Trying to get my credit back in order - Feedback is welcome!

[DigitalDybbuk]

So far I am trying to get my credit back in order.

Experian: 686

TransUnion: 649

Equifax: 675

Currently, I have the following cards:

Best Buy (HSBC) - $600

CapitalOne - $500

Amazon.com (Chase) - $700 (This is a joint account with my brother)

ExxonMobile Personal - $400 - I recently got this for Gas purchases, I spend about $300 a month in Gas

Here is my question: I have very low limits on my cards, so I decided to get a Bank of America SecureCard, and I will deposit $1000

Is this the way to go? How else can I raise my credit score?

I paid all of my debts most of my cards have $0 balances. I do have a CitiFinancial account that was negative but I had paid it off years ago.

I also noticed that some of the credit bureaus think I am using too much of my credit but that seems to be old information because I paid off

all my cards recently.

What should I do? What is the next step.

[annielorie]

Hi there 2 things what is your AAOA 2. Even though you oay your cards down to zero each month when is your CC reporting usually its within 2-4 days of statement being cut.  Also if you find out this date and make sure you pay your balance before it posts they will then report 0 Balance but you should keep one card with 9% utilization or less that will also give you a boost! Citi financial still reporting?  If so and you oaid them you can sent a GW letter to have them delete that will also give you a boost if that is your only derog. item on your reports

[DigitalDybbuk]

I've never written a GW letter... how do I know where to send it?

Should I call them? Who do I write the GW letter to?

Should I apply for any more cards or am I good with what I have?

Thanks!

[Repo-ed]

Where did you get your credit scores from?

[FrugalRican]

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@DigitalDybbuk wrote:

Amazon.com (Chase) - $700 (This is a joint account with my brother)

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I'm pretty sure everyone else will give you great ideas/hints, but I just wanted to touch base on this.

You REALLY need to a keep a close eye on that Amazon.com card.

Because you might see a day where you need a higher FICO score and the day before the statement date, your brother might decide to make a purchase and it'll throw your score off. You really need to monitor this one closely, specially if it is a joint and he has a card.

I'm not saying you shouldn't trust him, I'm just saying, you need to monitor it.

[Repo-ed]

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@FrugalRican wrote:

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@DigitalDybbuk wrote:

Amazon.com (Chase) - $700 (This is a joint account with my brother)

---

I'm pretty sure everyone else will give you great ideas/hints, but I just wanted to touch base on this.

You REALLY need to a keep a close eye on that Amazon.com card.

Because you might see a day where you need a higher FICO score and the day before the statement date, your brother might decide to make a purchase and it'll throw your score off. You really need to monitor this one closely, specially if it is a joint and he has a card.

I'm not saying you shouldn't trust him, I'm just saying, you need to monitor it.

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Overlooked the joint w/ family member.

Do plenty of reading on this site about joint accounts and/or co-signing for friends/family.  If I were you, I would look at getting off that card.  JMHO.

[DigitalDybbuk]

The experian one i got from freecreditscore.com of which i have a membership, the other two i got from here.

[FrugalRican]

The Experian is a FAKO. The other two are legit then.

[DigitalDybbuk]

I took the card away from him actually lol. I administer it only. But what on earth is AOAA 2??

[FrugalRican]

AAOA is your Average Age of Accounts.

Example: If you have two cards, one was opened a year ago, and another was opened 6 months ago, your AAOA is 9 months.

If you added another card in the last month, it'd drop down to around 6 months.