topic Re: April Check In Thread in Take the myFICO Fitness Challenge!

April Check In Thread

KaLin — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 20:59:33 GMT

Hey Challengers! It's April 1st, which means it's time for our third monthly check-in thread. As a reminder, participation in these monthly check-ins is optional, but encouraged. The goal is to help keep you on track, so feel free to post your progress updates here.

How did the month of Marchy treat your finances? Did you hit any potholes or speedbumps? Achieve some milestones, either small or mighty? Change your goals or add new ones?

Let us know how you're doing! What have been your biggest accomplishments and obstacles so far in the myFICO Fitness Challenge for 2013?

Re: April Check In Thread

wanttobeintneknow — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 03:23:07 GMT

I am checking in and starting the challenge, although not sure how to proceed.

Re: April Check In Thread

llecs — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 03:58:19 GMT

@wanttobeintneknow wrote:
I am checking in and starting the challenge, although not sure how to proceed.

The Challenge is a personal challenge by posting a accountability post of where your FICO scores are at now and where you'd like them to be at the end of the year, and what steps you plan to take to get you to your goal.

Re: April Check In Thread

starry1 — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 04:06:50 GMT

Well I passed my first goal of 625 on March 31st, so started off April with a new goal (see sig). I'm behind on my savings goal for the year, so I tweaked my budget tonight to squeeze a little more savings out. Overall I'm really doing great thanks to these boards and all the great advice. In the garden for awhile, not sure how long yet.

Re: April Check In Thread

Anonymous — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 05:04:30 GMT

Hello Fico Challengers,

I am happy to report that I have paid one of my credit cards in full. I am so excited to be free of that bill. I had a financial set back at the end of March because I had to replace 6 spark plugs on my SUV which I paid in full November 2012. It cost $939 which were funds I would have applied to my next credit card I am working on paying off. The good news is that my vehicle is running like new and my husband thinks it will last another three years for sure. So I can pay myself the car payment every month and credit card debt. I still have $23,000 in credit card debt that I am slowly chipping away at, but I am seeing a lot of progress with the snowball plan. I haven't checked my FICO scores yet but I am anxious to see what they have done in the last three months. I am really hoping to get approved for a mortgage next May/June 2014. Good luck to everyone.

Re: April Check In Thread

Anonymous — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:55:27 GMT

Last month, I sent out a G/W ltr. Though it was only one letter, it was with one CA for 8-10 medical accts. This shows up on all of the CR's for my husband and I, so I'm really hoping to get them removed. They have been paid, so I am keeping my fingers crossed. I have two other CA's on my report, one that is almost paid off. The other I'm still researching on - I thought it was already paid and it is showing up as not paid in full.

I had signed up in January for the quarterly monitoring, so today was the day for my new report and score. The new report did not reflect any new baddies - sign of relief there. The score did not change - but I wasn't too disappointed there. The upside was that the score did not go down. I've had one hard inquiry in the last 12 months - which I believe is good?

Re: April Check In Thread

Epcot — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 16:17:50 GMT

My main goal this year (and since late last year) has been to pay down my revolving debt. I have brought my util down from 80%+ to just around 27% and I am still working diligently to get it to single digits.

Re: April Check In Thread

tdrjustus3 — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 16:22:37 GMT

March was a good month for me. 3 CA accounts PIF and deleted. Reports are now collection free. Paid off 2 FP CO accounts and waiting for update to be reported because they were being counted in utilization. Got a CLI from 500 to 1000. Reduced utilization on CCs from 80 to 39%. I got 3 new cc through shopping cart trick. No new inquiries. Credit score increased from EQ 564/TU 584 to EQ 635/TU 636. Great month. Hoping April is even better!
April Goals:
Start savings plan
Get utilization down to all reporting 0 except 1 to report under 9%
Stay in the garden all month
Get started on husbands credit repair
Get GMAC CO removed

Re: April Check In Thread

hnycaraml — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 02:51:55 GMT

I am checkiing in with mixed feelings rght now. For some reason my Equifax FICO nor my Experian FAKO, but my Transunion has taken a 30 point jump! I'm excited, yet anxious to get the two to match. I have not checked my FAKO score for Experian, but I am hopeful that it will have taken a similar turn towards the better.

I have some items that will drop off this year, so that will be a welcome change. I am currently paying my CCs on time as well as the student loan I was able to pull out of default. A year ago I would not have thought it was possible to be 80-100 points higher after almost breaking down from finding out my scores were 490-495.

I am planning on opening an additional secured card to go with my current one but at $1000 limit to help increase my credit utilization information. I am working on PFDs to some of the smaller collections on my reports, and will keep you posted on the progress in that. I didn't want to send those until I knew I would have the money to pay if the CA accepts. Right now I have no OCs that I can work with so the PFDs are my best bet.

I am in the process of lookig for a new apartment, and I plan on taking my report info to the leasing office so that I can try and avoid hard pulls. Hopefully I am able to lease, but I am prepared for a higher deposit regardless.

I hope everyone is seeing positive improvement in April. We can do this if we just stay focused! Happy rebuilding to everyone!

Re: April Check In Thread

shanac — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 20:20:22 GMT

Greetings.

April has started off on a good foot:

My CC balance is still at 1% utilization.
My available credit increased an additional $8500 due to being added as an AU--thus loweing my util. even more.
A CA kept their word and deleted the account from my CRs after I paid the $79 balance. That process took 2 weeks from start to finish.

Now I'm just waiting for the $139 CA w/Debt Recovery for US Cellular to be removed from my CRs. After this falls off, I will start to work on the remaining medical collection I have for $534.

Re: April Check In Thread

himynameis — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 20:23:17 GMT

I'm checking in for April, my first check in. I haven't refreshed myfico scores, TU will be refreshed next week. I did do 3 Bureau pull with Equifax.com - I know it's not FICO but I was curious. So far I have TU 528 EX 561 EQ 553. I don't know how close they really are to FICO.

I co-signed on an auto loan with DH last month and it just reported this month. Not sure how it has affected my score yet. I opened a secured CC last month too but it hasn't shown up on the credit yet. I do have some HP's since I have been trying to get credit. I was approved for a Matrix Discover $300 limit with $150 deposit. I know it's not the best card in the world but I guess it will have to do for now.

I'm hoping I start seeing an improvement, I would like to get my car refinaced by the end of the year. 18% interest sucks lol

Re: April Check In Thread

lg8302ch — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 20:41:29 GMT

Ended 2012 with 793 EQ Fico....but got punished for my app spree...all new accounts other than the 2 BofA cards (cards in siggy) ..score dropped to 740 but my CL increased from 8,5k to 48,5k..40k additional in 4 months! In urgent need to garden now to not scare off my new lenders. My util and spending habits will remain the same...always PIF as I do sleep better! My goal is to try to reach 800 and no matter if I succeed or not I would like to app in 2014 for CSP. These are my goals and at the same time I am experimenting a bit with reporting variations on my profile. if the score drops it does not mean I stopped gardening...ha ha...just testing impact on Fico ..lol

Re: April Check In Thread

sjlcjl — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 01:09:13 GMT

I'm still waiting on my refi to set a closing date. (rate locked till 5/15)

My score went up a little to 703 from 696 due to the lower credit util. Not nearly as much as the esimator thought, but better than going down.. (est said I should have got to the 720's)

I'm chomping at the bit to close on my refi to buy a new truck. Been working with a few different dealers on getting a good deal lined up..

Re: April Check In Thread

Cracka — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 05:16:47 GMT

April is off to an optimistic start!

+ sent 4 GW letters put and am waiting!
+ opened a becu (Boeing) CU checking/savings acct
+ applied for a Becu rewards visa online and was countered with a non-rewards visa with a $1000 CL
+ called to request a CLI on this visa and they increased it to $2500
+ opened a usaa checking/savings acct
+ pulled the trigger on a usaa pre-offer and was approved for a classic Amex with a $1000 CL

- called Isa to request a CLI but they stated that I needed to wait 6 months before requesting a CLI
- applied for an Amex Costco TRue earnings card and was denied due to multiple reasons (I'm even an executive member with decent spend)
- called Amex for a recon but was advised of the same reasons they've denied me
- fico scores dropped due to several reporting changes and inquiries, but I'm hopeful that it will go up as I use my CC's maintaining a low utilization and PIF every month.

I've been burning the midnight oil reading everyone's posts on this forum. I'm so confident of my learning a that I took on improving my wife's Credit as well!!!!

Thanks all for your inspiration and guidance.

Re: April Check In Thread

erlafontaine — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:10:08 GMT

March for me was good and bad....I can proudly say I have no more collections on any of my reports......originally starting out I had about 10 collection on each and that was back in December 2012. 3 short months and all are gone.....some were mistakes...some i PFD and some i just paid and they removed with no problem.

Unfortunatley I still have 2 negative accounts reporting.......1 First premier which was settled and they wont delete.....the other which has been a paid was an old GE/Amazon account....the balance was 892 ($600 limit) from late fees. I've paid it down to $550 which was helping ....but then they all of the sudden reported the credit limit $0 instead of $600 so now Im way over utilization again....grrrrr.......guess i just have to PIF it.

Other than that I got added as an authorized user to one of my moms long standing credit lines and they did confirm they would be reporting it to my credit so Im just waiting for that to show up. I may just sit back and wait a bit now for inquiries to fall off while i pay down that Amazon card.

Hopefully no old collections resurface....crossing my fingers

Re: April Check In Thread

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 16:07:18 GMT

My date with the bankruptcy court is Monday. I checked my credit score this morning and just by filing, it appears my score went up 45 points. I don't remember the last time I have seen it over 600 - it's only 601 but hey - that's over 600

Going straight from the court house to open a checking account now that it can't be garnished! Super excited!!!

Re: April Check In Thread

Anonymous — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 23:00:37 GMT

Just went from a dismal 536 to a 552, it's not good but its progress.

Re: April Check In Thread

credit_challenged09 — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 12:00:03 GMT

What's the best place to get our FICO scores? And should I pay monthly?

Re: April Check In Thread

Anonymous — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:40:48 GMT

My scores increased by about 40 points since I first pulled my credit report and score, and realized that I had to act on this.

I started the fitness challenge in March and now my scores are in 570's and 580's. They are not great but a huge improvement from 540's in just a month!

Good luck to everyone still in the challenge!

Re: April Check In Thread

dodfire — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:44:20 GMT

It is a slow process but I am up 45 points since January