Take the myFICO Fitness Challenge 2017!

[letrav]

10 years ago (2007) my credit score was 800 and life was good I got divorced 8 years ago (2009) and had a ton of credit card debt that I didn't even know about. The divorce really hurt as I had to start over. I opened credit accounts to purchase furniture, tvs, even dishes. I did not have the means to buy any of that or pay the old debts. I basically just ignored it all. Collection accounts mounted. In 2012 I needed to purchase a car. I was approved for a car loan at 24% interest due to my 535 credit score. My new wife and I decided that we wanted to buy a house. In October of 2013, my mortgage broker laughed at me and said talk to me in a year, maybe. I went into full attack mode and by April i secured a home mortage of 280K with a credit score of 675. I fixed my score, but not my lifestyle or attitudes towards debt and money. Fast forward 3 years, I quickly fell behind on my mortgage and other credit accounts. In February I had a financial awakening and started to fix my finances. I caught up on every bill and actually started to save money! I told myself that I didnt need to worry about my credit score because I was only paying cash from now on. Well, this is real life, and that thinking is just fantasy. We have 3 vehicles, all paid for, but all very high in mileage. We have PMI that I would love to get rid of. SO in August, I dusted off the old websites and forums to take a look at my scores. You can see what they were below in my sig. 400's!!!!! I was sick to my stomach and decided it was time to fix these scores and keep them that way. So I have a begun operation 700! Time to make my credit score reflect my new lifestyle.

[Anonymous]

My word, what a story!  I am with you brother.  My circumstances no longer include a wife (mine passed away in April of this year), however, my current score is 571 and I am challenged to get it to 700 also.  I wish you well on your journey.

[letrav]

Thank you sir! I have made many bad decisions but I am determined that those are behind me. Sorry to hear about the passing of your wife. Good Luck to you. These forums have been great for me.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your kind words...my 2nd wife is rejoicing in Heaven with my 1st wife; they were great friends on earth and now their even greater friends in Heaven, dancing before the Lord!

[gebs_2006]

Hello everyone. This will be my first fitness challenge. I have been a member of myFICO since April and love the site. You guys have help me open a secured credit card with Discover It. As well as intelligently increase my CL with my Victoria Secret CC from $450 to $950 with the proper channels and questions to ask. Lastly another Secured card I recently opened with Cap One. My overall goal to help improve my credit score and history to where I can purchase a home as well as a new car without getting murder in the APR for having a poor score. I'm currently in a good track with those things as well as working with Lexington Law to help wipe any bad credit history I've had in the past which we were all going through once. All in all myFICO help me better understand my credit score and credit cards that I have and how to utilize them all properly. I hoping that I continue to learn from those of you that have been through it all. Thanks 

[ohjoy]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Thank you for your kind words...my 2nd wife is rejoicing in Heaven with my 1st wife; they were great friends on earth and now their even greater friends in Heaven, dancing before the Lord!

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This comfort could have only come from above. May the Lord continue to bless you.

[Anonymous]

I’m a new Challenge member.  

I am 33 years old and just bought my first home. I want to work on improving my credit because I started off turning 18 and racking up medical bills.

My credit card debt is currently:

Amex Delta $800 (Limit $4500)

Wayfair $500 (Limit $1600)

Barlcays iTunes $2800 (Limit $3300)

Macys $200 (Limit $300)

Target $300 (Limit $300)

Capital One $200 (Limit $500)

USAA Amex $250 (Limit $500)

Williams-Sonoma $250 (Limit $250)

Pier 1 $0 (Limit $500)

Wells Fargo Visa $2500 (Limit $3000)

In December 2015 my  credit card debt  was  $3845.65  and I did a re-fi to a 15 year mortgage loan.  My Refi mortgage maturity date was Jan 2031 which surpassed the 10 year sooner goal.

My challenge for 2016 was to pay off my new 15 yr mortgage at least 1 year sooner than Jan2031 and to keep cc debt below 20K.

My challenge for 2017 will remain the  same.  My current cc debt is $641 and my Refi maturity date is Dec 2030.

[Anonymous]

Here is my story and I would love some imput from other memebers.

As of today 12/22/2017 my scores are 487 Equifax, 506 Tansunion,491 Experian

I have a Bk that was Discharged 7/2014

I have about 18 Collections (about 12 of them are payday loans, cox, and other bs) The rest are medical. I Just paid off about eveything that wasnt a medical collection. Everything else has been settled but not reported yet.

I was able to pay everything besides my medical debt. My medical debt is about $22,000

I have 2 paid off auto loans, a paid off credit card, and an open mor furniture account for $2500. These accounts do have some derogs.

I have send out PFD letters to every ceo email i cound find and am hoping most of these collections can fall off.

Obviously i dont have 22k to pay medical off right now. But i want to buy a house in the future and an curious to see how much my credit will go up after paying off all of these collections. Is there a good conpany for consiladiting mediacl debt?

Any advice would help.

[Anonymous]

LVega702, have you been to the Rebuilders forum yet here on myfico.com?  That is where I started to clean up my CRs.  The people on that forum are very knowledgeable and very help.  They give very detailed steps and insight in how to approach bringing down/getting rid of of debt - even Medical debt.  I recommend starting there.

Good Luck!

Life happens.  Adjust accordingly.

[Namaste7]

@Namaste7 wrote:

Update

2017 Goals

1. No new apps for 2017 (as of April 1) ---> Failed
2. Order credit reports and opt-out ---> Completed
3. Organize tax and financial records ---> In progress
4. Accelerate payoff of medical bills ----> done by June 2018 & retirement loan ---> no changes
5. Continue to PIF 'daily' charges ---> Successful
6. For upcoming large purchase, payoff in 3-6 months ---> Successful
7. Year end 2017 FICO goal - 700s across the board ---> Not yet 
8. Year end 2018 FICO goal - 740+ across the board ---> Hopeful

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I did not pay any interest on revolving accounts in nearly 3 years (yeah!!!!). If I practice patience, I'll be in a great position one year from now.