I am desperate to raise my scores and clean up my credit once and for all. I haven't messed up at all in 2 years now- no lates, no collections, nothing. And my scores are still disappointing. I want a mortgage ASAP, and more than that, I just want good credit again. But, I'm not sure where to go from here. I've done al the disputes, and here's what's left. Can anyone help?
Here's what my file looks like:
Collections:
1700 medical bills from aug 2009. I think I can probably pay the OC, but it's 2k and I don't want to do it unless I have to
588 utility bill from 11/07. Tried PFD, etc. and nothing's worked.
1300 collection from 12/07 for my CO cc. I'm in contact w/ a lawyer now, because they've done so many violations. Hopefully that will go away.
3 PRIVATE SL defaults that I discuss below.. Listed as seperate TLs from 9/09
paid collection for cell 11/06. I've asked them to remove, disputed as obsolete, etc. but nothing so far.
On one report, I have 5 very small medical collections (total $800) from 2007. I will pay those w/ the OC if I must.
TU score 610
EQ score 589
I will be paying off ALL of my revolving credit in January, so my util will go from very high to like 1%. (I will keep a tiny bit on a card).I know paying my util down will be a big boost, but what else should I do? Will my lates crossing the 2 year mark do anything? I'm going to write more GWs, etc. but I
want to see real traction ASAP.
ANY input would be greatly appreciated!!
| Gemb/Jc Penney | 2/2005 | $162 | Paid or paying as agreed |  | 50% utilization, was 60 days late in June 09 | |
 Household Bank/Suzuki | 2/2006 | $0 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | ||
| Citi Cards/Cbsd Na | 2/2004 | $3,054 | Paid or paying as agreed | | 87% util, was 90 days late in April 09 | |
| Credit Union CC | 11/2010 | $442 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | 50% util | |
| Capital One Bank Usa Na | 7/2011 | $184 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | 65% util | |
| Barclays Bank Delaware | 7/2005 | $0 | Payment after charge off/collection | No | CO. I've emailed them offering to pay, we'll see what happens. DVs, etc. all ineffective. Only $250. | |
| Shell/Citibank Cbna | 10/2005 | $0 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | Details | |
 Chase Manhattan Mortgage | 3/2005 | $0 | 120 days past due | | Foreclosure initiated, I sold (NOT short sale) before that happened, in June 2007 | |
 MatcO Tools | 2/2007 | $0 | Paid or paying as agreed | | was 120 late in Dec 2008. PIF now. | |
| MatcO Tools | 12/2006 | $0 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | ||
 Dept Of Ed/Sallie Mae | 11/2009 | $7,589 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | Deferment for next 2 years | |
| Dept Of Ed/Sallie Mae | 7/2010 | $6,291 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | Deferment for next 2 years | |
| Dept Of Ed/Sallie Mae | 7/2010 | $4,500 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | Deferment for next 2 years | |
| Dept Of Ed/Sallie Mae | 8/2011 | $3,011 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | Deferment for next 2 years | |
| Dept Of Ed/Sallie Mae | 11/2009 | $2,711 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | Deferment for next 2 years | |
| Dept Of Ed/Sallie Mae | 8/2011 | $2,250 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | Deferment for next 2 years | |
| Dept Of Ed/Sallie Mae | 11/2009 | $1,117 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | Deferment for next 2 years | |
| Aes/Nct | 2/2006 | $0 | 120 days past due | | PRIVATE SL default. All three add up to $23k. Have been on payment plan for past 2 years, no missed payments. | |
| Aes/Nct | 8/2005 | $0 | 120 days past due | | ||
| Aes/Nct | 6/2005 | $0 | 120 days past due | | ||
| Fedloan Servicing | 7/2010 | $0 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | ||
| Fedloan Servicing | 7/2010 | $0 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | ||
| Citizens Equity Fcu | 2/2003 | $0 | Paid or paying as agreed | | Was 30 days late in April 2009. PIF after that. | |
 Capital One Auto Finance | 12/2010 | $20,228 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | We refi this for a lower payment in Jan | |
| Bmo Harris Bank N.A. | 8/2006 | $4,175 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | Will have this PIF in January | |
| Amcore Bank | 10/2005 | $0 | Paid or paying as agreed | No | ||
| American Honda Finance C | 8/2004 | $0 | Paid or paying as agreed | No |
|
@Juniper117 wrote:I am desperate to raise my scores and clean up my credit once and for all. I haven't messed up at all in 2 years now- no lates, no collections, nothing. And my scores are still disappointing. I want a mortgage ASAP, and more than that, I just want good credit again. But, I'm not sure where to go from here. I've done al the disputes, and here's what's left. Can anyone help?
Here's what my file looks like:
Collections:
1700 medical bills from aug 2009. I think I can probably pay the OC, but it's 2k and I don't want to do it unless I have to
588 utility bill from 11/07. Tried PFD, etc. and nothing's worked.
1300 collection from 12/07 for my CO cc. I'm in contact w/ a lawyer now, because they've done so many violations. Hopefully that will go away.
3 PRIVATE SL defaults that I discuss below.. Listed as seperate TLs from 9/09
paid collection for cell 11/06. I've asked them to remove, disputed as obsolete, etc. but nothing so far.
On one report, I have 5 very small medical collections (total $800) from 2007. I will pay those w/ the OC if I must.
TU score 610
EQ score 589
I will be paying off ALL of my revolving credit in January, so my util will go from very high to like 1%. (I will keep a tiny bit on a card).I know paying my util down will be a big boost, but what else should I do? Will my lates crossing the 2 year mark do anything? I'm going to write more GWs, etc. but I
want to see real traction ASAP.
ANY input would be greatly appreciated!!
Gemb/Jc Penney 2/2005 $162 Paid or paying as agreed 50% utilization, was 60 days late in June 09 2/2006 $0 Paid or paying as agreed No 2/2004 $3,054 Paid or paying as agreed 87% util, was 90 days late in April 09 11/2010 $442 Paid or paying as agreed No 50% util 7/2011 $184 Paid or paying as agreed No 65% util 7/2005 $0 Payment after charge off/collection No CO. I've emailed them offering to pay, we'll see what happens. DVs, etc. all ineffective. Only $250. 10/2005 $0 Paid or paying as agreed No Details 3/2005 $0 120 days past due Foreclosure initiated, I sold (NOT short sale) before that happened, in June 2007 2/2007 $0 Paid or paying as agreed was 120 late in Dec 2008. PIF now. 12/2006 $0 Paid or paying as agreed No 11/2009 $7,589 Paid or paying as agreed No Deferment for next 2 years 7/2010 $6,291 Paid or paying as agreed No Deferment for next 2 years 7/2010 $4,500 Paid or paying as agreed No Deferment for next 2 years 8/2011 $3,011 Paid or paying as agreed No Deferment for next 2 years 11/2009 $2,711 Paid or paying as agreed No Deferment for next 2 years 8/2011 $2,250 Paid or paying as agreed No Deferment for next 2 years 11/2009 $1,117 Paid or paying as agreed No Deferment for next 2 years 2/2006 $0 120 days past due PRIVATE SL default. All three add up to $23k. Have been on payment plan for past 2 years, no missed payments. 8/2005 $0 120 days past due 6/2005 $0 120 days past due 7/2010 $0 Paid or paying as agreed No 7/2010 $0 Paid or paying as agreed No 2/2003 $0 Paid or paying as agreed Was 30 days late in April 2009. PIF after that. 12/2010 $20,228 Paid or paying as agreed No We refi this for a lower payment in Jan 8/2006 $4,175 Paid or paying as agreed No Will have this PIF in January 10/2005 $0 Paid or paying as agreed No 8/2004 $0 Paid or paying as agreed No
The unpaid collections and the high UTIL% are hurting your score the most. Even if you pay the collections, it's not going to boost your score. You need to be persistant in PFD's for these collections. Find contact info out for the CA's up and above their regular reps.
The AES/nct accts, what are they??? Those 120 day lates are significantly hurting your score. send GW's for those.
Need to make sure you keep up on time payments and maybe consider closing a few of the CC's. Could make it easier for you to manage to PIF every month.
@AndySoCal wrote:Getting your credit util down will help your score. I would also work on getting the collection accounts paid and off your report. The one that is in 2009 is impacting your score more than the others because it is more recent.
+1 agree with AndySoCal.
What I'm going to say, I'm saying it with love. It took me a long time to do, but if you can do it you'll be healthier and happier for it.
Try to start living below your means.I know it's hard right now,but you can do it.
Also start a emergency fund, so you don't have to grab that CC and pay even more money(interest).
Just remember if you do use the emergency fund, always make a plan and stick to it, to replenish it.
Oh and BTW, Congrats on keeping your finances in order for the last 2 years now(no lates & no collections).
Your on the right track
Keep up the good work.
The cards have actually not been used in over a year, with the exception of my credit union card. That's actually a secured card- my $1k is geting interest and I just bought plane tickets with it and will pay it off in January.
The Citi card was actually closed in July, but still has a balance and the JCP card had the limit lowered from 2k to $430 or whatever weird number, which made me really angry 
I have established a 2500 e-fund, which is a first EVER in my life! I will get a large bonus and then a tax return in july and wipe out my revolving debt, which will be amazing.
The AES accounts are the private SLs that went into default 3+ years ago. Unfortunately, there's nothing that can be done with those until they're PIF. I've been making regular payments for 2 years and have made headway, but Private SLs are just terrible. You can't rehab them like federal loans. They're awful.
I am interested to see what lowering my util will do, and hope to PFD more collections. The main addresses have all said no, but I'm going to go after alternate contacts, OCs for medical, etc.
