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Which is a better idea to improve my credit score

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Anonymous
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Which is a better idea to improve my credit score

I am trying to rebuild my credit from years of neglect and stupidity as of now I have a 521 through equifax but a 601 through trans union (no idea how the big difference is posible but that's a different matter) most of the reson it's so low is a very poor payment history. I am now on track with all my bills that aren't in either charge off status or collection and only have one 1 more collection to take care of. And one care off( thinking of trying to do a debit consolidation loan for that thoughts?) But 2nd and main question is which is better to pay down a current revolving debt, pay off an installment loan or get a secure cc to increase my available ratio/ usage ? Thoughts please this journey is just beginning
Message 1 of 18
17 REPLIES 17
tufa4311
Established Contributor

Re: Which is a better idea to improve my credit score

Hi and welcome to myFICO! Glad you have decided to take some action.

 

Additional info would be benefical and lead to a more specific and personalized approach for your situation.

 

If possible, list out:

- all your credit cards, past (if there are any lates with closed accounts) and present, their current balances and limits, and payment history (how many lates you have with each, the date of the lates, and the extent of the lates - 30/60/90/120 days etc)

- all your current installment loans and their payment history (if you were ever late with a payment and it was reported)

- any charge-off's, collections, etc and their dates

- anything else on you credit report that is negative and the dates

 

Have you ever pulled you FICO score? If so, when and what was it.

 

With this the suggestions will be more suited for you.

796 TU FICO 08 (08/2018)
758 TU FICO 08 (01/12/2016)
753 TU FICO 08 (11/21/2015)
740: EQ Score Power (Beacon 5.0) FICO 04 (01/23/2015)
755 TU FICO 08 (01/21/2015)
652 TU Lender Pull (06/10/2014)
665 TU FICO 08 (05/21/2014)
Goal: 800+
Message 2 of 18
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Which is a better idea to improve my credit score

Thank you for your responce and recomendation Below I will itemize my credit report, I just pulled m free anual report. I will also list the current actions that I am curently taking on each account and see what you all recommend. Thank you again

 

Good reports

 

Navy fedral auto loan  Balance $8394 open Feb 2013 reports monthly total of three 30 day late payments back in jun, sep, and oct of 2013 since then payed on time

 

 

Personal credit plan instalment loan balance $324 reports only pays as agreed nothing else no monthly payment history

 

Military star card revolving credit balance $1,456/1,775  Reports as pays as agreed but is listed as potentialy negative due to  3 30 day late payment 3 60 day late payment  I am disputing 5 of the late payments because after the 1st one it began paying automaticaly our of my paycheck

 

Chase Card-- This one I am confused about I was an authorized user for a while on someone elses account and it went well but this just has date reported 2008 pays as agrees

 

Les schwab revolving reports as open but no credit limit and last reported 6-2007

 

DSHS support enforcment

type: open  pays as agrees 2 120 day late report back FEB 2009 and DEC 2008 but they only report every other month

 

Closed acounts several installment accounts that were paid and they closed when they were paid off

except these

 

Pioneer/mac instalment loan  Status Charge Off Balance $5 353 CO since Nov of 14  oct 180dl sep 150 DL aug 120 DL jul 90 DL Jun 60 DL may- Jan 2014 30 DL which isnt correct.

 

USA discounters installment account CO since nov of 2012 late since nov of 2011 but NR from the open of the account in jun 2010 untl the late report in nov 2011

     --- This one I am fully disputing I payed this off early and the decided that After I payed it off they were still going to charge me the intrest that would have accumulated on the account if paid as planed despite their contract having no early pay off penelties.

 

Midland credit

was a colection account that I paid of jan 2013

 

Navy fedral revolving" Balance $5642/ closed for change of intrest rate from 17.99% down to 6% several 30 date late payment last one dec of 14

 

 

Collections

 

Stellar recover: random $696 from century link. --Disputing this as not my account as i havent had century link.

 

a medical bill for $43 trying to investigate this one

 

CBE group for $903 for a direct tv bill-- Disputing and trying to validate I had D-tv but cancled it correctly and dont know why this exist

 

Credit managment paid collection in 2-2014

 

 

OK so that is my god awful report. A few courses of action that I am curnently look at. Debt conslidation loan at least for the pioner loan and try a PTR

to improve my score which If I understand correctly is 521 ( reported from a lender)

Also 2 other things Im milling around

option A - scrape up $300 some how and get a secure CC and use it for something small everymonth but paying it off

option B - taking that same $300 and pay down the military star card to improve my ratio

What say you all ?? Thanks and sorry for the horible and long winded post

Message 3 of 18
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Which is a better idea to improve my credit score

I've been helping my friend improve his credit score. Since October of last year, he's gone from a 573 to a 644 by getting a credit card (not a secured card...but one for people with sub-prime credit) through Capital One and paying it off in full every month. He started with a $300 CL, then they raised it to $500 after a few months, and then to $2500! He also paid down the balance on two credit cards that were almost maxed out. So I'd say do those two things first and just keep making on time payments on the installment loan, but don't worry about rushing to pay it off, necessariliy. Accounts with a longer history of on-time payments are going to help buld your score, too, so you'd be cutting that account short by paying it off sooner than you have to. For people who already have great credit, I'd say it's not a big deal to pay off installment loans early. But in your case I'd focus on the other two things first.

Message 4 of 18
tufa4311
Established Contributor

Re: Which is a better idea to improve my credit score

A bit easier on the eyes, let's see what people say (if I missed something or messed up something please update and repost)

 

AccountIssue
Navy Federal Auto Loan3 30-Day Lates (June,Sept,Oct 2013)
Military Star revolving82% UTIL. 3 30-Day, 3-60 Day Lates (Disputing 5)
DSHS Support Enforcement2 120-Day Lates (Dec 2008, Feb 2009)
Pioneer/Mac Installment$5353 CO 11/2014
Midandpaid collection 1/2013
Navy Federal revolvingMultiple 30-Day back to Dec 2014
Stellar Recovery collection$696 disputing as not mine
Medical collection$43 unsure, investigating
CBE Group collection/Direct TV$903 disputing as account closed with no balance
Credit Mngt collectionpaid, Feb 2014
796 TU FICO 08 (08/2018)
758 TU FICO 08 (01/12/2016)
753 TU FICO 08 (11/21/2015)
740: EQ Score Power (Beacon 5.0) FICO 04 (01/23/2015)
755 TU FICO 08 (01/21/2015)
652 TU Lender Pull (06/10/2014)
665 TU FICO 08 (05/21/2014)
Goal: 800+
Message 5 of 18
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Which is a better idea to improve my credit score


@Anonymous wrote:
I am trying to rebuild my credit from years of neglect and stupidity as of now I have a 521 through equifax but a 601 through trans union (no idea how the big difference is posible but that's a different matter) most of the reson it's so low is a very poor payment history. I am now on track with all my bills that aren't in either charge off status or collection and only have one 1 more collection to take care of. And one care off( thinking of trying to do a debit consolidation loan for that thoughts?) But 2nd and main question is which is better to pay down a current revolving debt, pay off an installment loan or get a secure cc to increase my available ratio/ usage ? Thoughts please this journey is just beginning

Forget the consolidation loan idea. When You scores are tanked, its just not a viable option. Secured credit card is a good idea, as well as settling any revolving charge offs that the OC is reporting a balance, AND paying down revolving debt. Paying down installment debt does not help scores.

 

For good score growth going forward, you need to establish three revolving accounts.

Message 6 of 18
tufa4311
Established Contributor

Re: Which is a better idea to improve my credit score


@tufa4311 wrote:

A bit easier on the eyes, let's see what people say (if I missed something or messed up something please update and repost)

 

AccountIssue
Navy Federal Auto Loan3 30-Day Lates (June,Sept,Oct 2013): GW REMOVAL OF LATES
Military Star revolving82% UTIL. 3 30-Day, 3-60 Day Lates (Disputing 5)
DSHS Support Enforcement2 120-Day Lates (Dec 2008, Feb 2009): GW REMOVAL OF LATES
Pioneer/Mac Installment$5353 CO 11/2014
Midandpaid collection 1/2013: GW REMOVAL OF COLLECTION
Navy Federal revolvingMultiple 30-Day back to Dec 2014: GW REMOVAL OF LATES
Stellar Recovery collection$696 disputing as not mine
Medical collection$43 unsure, investigating
CBE Group collection/Direct TV$903 disputing as account closed with no balance
Credit Mngt collectionpaid, Feb 2014: GW REMOVAL OF COLLECTION

 

796 TU FICO 08 (08/2018)
758 TU FICO 08 (01/12/2016)
753 TU FICO 08 (11/21/2015)
740: EQ Score Power (Beacon 5.0) FICO 04 (01/23/2015)
755 TU FICO 08 (01/21/2015)
652 TU Lender Pull (06/10/2014)
665 TU FICO 08 (05/21/2014)
Goal: 800+
Message 7 of 18
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Which is a better idea to improve my credit score

Not disputing pioneer but the rest is dead on thanks for the formating job
Message 8 of 18
tufa4311
Established Contributor

Re: Which is a better idea to improve my credit score


@Anonymous wrote:
Not disputing pioneer but the rest is dead on thanks for the formating job

Updated

796 TU FICO 08 (08/2018)
758 TU FICO 08 (01/12/2016)
753 TU FICO 08 (11/21/2015)
740: EQ Score Power (Beacon 5.0) FICO 04 (01/23/2015)
755 TU FICO 08 (01/21/2015)
652 TU Lender Pull (06/10/2014)
665 TU FICO 08 (05/21/2014)
Goal: 800+
Message 9 of 18
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Which is a better idea to improve my credit score

Thank you for the advce. I am currently in the process of writing GW letters to those that you recomended, I was reading an artical last night about GW adjustments and there seems to be some more luck with those when people directly write company presidents or VPs what do you think about that?

Also to my supprise I was actualy able to get a non secure credit card from Capital one only a 400 limit but thats fine not going to use it for anything but our netflix account so i just pay that small amount off everymonth so I can improve my UT rate

Message 10 of 18
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