Hello. This is my first post here. I learned some things from Beat the Bush and being a lurker here.
15 years ago, I was married to a Con Man who opened up a lot af credit in my name. I fought to no avail (marriage laws at the time- can't prosecute a spouse). He later went to prison for getting caught conning others CC and TL. I had to wait a long time for everything to fall off because he took all my savings too. I had 47 collections, CO etc. Last fall, I disputed the last bit and it was verified inaccurate and removed "without possibility of reinsertion". Prior to this clean up, I had not even checked my credit since 2005. After all the baddies fell:
Starting score Sep '17: roughly 550 across the FAKOs due to no open accounts.
Only things showing up were a car I paid off 4 years ago to a subprime (perfect history)and current child support (perfect). I applied for a Cap1 and got only a $300 limit. Got CLI 3 months later to $400. I charged a total of over $5k to this card in those 3 months by paying off multiple times.
At the same time, my new good Hubby AU me to his 14 year old Cap1. Some FICO models do not include this. My personal AAoA is 2.5 years (until the new stuff hits).
Decided to expand my profile after a 3 month garden & mistakenly thought my 680 fako was real during this time (FICO was at about 740!).
Got approved for a small $3500 personal loan June 1 '18. Stuck it in savings. Don't even need the $. Plan to pay 50% back soon. Not reporting yet.
On a whim, apped for Chase Freedom Unlimited the next day or so. 30 day messages. Called to verify income and identity. Instant approval for $4500. I bout died! Waiting for card. Never had a limit this high.
Waited one week, decided, what the heck? Apped for USAA Signature Rewards Visa, instant approval for $6k! I sat there crying. 14 years of credit hell, now this.
Score in Sep, 550ish, Score in June 740 before app spree! Currently FICO 8 730. Recieved a 5 point bump when apped USAA! USAA pulled EX FICO3, which shows 707. I have 6 checking, savings accounts with them for 14 years.
I paid cash for almost everything since I went in purgatory back in 04/05. Home is owned outright and 2 vehicles.
I feel good, but also scared one (or both) of my new cards will AA me when the loan and new CC hits. I have high income, high savings, hard assets, but no real credit. I figured at nearly 40, I better get some credit. I will not carry a balance on these cards. Trying to decide if I should close CAP1 rebuilder or PC it later. Trying to remain calm. Hoping the cards come and dont get closed. I dont even need them. I did get SUB for both. If they dont AA me, I plan to garden 2 years because the thought of 15 CC scares me lol. Thanks for reading.
but CONGRATS!!!!!