topic Re: July 2018 Check-In Thread in Take the myFICO Fitness Challenge!

July 2018 Check-In Thread

Kenny — Sun, 01 Jul 2018 04:16:12 GMT

I know you are all hard at work with your credit goals. Have you progressed as far as you hoped? Were there any unforseen expenses that cropped up and may have thrown you off schedule?

As a reminder, participation in these monthly checkins is optional, but encouraged. The goal is to help keep you on track, so feel free to post your progress updates here. This is a no-judge zone; feel free to say what's keeping you up at night or give yourself a kudo for having it all together.

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!

Re: July 2018 Check-In Thread

Anonymous — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 21:43:00 GMT

Well, hello July!

I think I even missed last month's thread. We were desperately focused on trying to get a boat loan, so I took several HP's on EX. They are all boat loan, though, which never materialized. So, now, DH and I, together, are committed to a year in the garden. After May 2019, I will have zero inquiries less than 12 months, and whatever percs come from 12 months in the garden. We should be in good shape for a mortgage. We had thought boat loan first, but think mortgage is more important. Anyone in CA is welcome to offer us advice. I know CA isn't the most mortgage/retirement friendly place in the US. Any thoughts/advice is totally welcome!

Re: July 2018 Check-In Thread

JohnnyGaddar — Sun, 01 Jul 2018 13:53:41 GMT

Hello. Just started myFICO today. Created my signature. Let me make my first post to see how it’s looks. 😃

Re: July 2018 Check-In Thread

19eighty5 — Sun, 01 Jul 2018 14:30:20 GMT

@JohnnyGaddar wrote:
Hello. Just started myFICO today. Created my signature. Let me make my first post to see how it’s looks. 😃

Welcome!

Re: July 2018 Check-In Thread

moosemoney — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 12:44:29 GMT

Hello July! I had a very productive June .

I was able to purge THREE derogatires from my report! One collection I did a PFD. Once collection I had removed with the help of CS360. And one paid in full charge-off I was able to GW into the oblivion!

With those three things, plus implementing AZEO, I was able to boost my TU by 14 points and my EX by 12 points.

Another thing I did was signed up for CCT and got my EQ score for the first time, and it is ~35 points higher than my other two. It turns out my EQ is not showing an old paid-off collection that IS reported on my TU and EX, so in July I am going to try and get that one removed. It is my last collection account so I think the reason for the large jump is a possible rebucketing... We'll see how it goes; worst case scenario it ages off in September of 2019.

My goals for July are:

Try to get that last collection off my TU and EX
Work on my last derog, which is a charged off card that still has a balance. Hopefully I can do another PFD
Try again for a GW with my mortgage company for some leniency on my late payments
Continue to garden until November. Hopefully by then I will be able to qualify for a halfway decent card.

Good luck this month, everyone!

Re: July 2018 Check-In Thread

Anonymous — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 17:45:27 GMT

So interesting one month for me..

I applied for a U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa, and was approved but with only $500 SL. Followed advice on a couple of these forums to recon that with the underwriters for a higher starting limit.. did that last wednesday, Waiting for a response.

Other than that new card, i've started my journey to the land of AZEO... had never heard of that until recently. Still figuring out statement dates and when the accounts post to the Bureaus, but an easy excel sheet and some reminders on the google calendar should make it a snap.

Something weird happened though... my TU report showed a 21pt drop (663 to 642). Reasons next to the alerts were:

Just confused as to which of those reasons/alerts caused the actual drop.. any thoughts on this?

Otherwise...

Goals for July:

Wait for last collection account to fall off (National Recovery - "PFD" on June 6th.. said about 30days)
Fullfil first AZEO cycle.

Good luck everyone in your Quests

Re: July 2018 Check-In Thread

Anonymous — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 20:03:41 GMT

@the mayo
I'm willing to bet the added account is what caused the score drop. Next month it'll probably go up as a new account can cause an initial drop sometimes. Good work and good luck!

Re: July 2018 Check-In Thread

JohnnyGaddar — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 01:55:54 GMT

@19eighty5

Hii. I still need help to create signature like you. Please guide. Thanks.

Re: July 2018 Check-In Thread

JohnnyGaddar — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 01:54:29 GMT

@The_Mayo

I think that balance increases and new account added to your credit file causes your score to drop little. Don’t worry, keep low credit card utilization and it will get back after couple months. 👍

Re: July 2018 Check-In Thread

Anonymous — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 08:56:56 GMT

June is such a crazy, busy month for me, and I just didn't get around to checking in, so I'll report on June here.

My credit had some ups and downs in June, and my credit score took some wild gyrations. I applied, and was approved, for a Discover card with a starting limit of $7,500 (yay), and my Amex 61 day CLI doubled my limit, but my score plummeted to 699, before rebounding at the end of the month to finish at 732. I suspect my having paid off much of my debt, and Chase doubling the credit limit on my Sapphire card (without my asking) had something to do with that.

I bought an insanely expensive TV that I plan to pay off in July, and I fell prey the the Siren calls of both the Nordstrom and Barney's shoe departments, so those will need to be paid off this month as well. Beyond that, I'll attempt to remain in the garden for a while.

Re: July 2018 Check-In Thread

19eighty5 — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 12:58:09 GMT

@JohnnyGaddar wrote:
@19eighty5

Hii. I still need help to create signature like you. Please guide. Thanks.

@patelg1992

Check out this thread on how to add the card images to your signature and this one for the FICO score badges. DM me if you have more questions. Good luck!

Re: July 2018 Check-In Thread

Anonymous — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 21:38:34 GMT

I’m up almost 30 points, from a 667 to a 692!

Re: July 2018 Check-In Thread

JohnnyGaddar — Wed, 04 Jul 2018 00:57:33 GMT

@Walkingoxymoron

Well done buddy. Keep up good work and it will worth at the end. Good luck for new higher numbers 👍

Re: July 2018 Check-In Thread

Revelate — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 03:54:07 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Well, hello July!

I think I even missed last month's thread. We were desperately focused on trying to get a boat loan, so I took several HP's on EX. They are all boat loan, though, which never materialized. So, now, DH and I, together, are committed to a year in the garden. After May 2019, I will have zero inquiries less than 12 months, and whatever percs come from 12 months in the garden. We should be in good shape for a mortgage. We had thought boat loan first, but think mortgage is more important. Anyone in CA is welcome to offer us advice. I know CA isn't the most mortgage/retirement friendly place in the US. Any thoughts/advice is totally welcome!

Totally mortgage first regardless of where you live Bella .

Boats, ai yah everyone that I know who owns one describes them as a financial sinkhole haha.

Re: July 2018 Check-In Thread

Revelate — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 03:56:42 GMT

Nothing expected for July... still sitting on my hands till sometime in September or even November depending when Tesla delivers.

Shotgun auto loan apps, going to be interesting financing at this time heh.

On the plus side lots of fireworks outside my window .

Re: July 2018 Check-In Thread

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 04:12:13 GMT

July is off to a good start. TU up to 760, from 755, even with two new cards in June. Hope EX & EQ are as forgiving.

It's amazing that a five point "jump," especially when I expected a penalty for new cards, can keep me happily in the garden for the 2nd month. Of course, it is only the 4th day of the month.

Re: July 2018 Check-In Thread

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 04:45:07 GMT

@Revelate wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Well, hello July!

I think I even missed last month's thread. We were desperately focused on trying to get a boat loan, so I took several HP's on EX. They are all boat loan, though, which never materialized. So, now, DH and I, together, are committed to a year in the garden. After May 2019, I will have zero inquiries less than 12 months, and whatever percs come from 12 months in the garden. We should be in good shape for a mortgage. We had thought boat loan first, but think mortgage is more important. Anyone in CA is welcome to offer us advice. I know CA isn't the most mortgage/retirement friendly place in the US. Any thoughts/advice is totally welcome!
Totally mortgage first regardless of where you live Bella .

Boats, ai yah everyone that I know who owns one describes them as a financial sinkhole haha.

Thanks, Rev! I appreciate the advice on the mortgage first!

Re: boats being a financial sinkhole, I think it depends on priorities and how one likes to spend their time. Some spend thousands upon thousands traveling all over the world, buying luxury items, fancy houses and cars. Why not for traveling all over and exploring/fishing different lakes? Just depends on what someone likes to do.

Re: July 2018 Check-In Thread

broadnms — Fri, 06 Jul 2018 16:21:08 GMT

Hi everyone! I am new to the challenge. I updated my signature with my credit scores (current and goal), hopefully it shows up.

Here are my current activities:

1) I am working on my credit utilization percentage. It has helped my credit score increase over the last month, but only by maybe 5-10 points at the most.

2) I signed up for Rental Karma, as they report all of my rent payments. This is a new account and it hasn't shown up as a tradeline just yet. And unfortunately they only report to TransUnion. But we will see if it impacts my score in a positive manner.

3) I have a collections account that reports payments, and I only have $240 left. Each time the creditor reports a payment, my credit score goes up about 4 points. Let's see what will happen once it's paid off this month.

Re: July 2018 Check-In Thread

Revelate — Sat, 07 Jul 2018 14:08:03 GMT

@broadnms wrote:
Hi everyone! I am new to the challenge. I updated my signature with my credit scores (current and goal), hopefully it shows up.

Here are my current activities:
1) I am working on my credit utilization percentage. It has helped my credit score increase over the last month, but only by maybe 5-10 points at the most.
2) I signed up for Rental Karma, as they report all of my rent payments. This is a new account and it hasn't shown up as a tradeline just yet. And unfortunately they only report to TransUnion. But we will see if it impacts my score in a positive manner.
3) I have a collections account that reports payments, and I only have $240 left. Each time the creditor reports a payment, my credit score goes up about 4 points. Let's see what will happen once it's paid off this month.

Nice! I'll be interested to see if Rental Karma does impact your score.

Re: July 2018 Check-In Thread

Anonymous — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 07:09:19 GMT

I have just settled 2 of my 9 credit card accounts, and I just got a 1-year settlement plan for another one.

Making great strides!