isig...................you note you have about 2-3 paid-in-full collections on each CRA. I would try hard to get those removed. Even though they are paid - having those collections there are hurting you. Try a few GW letters - and keep trying. Don't get discouraged if your initial GW is rejected, or not responded to. Keep at it.
Do you have a checking or savings account? If so, get a debit card and use it instead of a high APR, monthly fee sub-prime card. If you can get a few of those paid collections removed, you should see a very nice increase. If you're in the low sixes now, you should be at the mid-to-upper sixes with those collections removed. I, for one, am not a fan of those so-called "builder" cards. I know many posters here have gone the route of obtaining "builder" cards - I just don't think a person should pay for the "priviledge" of paying high fees in order to build a history. Unfortunately, debit cards do not report to the CRA's, but if you can get to the mid-sixes by yourself, you will be a much better position.
Once you get to the mid-sixes, and you're close, you will be in a very good position to obtain some good cards with nice CL's.
