Every year about this time I pull what scores I can to see if I am making progress to getting my scores up to a reasonable level. 700 would be nice, but I think I could live with a 680 or so. Every year, I tell myself, I'm going to buy a house in the spring. All year long I pay my bills ontime (there is not a late payment anywhere on my report), wait for some old baddies to fall off (I have 2 - they are 6.5 years old now), and make more than the minimum payments.
And every year my FICO remains flat. How flat?
That flat. I'm not sure what else I can do. I paid off an auto loan this year - also paid off 2 consumer finance loans. I now know these HURT a score - I was told originaly they were a good way to re-establish!!
I do have a judgement on my report that is about 4 years old (I think). I have 3 credit cards with a balance totaling less than $1500 (all 3 combined). Yes - my utilization is high. Really high - 92%. I would pay them all off (almost) right now, but according to Score Simulator that would barely budge my score. My total length of credit is 4 years, 5 months - so I know that is low.
Any suggestions?
What is your score?
If you don't have an open installment loan that hurts your credit mix, and I believe weighs heavier on your revolving. If you're at 92% UTIL, and revolving is the only type of credit you have open...that's not a pretty picture. Pay down your util <30% at least, <9% ideally. Your score will skyrocket.
I agree that you will likely see a huge boost by paying down your Credit Cards to less than 9% utilization. From there, your scores may jump into the 640 catagory to qualify you for an FHA mortgage.
Also, check out a secured loan from a credit union. Having an installment loan can increase your "mix" of credit, which can boost your scores by 10 pts or more.
Also, check with your courthouse docket to see if your case (judgment) was dismissed after your judgment was settled. (Mine was and I didn't know it for 2 years!)
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I'm not sure if this will help or not, but this is pretty much everything:
| Capital One Bank Usa Na | 1/2012 | $691 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | Details | |
 Credit One Bank | 2/2009 | $554 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | Details | |
| First Premier | 10/2009 | $220 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | Details | |
 Dollar Loan Center | 8/2012 | $991 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | Details | |
| Maverick Finance | 9/2011 | $0 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | Details | |
| Dollar Loan Center | 3/2012 | $0 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | Details | |
| Dollar Loan Center | 10/2011 | $0 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | Details | |
| Dollar Loan Center | 5/2011 | $0 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | Details | |
| Maverick Finance | 5/2011 | $0 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | Details | |
| Maverick Finance | 5/2010 | $0 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | Details | |
| Maverick Finance | 2/2010 | $0 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | Details | |
| Maverick Finance | 9/2009 | $0 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | Details | |
| Maverick Finance | 6/2009 | $0 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | Details | |
| Maverick Finance | 11/2008 | $0 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | Details | |
| Maverick Finance | 6/2008 | $0 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | Details | |
 Nationwide Neveda | 11/2008 | $0 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | Details |
| Ntl Bus Fctr |
| $135 |
| $177 |
| Jun 27, 2006 |
| Med1 02 Remsa Ground Ambulance |
| XXXXXX |
| Individual |
| Placed for collection |
| Ntl Bus Fctr |
| $800 |
| $1,055 |
| Jun 02, 2006 |
| Med1 02 Remsa Ground Ambulance |
| XXXXXX |
| Individual |
| Placed for collection |
| Civil judgement |
| C2007042719 |
| Apr 18, 2008 |
| Apr 18, 2008 |
| $1,247 |
| Asset Acceptance Corpo |
| Individual |
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