Lots of wonderful information here --- I've spent days and hours reviewing and just created an user acct because now I'm overwhelmed with information and don't know what to do or where to start... I've requested my credit reports -- waiting on Experian to send in the mail because some of my online verification answers didn't check out.
I've listed items from my credit report below -- any advice on what to do to improve my score would be appreciative. I don't know if I should pay off the old debts for fear it may make my score go down. What to do with 'Closed Accts' and 'Collection Accts." They seem to be 2 different beasts to conquer -- do I treat them the same?
I did manage to get a $1,000 secured credit card from my credit union today -- should arrive in the mail in the next week or so... Do I just put charges up $90/month on it to stay under 9%. I make great money now and can put this card on auto-pay so I'm not late. Should I use the full $1K each month and pay off in full.
My credit sucked while trying to get a biz up and going and now the biz is finally doing well and paying a great income each month. I have lots of disposable cash to start paying these things down -- just need to understand how to best do it so my score increases while not doing anything to make it come down.
I'm considering getting a car -- my interest will be high but I can pay off in 12-months if that'll help my score... Any advice is sincerely appreciated. My brain is fried and just fearful of how to best start.
Thanks for your time!
Hippo
COLLECTIONS:
Law Offices of Crystal Mor
New City, NY
Date Reported: 02/2013
Date Assigned: 04/2012
Retail
Creditor Name: Globalinx 5 Linx Enterprises
Individual Acct
Original Amount Owned: $355
Date of 1st Delinquency 03/2009
Balance Date: 02/2013
Balanced Owned: $455
Status: In Collections
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Collection Bureau - FWB
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Date Reported: 03/2012
Date Assigned: 01/2012
Retail
Creditor Name: Asheford Institute of Antiques
Individual Acct
Original Amount Owned: $1085
Date of 1st Delinquency 06/2011
Balance Date: 03/2012
Balanced Owned: $1085
Status: In Collections
Note: The thing about this company is i never signed a contract. I purchased an online course and canceled 60 days in. Never knew it was a 12-month contract until I received a collection notice.
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Paragon Revenue Group
Concord, NC
Date Reported: 01/2011
Date Assigned: 03/2009
Medical/Healthcare
Creditor Name: Sanger Clinic
Individual Acct
Original Amount Owned: $285
Date of 1st Delinquency 12/2008
Balance Date: 01/2011
Balanced Owned: $285
Status: In Collections
===========
NCO Financial
Wilmington, DE
Date Reported: 05/2012
Date Assigned: 02/2009
Medical/Healthcare
Creditor Name: Medical-Carolina
Individual Acct
Original Amount Owned: $284
Date of 1st Delinquency 12/2008
Balanced Owned: $284
Status: In Collections
CLOSED ACCOUNTS LISTED BELOW
Account Recovery Co, Inc.
Woodstock, GA
Date Opened: 7/2008
Date Reported: 6/2013
Status: Charge-Off
High Credit: $25,917
Balance: $9,448
Comments: Voluntary Repossession
=============
Peoples Financial Corp
Canton, GA
Date Opened: 4/2011
Date Reported: 6/2012
Status: Charge-Off
High Credit: $12,913
Balance: $1,756
Comments: Charged-Off Acct
Repossion
============
Peoples Financial Corp
Canton, GA
Date Opened: 3/2011
Date Reported: 4/2011
Status: Charge-Off
High Credit: $13,842
Balance: $0
Activity Description: Paid and Closed
Date Colsed: 4/2011
Note: What happened here was i purchased bad car from shady dealer -- broke down 2 days after i got it. Took back and got into another car and they closed out this loan and put me in another loan (the one before this one -- they both seem to have the same acct number on my credit report --- one paid off and the other owed a balance).
==============
Public Service of North Carolina
Gastonia, NC
Status: Charge-Off
Date Opened: 11/2008
Date Reported: 7/2013
Balance: $530
Type of Loan: Utility Company
Comments: Charged off acct, closed by the credit grantor
JUDGEMENTS
ADN PROPERTIES (A house I was renting through the homeowner)
Amount: $5,364
Date Filed: 3/2010
Date Report: 5/2010
Type: Judgement
========
IDA, LLC (car loan company)
Amount: $6,053
Date Filed: 12/2009
Date Report: 1/2010
Type: Judgement
==========
Merchants Acceptance
Amount: $2,913
Date Filed: 5/2011
Date Report: 7/2011
Type: Judgement
Starting Score: [Experian: 487] [Equifax: 551]