Hi, all.
After reading COUNTLESS POSTS I decided to give this forum thing a try. I typically don't participate in any type of chat/msg boards but figured "hey this is for my credit!" so here goes....
I'm a 35 years young woman with ABYSMAL credit! At one point in my life (when I was much younger) I was more responsible. Responsible enough to buy my first home at the age of 26. But then LIFE got in the way and as of today i have a BK, REPO and FC (though it never showed as a FC - the bank just stopped reporting back in 03) to show for it (though all of them now going on 6 yrs old). I also have more CA's then I care to acknowledge. However, the first step in tackling a problem is to ADMIT that you have a problem...so I ADMIT.
I had been paying the $12/mo for "credit monitoring" for over a year when it hit me last Feb that I was wasting money if I was not going to actually do anything with the membership. So i printed all 3 reports (fainted twice then recovered) and then started a round of disputes. To my surprise the bank with the supposed FC fell off due to no response. I thought it was off all 3 CRs only to find out it only came off EX! A lot of other stuff fell off but again only on EX! So now i have 3 comp diff CRs!
So now a couple of weeks ago I employed the svcs of a "credit restoration" company to assist with further cleanup. I received my first round of CRA dispute ltrs and I'm leery that I've potentially wasted money.
Here's the breakdown:
I have 17K in debt (was 144K until i had house removed)
12K is CA - with 10K of THAT a CA from an old townhouse I had that was destroyed by black mold (been in dispute since 2003)
The remaining debt is open/current revolving accounts.
I have the old dismissed BK and one repo from 04 (only before the repo it showed 3 lates - then OK - then late - then repo'd - never addressed it though - probably should)
Here are my goals for 2008
Clean up all 3 CRs and join the 650-700 Club (ultimate goal to hover at or above 720)
Settle/pay off all remaining valid CAs (currently EX 8 @ 12K - EQ 12 @ 21K - TU 13 @ 17K)
BK falls off in Feb 09 (would love to get it off now but know it may be next to impossible)
Get repo removed too (gotta addressed the OK b/w lates before repo)
Buy another house (and be comfy after mortgage is paid)
Assume the note on my new car (in mom's name) and refi at lower rate
One GOOD CC with good CL for cushion when needed
Here are my scores as of today (can't believe I'm going here):
EX - 497 EQ 492 TU 492
Any suggestions? Note: I'm not timid so I'd appreciate straight - no chaser responses.
Thanks,
SB
"The are of being wise is knowing what to overlook"