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Valued Contributor
Jutz
Posts: 1,142
Registered: ‎05-10-2012

Question about paying off/closing installment loan

[ Edited ]

Hello all,

 

I generally spend my time in "Rebuilding Credit" so that should tell you where my current status is.

 

I have an unsecured loan with a co-signer that I opened two years ago to help pay off a car I was upside down on, as well as purchase another cheap car.  I have 4k left on it, pay 185/mo.  It is my only installment loan and has impeccable payment history.  I've been working on my credit for the past 8 months or so, paying things off, working other strategies, and I'm finally in a position where I can attack this loan.  

 

My question:  I am probably able to pay this off in the next 4 months. What are the implications of this?  It is my only active installment loan outside of student loans, but I believe those count different in the credit mix?  Because it has such good payment history and continues to be paid perfectly, is this also positively influencing my score to the point I might be slowed in my progress if I pay it off early?

 

Edit:  To add, there are 26 months left on the loan, interest rate is 13.24%

Current: EQ FICO 664, TU FICO 683, EX FICO 698 | Starting Score: 525 (05/2012)

Starting total revolving credit: $1100 | Current total revolving credit: $7000

Inquiries (12 Months): EQ 3 TU 2 EX 2 | Most Recent: 1/8/2013


2013 Goals:
New Car
700 Club
AMEX Member

AMEX Gold NPSL
DCU Visa $2000
Cap1 Cash Rewards $2000
BOA Platinum $600
WalMart $800
Moderator
Shogun
Posts: 7,372
Registered: ‎04-15-2011

Re: Question about paying off/closing installment loan

Pay it off.  Account will still show positive for another 10 years.  Get rid of the interest payments.


Starting Score: 504

Current Score: EQ FICO 819, TU08 775, EX "Who Knows?" Quizzle 756
Goal Score: All Scores 760+, Newest goal 800+

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Established Contributor
bettercreditguy1
Posts: 652
Registered: ‎02-11-2012

Re: Question about paying off/closing installment loan

If you have the ability, pay it off early. On top of saving interest, it will look very good on your credit report being paid off several months in advance. It may not increase your score tht much, ymmv. Congrats, quite a milestone!

Starting scores 01/ 02/2012 EQ 707 TU 733 EXP 735 (FAKO)
Updated scores 05/01/2013 EQ 761 TU 780 EXP 788 (Exp. equivalency)


Remember the Three P's: Pay early in Full, Pay on Time, Patience
Valued Contributor
Jutz
Posts: 1,142
Registered: ‎05-10-2012

Re: Question about paying off/closing installment loan

So this won't negatively affect my credit mix? I won't be signing a new installment loan until I get a new car, which I won't be getting until I can get a half way decent interest rate.

 

Thanks by the way.  Happy to have gotten the hard part out of the way, now we wait...

Current: EQ FICO 664, TU FICO 683, EX FICO 698 | Starting Score: 525 (05/2012)

Starting total revolving credit: $1100 | Current total revolving credit: $7000

Inquiries (12 Months): EQ 3 TU 2 EX 2 | Most Recent: 1/8/2013


2013 Goals:
New Car
700 Club
AMEX Member

AMEX Gold NPSL
DCU Visa $2000
Cap1 Cash Rewards $2000
BOA Platinum $600
WalMart $800

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