So last year I finally became a journeyman in my union and am trying to tackle all the bad stuff that piled up I ignored when I was young, dealing with a sickness without insurance, and didn't have the finances to maintain my irresponsible lifestyle. I won't give you a whole backstory on my life I'll just tell you what I owe and what I'm trying to do about it. I'll give you the basics. I have been reading on here for a while but I have no idea what I should be doing to fix my credit at this point besides pay off all the negative accounts on my credit report. I was going to open up a secured credit card but wanted to make this post before choosing one. Im looking to just get back to baseline, so i can put myself in a position to rebuild my score.
Transunion: 532 / Equifax: 559
April of last year I contacted somebody and started paying down the following accounts:
(I will state the info as it appears on credit karma and then type what im paying on it and if the info is different)
[all in collections][$5,132] I pay $236 per month.
Medical Bill
opened 8/13
balance: $3149
This account I've been paying 63 dollars a month for the past 8 mos i noticed my balance wasn't going down on credit karma and when i called them they said they dont report to the credit bureau until the whole thing is payed off.
Medical Bill
Opened 8/14
Balance: 611
Highest Balance:661
Cable Bill
opened 3/13
Highest balance: 605
Balance: 501
Medical Bill
opened 2/14
Highest balance: 488
Balance:408
Medical Bill
Opened 8/14
Highest Balance: 727
Balance: 399
Medical Bill
opened 8/18
Highest Balance: 499
Balance: 49
Medical Bill
Highest Balance: 240
Balance: 15
There were 3 accounts on there that don't work with the program that I paid off in 4 months all with balances over $500
That's everything in the accounts section. There isn't anything on my credit report I'm not paying down on including the car repo and student loans I will discuss further.
Car Repo
under the closed auto loans section:
Credit Acceptance Corp.(og creditor)
closed: 7/14
Balance: 15,758
I'm not sure what the balance is now but I've been paying 300 a month since 4/18. It is being handled by a collection agency our of Rochester. I never inquired because its nowhere near being paid off.
Student Loans
I haven't put a dime towards these because I was putting all my extra finances towards paying off those negative accounts on my credit report that somebody did not work with. All my extra money is going towards fixing my credit. I pay my bills, try to scrape together a little savings, but if i have any extra money its put away to make these payments down the line if i have a slow week at work. Anyway.......as it appears on my credit report. I have 4 closed student loans carrying balances. All from
US Dept of Education:
3,520
3.194
3,017
1,639
They seized my $7,xxx tax return last year and since reaching out to them I have been on their 5 dollar a month program just to get me out of default but I'm going to reach out to them this week since i have more finances available to pay them. They are looking for 133 dollars a month if they take my tax return this year then come April I'm just going to pay them off in one shot.
Alrite thats all the negative stuff i have going on. My current plan is just payoff as much stuff as I can and Open a secured credit card to use for gas. I also get two union checks, one in the winter and one in the spring each for around 6 grand. Should i use these to paying off what I owe as well? My biggest fear is I'm going to pay all this stuff off and my credit score is still going to be **bleep**. I have a car but its in my girlfriends name as obviously my credit situation did not allow me to get into a decent car with a normal payment. How the hell can i get above 600? I need all the tips and tricks folks PLEASE.
