@Anonymous wrote:ytd1969.... I've worked hard to restore my credit from an abyssmal 483 last June 2019, to a 671 today, June 1st 2020.
I had 1 legitimate bad debit from 2017 from a Discover Card. Even though I paid it off through their collection agency in late March this year, it shows on all "Big 3" credit bureaus as PAID, but I beleive it is still viewed negatively because I did not pay as I should have in early 2017. (One of those bad times in Life where everything fell apart but that's all 3 years past now).
Last week, I wrote a GoodWill / Forgiveness of debt letter asking for the old Discover account to be totally removed from my creditfile. I wrote the collection agency I paid off (about $851). I'm hoping they'll delete that negative and that will raise the FICO a bit more? Good Luck. Disco isnt a forgiving bunch. Also, in 2017 I was a legal, authorized user on an AMEX Bluecash card with either a $1000 /or $1500 limit as I cannot remember which. I was also an authorized user on a Valero Petroleum (Gas Card) that had an unsecured $500 limit. These were on my former fiancee's credit, and it was reported on my credit only 3 months before we splitup and obviously she dropped me as an authorized user. Still, both cards were always paid on time; we hardly used them. It's been over 3 years since either of those were active yet they do still show on my Equifax credit, but oddly not on Experian or TransUnion.
Dispute this as you were only a authorized user and not the primary cardholder.So it shouldnt be on your reports.
As of yesterday, 5-31-2020 I had two BOGUS medical collection accounts on my credit that were deleted from my credit. It was with a well known (read horrible- deploarable) collection agency called MidWest Recovery Solutions out of Earth City, MO. Just look them up on Google or the BBB wesbite and you'll see how they rank. Anyway, I monitor my credit often and yesterday I received the email from Experian and Walletthub stating both the bogus medical collections were deleted. I guess MidWest didn't like it when a man knows the Fair Credit Reporting Act Rules & Regs / Timeframe for them to PROVE a debt. I mailed them paperwork by USPS Registered Mail so they had to sign for everything, and then I refused to communicate with them unless it was by paper. They gave up after about 25 days. I had insurance when they said I owed on medical bill,s that did not even have account numbers, doctors names/ locations, or procedures done. Complete lies and BS from them!
My score is getting better and I do have a little credit. I want better cards with higher limits, but I do not want to burn hardpulls. Can anyone suggest card(s) offering at least $2000 to $3000 in unscecured credit, preferably no annual fee (really hate those), and cash back or low interest. I don't mind 1 or 2 being gasoline cards, maybe a LOWES card too (what man doesn't love LOWES...ha ha?) but prefer 1-2 cards more like an AMEX, Citi / Chase, Wells Fargo, etc. I did apply for another Discover AFTER I PAID THE OLD ACCOUNT OFF, but they would not even issue me a secured card. Guess they hold a grudge? Yep. I don't travel out of the country, I never fly so airline miles are useless to me. Cards that offer lower interest, no annual fees, quick/easy to achieve CL increases, etc. are what I'm after. If I had a $3000-$5000 limit card with around 9.9% to 14.9% interest, I might carry a small monthly balance of $200 to $300. Honestly, I'd probably always pay in full monthly. I know AMEX (plain) works that way, you charge and pay 100% of your charges per month, but I don't think my credit score is high enough for one of those yet. If I was at 720 -740 FICO I'd apply at AMEX instead of typing this.
I do not carry a balance month to month. Items I charge now are small with the most having been $356 last week for a piece of furniture I bought. I went online 2 days later and paid it in full and now have a $13 blance on a $1000 limit secured card. Anyway, here's what I've got, and it isn't much. I earn about $75,000 per year, I own my car so no payment there, my house payment is $895 and it's a rental so no mortgage credit for that (been here about 1 year- never late). I have cable & internet combo for about $160/month from Comcast/ Xfinity always paid on time- early. My utilities vary from $130 to $280 depending on how hot it is. I live in the hot and humid South close to Memphis, TN and I believe strongly in air conditioning. Car insurance is about $1400/ year. Divorced, no kids, no child support, great health insurance at no cost. Trying to get credit built as strong as possible to obtain a house loan in the next 3 years and move to Tennessee. My projected house expense at that time would be a home around $165,000 to $230,000 max. In the Mid South that goes a very long way compared to the Northeast, California, or other more metro areas.
Again Vantage Score (TransUnion) was upped from 660 yeaterday to 671 this morning. Would like unsecured cards with $2000 or higher limit with good chances of further CL increases in 6 -9 -12 months. Need high approval odds! I do not want to waste hardpulls. I have 5 HP's right now. Not good, but not terrible.
Open Sky $1000 secured ($13 balance)
US Bank $300 unsecured ($0 balance)
Credit 1 Bank: $500 secured ($17 balamce)
FingerHut- unsecured with $250 limit....probably never buy from they as they are too high on everything! ($0 balance)
Self CD/Loan: 24 month term at $35/month....Have had this since January 2020 Exceptional payment history, never late on anything. About $585 or so left on this that comes out of my ckg account every month. Never late- perfect payment record on everything I now have.
As you stated. If you were mid 700's then maybe youcould get the cards you want. But w/o knowing your true FICO scoes its hard to tell where you stand. The Disco CO isnt helping much. You can get your 3 FICO scores at creditchecktotal.com for a buck and cancel before the trial ends. Report back where you stand. And any other baddies outside of Disco. Then we can see what may work in your favor.
