Bouncing back from divorce debt

[Anonymous]

Good evening everyone! I have some debt that I share with my ex husband, he really screwed me/us with all the crap he created when we were together. How do I get those bills separated? I was told I’d have to refinance my car-which is at a hefty $468 a month. The other account we share is a jewelry store account, I’m needing to take myself off that account. My credit score is a 580. But in June of last year my credit score was a 420- so I’ve come pretty far. I also have a dentist bill of $200, urgent care $95, a 2 year old hospital bill of $1200- that I forced them to allow me to pay $50 a month, my own jewelry store bill- will be done paid off in January, specialist bill of $200, and a tempurpedic bed to pay off which is $900 something. What is the best way to tackle all of this and raise my credit score? I always pay my school loan, cell phone, rent, and car loan on time as those are the most important. I’m wanting to buy/lease a new car by this time next year with a score of at least 720 so I can wash my hands clean of that massive car payment- $468 a month for a stupid Jetta.

[Medic981]

Welcome to the myFICO forums!

Are there any late payments or collections on your credit reports? A FICO of 580 seems really low if you do not have any derogatories reporting on your credit files. 

[Anonymous]

One of our moderators, @gdale6, has a step by step plan for dealing with medical collections that he spells out in many posts. I’ve located one and copied it below for you from one of his posts. I have used this process before and it does work:

“Medical collections are some of the easiest to get removed from your CRs, here are the steps that you should follow to address them:

1. Call the OC and see if insurance can be billed, (or-rebilled), collections ultimately paid by insurance get removed per new rules that came from CRAs settlement with 22 state AGs. If not then
2. see if you qualify for Charity Care, if not then
3. ask that they recall the collection in exchange for full payment
4. Send the reporting CA a PFD offer
5. Google the HIPAA Process and contact its creator for help, this process cannot be discussed in any forum of myFico.”

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately there’s a couple. That’s what one of the jewelry store accounts is, the one I need to get my name off of. The other one is too but I’ve Been making payments consecutively on that one. In the divorce agreement he agreed to take one, if I don’t somehow get my name off it, it’s going to ruin me- I know him and it’ll never get paid but it’s no longer my responsibility.

[satio]

A component of your decree should include a list of all debts and the agreement as to who is responsible for what... at least mine did but that was many many moons ago.

With this in hand you could speak with the creditor in each case that you expect to have your name removed from as your ex is responsible and ask them to update the CRA to remove this trade line for you.

[Anonymous]

^^^ will they do this though? If the application was a joint application for credit, I’m not sure that they’ll separate her from the responsibility of paying it back, and if he defaults on “his” debts, she may well be held responsible...

[GApeachy]

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@Anonymous wrote:
The other account we share is a jewelry store account, I’m needing to take myself off that account. Are you an AU on this card? If so, you can call to have yourself removed. I also have a dentist bill of $200, urgent care $95, a 2 year old hospital bill of $1200- that I forced them to allow me to pay $50 a month, Have you tried filling out Indigency papers?  You can at anytime, if qualified they can write you off. and a tempurpedic bed to pay off which is $900 something.Again are you an AU for this acct.? 
- $468 a month for a stupid Jetta. okay not laughing at you, just with you. "stupid Jetta"  I feel your pain.  Good luck on everything!!!!!

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[satio]

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@Anonymous wrote:
^^^ will they do this though? If the application was a joint application for credit, I’m not sure that they’ll separate her from the responsibility of paying it back, and if he defaults on “his” debts, she may well be held responsible...

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Good point.

If it was originally a joint account then perhaps not though my ex was able to get herself removed from the mortgage using same but that again was long time ago.

In my situation I took all the debt, every last penny, and agreed to pay support for 2 years, but I got full custody of the kids so it was worth it though very painful for awhile financially. 

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:
I’m wanting to buy/lease a new car by this time next year with a score of at least 720 so I can wash my hands clean of that massive car payment- $468 a month for a stupid Jetta.

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buying a new car only puts you in more debt. get your head above water and pay it off and be done with car payments.

[fishbjc]

Is the jewelry card an Authorized User account, or joint?  If A/U, get removed IMMEDIATELY.