Just checked my TU FICO and I am officially at 680!! 
(and thats with my CC reporting at 40% Util - it is already at 9% util but we are just waiting for them to report it to the CRAs).
Fromt my previous FICO pull, I had a 600 CS. I had 10 accounts with "little red flags"/negative indicators when I checked on 12/3/2012. Now I have only THREE (one expected to be removed in 30-60 days). I had usage at 94% percent now I'm at 40%. I had two repaid collections reporting, now I have ONE.
All because of the excellent advice that I received here! I'm moving on up.... Excited to get my alert when the CRAs hear that my util has dropped so much.
Now its time to update my siggy Thanks everyone
Starting Score: 526 EXP 09/2012 600 FICO 10/2012 608 EX (lenderpull)11/2012 
Congrats!!! So exciting
Starting Score: 529
Now that's progress! Congrats!
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.
Congrats! Get those last baddies off you can do it!
Dmp3566-- it's been a rough road with some late nights but here's what I did :
1. Read read read -- I read so many posts on here. I mean, the new, the old, the ignored 1 post threads, the crowded 38 page thread. I literally researched every concern I could ever imagine by using the search box .
2. Posted in Rebuilding, Auto Loans, & credit cards sections for advice . Took the sound advice of some vets and stayed very persistent !
3. Invested in a few boxes of envelopes, 5 rolls of stamps, a binder, and printer ink. For my GW Letters -- no PFD deals for me personally but I did have success with my hubby for 2 PFDs w/ CAs.
- I send at least 4-5 letters out each week day to different addresses of the same company. I email all of the contacts that I can find from the forums, google, other boards, etc
- file all letters & correspondence in my binder (dividers denote creditors name) to make sure that I keep track of incoming & outgoing messages.
4. Use my lunch break 2-3 days a week to harass-- I mean follow up (;-) ) on recent correspondence with phone calls.
5. Paid my emergency fund an amount equal to 2 months of expenses so that i can stop using my CC. On top of the one month that I had in there, so now I have 3 months set aside for my "just in case" situations. And paid my current util down - no holidays for my house -- all of my bonus money/holiday money, etc went to my emergency fund & current revolvers . I had NO idea before coming to the forums about how much current utilization factored into an individuals credit score . I thought that as long as I wasn't late, everything was great, regardless of the balance! Shame on me ....
6. And lastly, I disputed all incorrect items on my CRs to ensure accurate records .
I only wish that I had been in the forums sooner! Then I would've DV'ed and PFD'ed my way out of this financial mess I've made ... But c'est la vie ! What matters is that I'm doing it now and I will continue to be more proactive in caring for my financial state & CS.
It's all possible - u can do it!
(On my phone / excuse the typos )
1. Read read read -- I read so many posts on here. I mean, the new, the old, the ignored 1 post threads, the crowded 38 page thread. I literally researched every concern I could ever imagine by using the search box .
2. Posted in Rebuilding, Auto Loans, & credit cards sections for advice . Took the sound advice of some vets and stayed very persistent !
3. Invested in a few boxes of envelopes, 5 rolls of stamps, a binder, and printer ink. For my GW Letters -- no PFD deals for me personally but I did have success with my hubby for 2 PFDs w/ CAs.
- I send at least 4-5 letters out each week day to different addresses of the same company. I email all of the contacts that I can find from the forums, google, other boards, etc
- file all letters & correspondence in my binder (dividers denote creditors name) to make sure that I keep track of incoming & outgoing messages.
4. Use my lunch break 2-3 days a week to harass-- I mean follow up (;-) ) on recent correspondence with phone calls.
5. Paid my emergency fund an amount equal to 2 months of expenses so that i can stop using my CC. On top of the one month that I had in there, so now I have 3 months set aside for my "just in case" situations. And paid my current util down - no holidays for my house -- all of my bonus money/holiday money, etc went to my emergency fund & current revolvers . I had NO idea before coming to the forums about how much current utilization factored into an individuals credit score . I thought that as long as I wasn't late, everything was great, regardless of the balance! Shame on me ....
6. And lastly, I disputed all incorrect items on my CRs to ensure accurate records .
I only wish that I had been in the forums sooner! Then I would've DV'ed and PFD'ed my way out of this financial mess I've made ... But c'est la vie ! What matters is that I'm doing it now and I will continue to be more proactive in caring for my financial state & CS.
It's all possible - u can do it!
(On my phone / excuse the typos )
@annielorie wrote:Congrats! Get those last baddies off you can do it!
Thanks! I sure will keep trying!
I'm thinking that I should open 2 new positive tradelines next month since Im already applying for an auto re-fi, but I dont want to hurt my AAoA..Its a dilemma, but I am glad that I feel better about my chances of approval at some places. 680 isnt where I wanna be forever by any means, but it was my goal for 2013 and I've already met it and it's only January!