you've made it this far, you have no idea how much I appreciate your time.  Any suggestions, particularly on how I should attack any of the baddies that are questionable?  

 

THANK YOU!!!!


Starting Score (08/22/11): TU: 510 / EQ: 512
Current Score 07/11/14 TU: 658 / 07/11/14 EQ: 669 / 07/14/14 EX: 664
Goal Score: 720+ across the board!


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Message 1 of 56
55 REPLIES 55
RobertEG
Legendary Contributor

Re: Fixitquick's credit repair journal

Some general observations that apply to many of the listed items.

Payment or non-payment of debt does not affect FICO scoring.  FICO scores the derogs and delinquencies that occur along the way.  It does not care, in its scoring algorithm, if a debt remains unpaid, was settled for less than the full amount, or paid in full.  Those various debt status designations matter a whole lot to prospective creditors, and could lead to additional derogs reporting, but debt status is simply not a FICO concern.

So your focus, for credit scoring purposes, needs to be on getting removal of the derogs and delinquencies themselves.  Unpaid debt gives you the incentive to them to report deletion of the information in return for your payment of the debt.  Some will bit on this, while others wont.

Apart from that, if the information is accurate, you are left only with good-will requests for earlier removal, or waiting for their CR exlcusion period to cause their removal due to their own old age.  GW requests will almost summarily be trashed unless the debt has first been paid.

Message 2 of 56
fixitquick
Contributor

Re: Fixitquick's credit repair journal

UP from 512 to 531 in a month.

Only thing that appears to have changed is my utilization is now slightly lower. Paid off Midland - although it's got a $0 balance, it's still reporting as 120+, so hopefully that'll get updated soon or I'll be contacting them. Going to try a GW one of these days also.

Hoping to have AMEX paid by the end of next summer - the FICO simulator says I should be in the 650-690 range once my balances reach $0. At that time, I'll tweak my scores until I'm 700+ and finally start thinking about purchasing a home.

Starting Score (08/22/11): TU: 510 / EQ: 512
Current Score 07/11/14 TU: 658 / 07/11/14 EQ: 669 / 07/14/14 EX: 664
Goal Score: 720+ across the board!


Take the FICO Fitness Challenge
Message 3 of 56
fixitquick
Contributor

Re: Fixitquick's credit repair journal

Got my ScoreWatch notification today - my 19 point increase was definitely due to Midland reporting a $0 balance vs the $850 balance.

 

Also, hadn't received a response to my PFD letter to a collection agency assigned to handle a small medical bill ($76), so I called them today.  Turns out that they seem to be a pretty small company and the lady was VERY helpful.  

 

She gave me the appropriate contact for their compliance department - turns out that they still had an old address on file, so there's a legit reason for them to delete once it's paid in full.  

 

I emailed and am just waiting on a response.  

 

Hopefully that'll be one more that'll be gone next month.  I've got lots of work to do, but it's nice to make some progress!


Starting Score (08/22/11): TU: 510 / EQ: 512
Current Score 07/11/14 TU: 658 / 07/11/14 EQ: 669 / 07/14/14 EX: 664
Goal Score: 720+ across the board!


Take the FICO Fitness Challenge
Message 4 of 56
AndySoCal
Valued Contributor

Re: Fixitquick's credit repair journal

With the AMEX account it is lowering your score for two reasons. The first reason is that status of the account and the second reason is the balance is over the limit. Have you tried to work out a payment schedule with AMEX to pay it off in full? Also, on the OPTIMA offer see if they will backdate the date open to 10/2000. I have read other posts of AMEX doing this.   If they will I would take them up on their offer.

FICO Scores XPN v8 802 V2 831 (SDFCU) TUC 803 v8 EFX 807 (10/2023)
Discover 09/90 19,000, JCPenney 10/2008 4,700 US Bank Cash+ 12,000 Citibank Custom Cash 5/2015 11,100 C State Dept. FCU 15,000 06/2023 , 02/2024 Redstone FCU Signature VISA 10,000 Banking: Ally Bank Credit Unions: Lafayette FCU Quorum FCU State Department FCU State Department FCU Pelican State CU Redstone FCU

Message 5 of 56
fixitquick
Contributor

Re: Fixitquick's credit repair journal

Thanks for your input.

 

I have worked with AMEX and actually have the second payment coming out today.  Although the balance is lofty, I work in a salary + commission job, so I'm trying to dedicate 100% of my commission to paying off AMEX.  Hopefully will be by the end of next summer, if not sooner.

 

As the balance gets closer to $0, I will work with them on backdating the new Optima.  Thanks for this idea - that would probably help me tremendously.


Starting Score (08/22/11): TU: 510 / EQ: 512
Current Score 07/11/14 TU: 658 / 07/11/14 EQ: 669 / 07/14/14 EX: 664
Goal Score: 720+ across the board!


Take the FICO Fitness Challenge
Message 6 of 56
p-
Valued Contributor

Re: Fixitquick's credit repair journal


@fixitquick wrote:

... In order to keep track and hopefully get some good feedback, I wanted to start a log.  If this is against any terms or whatnot, feel free to delete, but I saw that others had done it and received great tips, so hopefully it'll be OK....



Doing a log worked well for me.  Not only did I get lots of good feedback, but I also was able to look back over my notes and remember what I did.

 

Good luck!  

Message 7 of 56
fixitquick
Contributor

Re: Fixitquick's credit repair journal

Just got a score watch alert that my score went up to 566!  Not buying my report again until the end of the month, but I'm pretty sure that it's a result from the medical collection dropping off - got them to agree to a PFD.

 

My new Capitalone Secured may be reporting also.

 

Will find out for sure in a few weeks!

 

Regardless, up 56 points since 8/22!!!  Lots of work to go, but it's nice to make progress.


Starting Score (08/22/11): TU: 510 / EQ: 512
Current Score 07/11/14 TU: 658 / 07/11/14 EQ: 669 / 07/14/14 EX: 664
Goal Score: 720+ across the board!


Take the FICO Fitness Challenge
Message 8 of 56
Booner72
Senior Contributor

Re: Fixitquick's credit repair journal

Hi, Fixit.  Might I suggest? - Since you are needing to know what's going on w/ your reports, it might be helpful to have a credit monitoring service that allows you to update your reports every day (see EQ/TU/EX).

 

When I was ramant on the rebuild I was using freecreditscore to see EX -- True Credit to see TU -- and SW for EQ which led me to pay for 2-3 SW reports each month to see why the score changed.

 

There are lots of options out there to get a 3-in-1 daily puller - EliminateIDTheft is what I am using now because it's the cheapest FOR ME, as I can pull mine and DH's for 17.95 a month.  I think it's 12.95 a month for just one person.  This will alleviate any need you might have to pull an EQ report due to a SW alert, and the bonus is you get the other two reports along with it.

 

The CMS guide here is a good thread to read here that can guide you to your best bet if you do decide to invest.

 

Good luck! 

STARTING: 11/24/10 EQ-584 EXP-648 TU04-595
CLOSED FIRST HOME 8/19/11 EQ-630 EXP-691 TU04-653
CURRENT: EQ-701 EXP-??? TU08-720
Message 9 of 56
fixitquick
Contributor

Re: Fixitquick's credit repair journal

EX score is still sitting at 566 as of 10/17.

 

I sent a huge batch of GW letters, so hopefully I can make a little progress there to work to push my score ever closer to the 600 mark.

 

The good news is that Fico now categorizes my credit profile as "NOT GOOD" as opposed to "BAD".  Smiley Happy

 

My new Capital One secured card reported for the first time on 10/01/11, so I hope to benefit from perfect payment history (and as low of utilization as possible) over the next 6+ months.

 

Thanks for reading!


Starting Score (08/22/11): TU: 510 / EQ: 512
Current Score 07/11/14 TU: 658 / 07/11/14 EQ: 669 / 07/14/14 EX: 664
Goal Score: 720+ across the board!


Take the FICO Fitness Challenge
Message 10 of 56
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