To take the challenge, tell us:
1. My goal is 650. I don't think it's too unrealistic because I'm hitting the ground running.
2. 491, last I checked, in late 2010
3. Well, a LOT of what is on my credit report are errors. Lots and lots of errors. So I'm going to dispute those. I'll be sending letters to everyone asking them to remove negatives, too. I don't know if it'll work, but it's worth a try.
rustbelt: Welcome to the forums - glad you're here.
A portion of your post has been edited because it's against the Terms of Service and User Guidelines to discuss unethical methods of dealing with your credit, including disputing accurate information in an effort to have it removed. There are lots of helpful posts in the Rebuilding Your Credit forum that I hope you find helpful.
Starting Score: 491