Helping my score

[RUSTY101]

Hello. My credit score with eq and tu (fico) is around 675. I do have 2 baddies, one to fall off in Feb, and the other in May. I have 3 store cards, but no bank or cu cards. My question is, would it be wise to apply after my report is clean, or now?

[llecs]

What's your most important goal? More or different CCs? Or a high FICO? You can hit the high 700s with what you have, minus the baddies but adding more time for age maybe. Adding new CCs will delay any goal of a high FICO but would set you up for the future.

[RobertEG]

I would secure a major bank card.

[RUSTY101]

Thank you both for your answers. If I have understood right, to have a high cs you need a bank card. With that said, I really just want the highest score I can have. When the 2 baddies( old collections) are gone, you are saying I could be in the high 700. That would be great, but would it be better if I could get a bank card? A new card would lower my avg age, but would I gain points say in a year?

[llecs]

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@RUSTY101 wrote:

Thank you both for your answers. If I have understood right, to have a high cs you need a bank card. With that said, I really just want the highest score I can have. When the 2 baddies( old collections) are gone, you are saying I could be in the high 700. That would be great, but would it be better if I could get a bank card? A new card would lower my avg age, but would I gain points say in a year?

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Guessing is never an exact science with regards to FICO scores, but if I had to guess, in the long run, a Visa/MC/Discover branded CC would help in the long run. In the short term, I would guess a loss in points. But after a year, you'll set yourself up to regain those points and maybe a little more. I would guess 20 gained over the next 2-3 years with all else being equal.