How is my file looking? Suggestions?

[cartwrna]

Well I started this journey late 2013 when my scores were low 400s, around 16 collections and a couple charge offs with a goal of reaching 600. I just hit 600 this week so it worked, although my Experian hasn't updated yet (got a recent charge off deleted) :-) :-) Currently my credit picture looks a lot better. As far good with no lates/bads indicated:

Installments:
Student loans opened 2007, balance $1600.
Car loan Sep 2013, balance 17.5k
Car loan May 2014, balance 29k
Car loan March 2014-May 2014 $0

Revolvers:
Cap 1 secured September 2012, $50/$200
Cap 1 QS1 1/15, $0/$500
Overstock 1/15, $0/$250
Buckle 1/15, $0/$250
Cred 1 7/14, $200/$300
WalMart AU 10/14, $400/$600
VS AU 11/13, $400/$1000
Cred 1 AU 1/14, $290/$400

Bad:

Verizon CO 9/2013, $1164 EQ,TU,EX
Progressive CO 2014, $145 (can PFD will ASAP) TU
Utility CO 2008, $89 EX (due to fall off 03/15)
Medical bill, $140 EX (might try HIPAA or attempt PFD, there office where collection is held is 30 min drive)

AAoA: Close to 2 years

Inquiries: TU 30ish and EQ 30ish EX 15ish
Around 15 are from rate shopping 09/13
Another 15 are from rate shopping 05/14

My plans currently are to bite the bullet and pay Verizon off with lots of GW to follow, I will PFD the progressive CO that's on TU, the CO that's on EX and scheduled to fall off 3/15 is same collection agency that is on EX for another one that's $140, there office is 30 min from me so I'm gonna offer a PFD on both accounts hoping that they will bite. My cars carry 19% interest rate but I talked to CU and they said once Verizon was paid and my EQ score reached 640 I could refi with them for 3.75% and as low as 1.75% if my score was higher. The Verizon shows under revolvers so hurting my UTI% so I'm hoping once I pay it off and all but one cc off and down to 5-9% that my scores creep up some more what do you think the chances of that are? The Verizon has a note that it's a collection but shows 0 lates which really helps me out. Once I pay that and refi my plan is to garden for the next 1.5-2 years until my inquiry's fall off. I may try for another Cap1 card mid year though so I can kick Credit One to the curb! My current scores are in my signature. My score when I started cleaning up at the end of 2013 is also there :-)

[gdale6]

If you can get those revolvers paid down to just 1 of them reporting a balance as you are saying and take care of the remaining baddies you most likely will get the points you are seeking, those AUs would have to be paid off as well, though I think in another thread I recommended you jettison them as they are hurting more than helping at this point.  The inqs from 13 are not hurting you now as far as Fico is concerned they are past the 1 year mark and the 2nd set of 15 are approaching 1 year though they should only be counted as 1 in Ficos eyes (doesnt always happen that way). If you get denied for inqs I would recon and just tell the UW that they were all auto related that usually puts their minds to rest. Keep up the good work you will get there

[cartwrna]

Well I plan on paying down the AU accounts as well, there my wife's who is a stay at home mother, so I actually pay them lol. Although they are pretty recent so thought about ditching them anyhow since I have 3 new lines showing up and that's deff going to hurt my AAoA, so I should rebound some there if they are gone. I can get rid off all the baddies I'm pretty sure, aside from Verizon. They are a whole nother devil! I'm not sure how much that account will hurt me. I'm sure I can still get to 700s with it on my reports, but it would be a lot faster without! I've ran out of all possible routes for removal on that one though. EO office with them is HORRIBLE.

[cartwrna]

And as far as paying all my cc down, am I going to want to buy at least something small with them every month so they cut a statement?

[gdale6]

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@cartwrna wrote:
Well I plan on paying down the AU accounts as well, there my wife's who is a stay at home mother, so I actually pay them lol. Although they are pretty recent so thought about ditching them anyhow since I have 3 new lines showing up and that's deff going to hurt my AAoA, so I should rebound some there if they are gone. I can get rid off all the baddies I'm pretty sure, aside from Verizon. They are a whole nother devil! I'm not sure how much that account will hurt me. I'm sure I can still get to 700s with it on my reports, but it would be a lot faster without! I've ran out of all possible routes for removal on that one though. EO office with them is HORRIBLE.

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If its updating monthly then thats the one you want to settle first especially if they wont delete it, the faster it stops reporting and PIF will stop the monthly reporting after they update it once more to paid CO the faster it can begin to age in the eyes of Fico.

[gdale6]

You can use 1 in a month and let that one report the 1-9% balance, the next month you can use another, you dont have to use everyone of them every month. Just be sure to use them all at least once every 6 months so you dont get shut down for non use.

[themacstack]

I agree with the paying down of your cards and keeping them down.  Use one, pay it. Rotate the other, pay it.  Try to keep the balance you are carrying to less than 10% of your available credit.  You have some significant auto loans, perhaps it goes without saying but pay those like CLOCKWORK.  Last thing I might suggest is don't open any lines of credit if you can avoid it, credit cards, other installment loans, etc. for about a year.  As I see it the average age of your oldest account has likely dropped in the past 6-9 months.  While the hit to your FICO is short lived by opening additional lines of credit it does take that part of your score calculation down.

[cartwrna]

I don't plan on applying for anymore credit, aside from my refinance of cars so nearly all of my payment goes to principal. When you say pay them like clockwork are you talking just make sure I make the payments every month? I don't have any issues with making my payments as I have a secure job and make 70k or so a year. As far as the Verizon account that is reporting monthly, I will call tomorrow and setup payment arrangements on it so its out of the way. I will also go ahead and take care of the other collections while I'm at it. As far as keeping balances below 10%, that will be an easy task for me. I will rotate the cards, but I also plan on running 2k or more through the QS1 monthly due to its in the credit steps program and come my CLI time I'm going for a 3k or so CL. I will make sure it's paid down before statement cut time though.

[Anonymous]

I say your plan sounds a lot like mine, minus all of my baddies are paid. It is just a minimal usage and waiting game now. STAY IN THE GARDEN! *installs electric fence around cartwrna's garden*

[cartwrna]

Lol right, it's easy to get out of the garden. Some of my inquiries are recent. Around 4. I saw my scores jump up above 600 a few days ago though and couldn't resist. No more apping for this guy though!