topic Re: It never hurts to ask in Rebuilding Your Credit

It never hurts to ask

Cdnewmanpac — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:22:40 GMT

I started trying to rebuild my credit in July 2010 after my credit union offered me an auto loan at 13%. Pulled my credit report, paid off all collections and past dues. Score rose to low 600s and there it sat. They were high enough for me to get a VA loan to buy a house, but they werent climbing.This fall, I got frustrated not having a card with a high enough limit to pay to attend an annual medical conference and instead had to use my debit card, then wait to be reimbursed. So I started lurking on this forum, saw people getting cards approved I thought were out of my reach, getting goodwill removals and getting denials reconsidered, but I assumed that wouldn't work for me. In early December, my equifax score was 654 and I decided to move from secured to subprime by applying for a capital one no hassle rewards card. Got approved, but $750 wasn't enough for a plane ticket, let alone a $1000 registration fee. So at the beginning of january i got ambitious and replied to one of those southwest airline preselected offers. Got denied and could hear the laughter floating across the internet. Reason for rejection was a collection account. Assumed it was a Verizon collection from August. Then, I came across a tip about planet feedback on this forum and used it for a complaint about the Verizon wireless collection that I'd been unsuccessfully challenging for months. Got a call back from Verizon the next day and "boom" deleted. Feeling inspired, I sent a gw letter to campus partners about a student loan I defaulted on, then paid off. Second "boom", deleted. Decided to shoot for the moon and called the chase recon phone number listed in the sticky about the Southwest card. Told the nice guy about Verizon being deleted, told my story and after holding for 10 minutes, he said, "you are approved with an initial credit limit of $5000." took me a minute to realize he didn't say "declined". Took me another minute to pick my jaw up off the floor. Now, once this card gets here, can close the first premier secured card, stop checking my score obsessively and join the gardeners club. Thanks to all on this forum for so much useful info. And to those thinking these things will never work, as the title says, it doesn't hurt to ask.

Re: It never hurts to ask

Guava — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:35:55 GMT

Way to go! Congratulations!

Re: It never hurts to ask

hoping2rebuild — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:04:29 GMT

Congrats

Re: It never hurts to ask

pizzadude — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:25:27 GMT

Great story ! Thanks for sharing, and congrats !! Go ahead and warm up your shredder for your 1st Preemie card....

Re: It never hurts to ask

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:30:19 GMT

Congratulations and thanks for sharing! I really enjoy reading such uplifting stories. The sky is the limit. Hard work, and perseverance can go a really long way!

Re: It never hurts to ask

webhopper — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:59:44 GMT

I just reconned a denial from Chase for too many recent inquiries, which were all related to getting final approval on a mortgage. Anyways, your success gives me hope that my recon will work as well! The Chase card I want is the Chase Amazon.com Platinum Visa Rewards..

I called them, and they re-pulled credit from Experian. They asked me to fax in a copy of the new utility bill for the house, as well as a copy of my SS card.

Sent them in. I'm hoping that my recon worked as well.

Thanks for sharing your story and Congrats on getting a nice card!

Re: It never hurts to ask

wmcodywilson — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:24:01 GMT

Seeing posts like these give me hope. Congrats!

Re: It never hurts to ask

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:23:49 GMT

Whoo hoo! Way to go! I tell my kids all the time, "you never know until you ask!"

Re: It never hurts to ask

Anonymous — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 01:02:21 GMT

I think it's great what you have done to improve your situation! I am trying SO HARD to do the same, but I am running in to a constant wall with Verizon Wireless collection that I paid for $50. I have written GW letters with no effect except for a form letter back telling me that they can not remove the account from the CB.

Help! Can you please explain what you mean by "planet feedback" and what that tip was to successfully remove that Verizon Wireless collection? I could really use the help! I am trying to get my score high enough to qualify for the VA Loan myself. Thank you so much and congratulations!

Re: It never hurts to ask

Stiltzy — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 01:19:26 GMT

Ive tried planet feedback, calling them, writing them on a collection I paid years ago. I currently have 4 personal lines of service and 10 business lines. The last time I even threatened to cancel all of them, still no budge on a 4 year old account paid in full as soon as I saw the bill. Any contacts would be greatly appreciated

Re: It never hurts to ask

Anonymous — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 00:18:57 GMT

How did you contact campus partners? I was feeling inspired by your post, so I sent a gw to them myself, about two 60 day lates while away for military training in 2010, but I just got a letter from a 'borrower relations specialist' informing me that a goodwill adjustment would "violate The Fair Credit Reporting Act" so they are "unable to honor my request." Any advice you have would be very much appreciated.

@Cdnewmanpac wrote:
I started trying to rebuild my credit in July 2010 after my credit union offered me an auto loan at 13%. Pulled my credit report, paid off all collections and past dues. Score rose to low 600s and there it sat. They were high enough for me to get a VA loan to buy a house, but they werent climbing.This fall, I got frustrated not having a card with a high enough limit to pay to attend an annual medical conference and instead had to use my debit card, then wait to be reimbursed. So I started lurking on this forum, saw people getting cards approved I thought were out of my reach, getting goodwill removals and getting denials reconsidered, but I assumed that wouldn't work for me. In early December, my equifax score was 654 and I decided to move from secured to subprime by applying for a capital one no hassle rewards card. Got approved, but $750 wasn't enough for a plane ticket, let alone a $1000 registration fee. So at the beginning of january i got ambitious and replied to one of those southwest airline preselected offers. Got denied and could hear the laughter floating across the internet. Reason for rejection was a collection account. Assumed it was a Verizon collection from August. Then, I came across a tip about planet feedback on this forum and used it for a complaint about the Verizon wireless collection that I'd been unsuccessfully challenging for months. Got a call back from Verizon the next day and "boom" deleted. Feeling inspired, I sent a gw letter to campus partners about a student loan I defaulted on, then paid off. Second "boom", deleted. Decided to shoot for the moon and called the chase recon phone number listed in the sticky about the Southwest card. Told the nice guy about Verizon being deleted, told my story and after holding for 10 minutes, he said, "you are approved with an initial credit limit of $5000." took me a minute to realize he didn't say "declined". Took me another minute to pick my jaw up off the floor. Now, once this card gets here, can close the first premier secured card, stop checking my score obsessively and join the gardeners club. Thanks to all on this forum for so much useful info. And to those thinking these things will never work, as the title says, it doesn't hurt to ask.

Re: It never hurts to ask

Anonymous — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 00:48:42 GMT

THERE IS HOPE GOOD WORK MY FRIEND

Re: It never hurts to ask

Anonymous — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 01:38:10 GMT

congrats to the op!!!