It really doesn't matter if it reports secured or not for the most part. My scores are current as of today and I have nothing but secured credit. A manual review the secured notation may be a factor, but it certainly doesnt affect scores. 2 of my 5 cards report that way. other than that there really isn't any difference. Ive gone from low 5s to low mid 7s in less than a year on secured credit. I put in some work getting rid of my baddies, but the work is worth it when I get Amex preapproved mailers 
It literally makes me laugh like a crazy guy at the mailbox. Remember, a mortgage is a secured loan, the house being the security.
You make a very good point pfarro, secured or not it's still good to have a variety of types of credit. I currently only have just a Captial One Secured Credit card but I'm going to add another 1-2 secured cards soon so I can maximize my boost potential. Any recommendations on good secured cards? I've heard SDFCU is highly recommended but I want to try to get a secured card that will have the potential to graduate to unsecured.
I'm in the low 500s and I want to try to get to 700+ in a year or so hopefully. 
Thanks again for the advice, I really enjoy reading and learning from the community here!
Starting Score: EQ 497 TU 504 EX 484*****Update*****
I was able to settle the old balance with Direct Energy for $295.08 over the phone. I spoke with the Credit department and they verified that he account had not been sold to the CA Convergent Outsourcing but merely was assigned to the CA to try and help collect the debt.
I paid in full and the account is now closed with a $0 balance and the representative informed me that within a week it should reflect on my credit report.
Success!
Also the the debt from Asset Acceptance /CircuitCity $1,844 has fallen off as well as it was due to this Month!
So I've been able to have 1 collection removed by age and another will be removed by payment. Feels so good knowing I'm clearing this all up
Anyone know how I could get the T-Mobile debt mentioned cleared through the FTC Cramming that was discussed from Page 1? Just curious.
I'm also contemplating on getting 1-2 more secured credit cards to round out my revolving accounts. I've been looking into Bank of America as I've read great success stories with them. However I'm a little unsure if I'll get approved in my current state of credit. Anyone able to shed some light on that?
My current scores as of myFico are as follows:
MyFico Scores - From First Page
--------------------
Fico Score 8 Based on Equifax Data as of 12/21/2014 - 501 up from 497 (November '14)
Fico Score 8 Based on TransUnion Data as of 1/02/2015 - 534 up from 504 (November '14)
Fico Score 8 Based on Experian Data as of 12/22/2015 - 497 up from 484 (November '14)
Februrary Scores - Progress
------------------------
Equifax 2/5/2015 - 523 up from 501 (December '14)
TransUnion 2/6/2015 - 533 down 1 point from (December '14)
Experian 2/3/2015 - 511 - up from 497 (December '14)
Baby steps on my way to the 700+ club! Thanks for all the support you guys! Means a lot!
@super_dave05 wrote:*****Update*****
I was able to settle the old balance with Direct Energy for $295.08 over the phone. I spoke with the Credit department and they verified that he account had not been sold to the CA Convergent Outsourcing but merely was assigned to the CA to try and help collect the debt.
I paid in full and the account is now closed with a $0 balance and the representative informed me that within a week it should reflect on my credit report.
Success!
Also the the debt from Asset Acceptance /CircuitCity $1,844 has fallen off as well as it was due to this Month!
So I've been able to have 1 collection removed by age and another will be removed by payment. Feels so good knowing I'm clearing this all up
Anyone know how I could get the T-Mobile debt mentioned cleared through the FTC Cramming that was discussed from Page 1? Just curious.
I'm also contemplating on getting 1-2 more secured credit cards to round out my revolving accounts. I've been looking into Bank of America as I've read great success stories with them. However I'm a little unsure if I'll get approved in my current state of credit. Anyone able to shed some light on that?
My current scores as of myFico are as follows:
MyFico Scores - From First Page
--------------------
Fico Score 8 Based on Equifax Data as of 12/21/2014 - 501 up from 497 (November '14)
Fico Score 8 Based on TransUnion Data as of 1/02/2015 - 534 up from 504 (November '14)
Fico Score 8 Based on Experian Data as of 12/22/2015 - 497 up from 484 (November '14)
Februrary Scores - Progress
------------------------
Equifax 2/5/2015 - 523 up from 501 (December '14)
TransUnion 2/6/2015 - 533 down 1 point from (December '14)
Experian 2/3/2015 - 511 - up from 497 (December '14)
Baby steps on my way to the 700+ club! Thanks for all the support you guys! Means a lot!
If it was me, I would first google "FTC TMOBILE 2014" and get as much info about the case as possible. Then sit down and write a letter to the CA basically saying your unpaid bill is the result of T-Mobile's cramming policy, and they never rectified the situation to your satisfaction, resulting in you leaving them for another carrier, and the resultant unpaid bill. Reference the FTC case and tell them you are willing to settle the account, but only if it gets deleted.
***UPDATE***
Hey everyone! Just checking in and updating on how I've been doing lately with my credit rebuilding. *hope I'm not necroing* 
Just recently I tried applying for the Capital One Platinum Unsecured card after maintaining a 10% UTIL and perfect monthly payments for around 6 months straight. Of course I got the longest "Please Wait while your application is processing".....But I GOT APPROVED!
I got approved for a $500 UNSECURED Capital One Credit card and just received in the mail today! I'm so excited and it feels great to know that my hard recent work paid off by getting a new higher limit and on an unsecured card. My current secured card with them only has a limit of $300 by deposits so they definitely are taking a strong leap of faith and trust in me and I'm determined to not let them down!
My question is should I close the secured card with them now that I have an unsecured one? or should I keep it and not use it till they give me a CLI on the unsecured? I'm not that familiar with how it'll affect my overall credit.
Side question - I have been monitoring my credit reports and scores and notice that the CA for my old Direct Energy balance of $295, which stated in a previous post I paid off and was assured that it would be cleared, is still showing up. So should I DV the CA and then it'll clear out because no balance exists? Never sent a DV or GW before.
April Scores - Progress
------------------------
Equifax 4/14/2015 - 531 up from 523 (Februrary '15)
TransUnion 2/6/2015 - 540 down 533 point from (Feburary '15)
Experian 2/3/2015 - 515 - up from 511 (Feburary '15)
Also thank you Norman for that suggestion on the T-Mobile, I'm definitely going to write up a letter this weekend for that to see how that goes.
@super_dave05 wrote:***UPDATE***
Hey everyone! Just checking in and updating on how I've been doing lately with my credit rebuilding. *hope I'm not necroing*
Just recently I tried applying for the Capital One Platinum Unsecured card after maintaining a 10% UTIL and perfect monthly payments for around 6 months straight. Of course I got the longest "Please Wait while your application is processing".....But I GOT APPROVED!
I got approved for a $500 UNSECURED Capital One Credit card and just received in the mail today! I'm so excited and it feels great to know that my hard recent work paid off by getting a new higher limit and on an unsecured card. My current secured card with them only has a limit of $300 by deposits so they definitely are taking a strong leap of faith and trust in me and I'm determined to not let them down!
My question is should I close the secured card with them now that I have an unsecured one? or should I keep it and not use it till they give me a CLI on the unsecured? I'm not that familiar with how it'll affect my overall credit. You would keep the secured until you are obtaining good quality unsecured cards.
Side question - I have been monitoring my credit reports and scores and notice that the CA for my old Direct Energy balance of $295, which stated in a previous post I paid off and was assured that it would be cleared, is still showing up. So should I DV the CA and then it'll clear out because no balance exists? Never sent a DV or GW before. You call them and remind them of your deal, if they are still recalitrant then you would file a BBB complaint for shoddy business practices. I would however give them 2 months to clear it before proceeding.
April Scores - Progress
------------------------
Equifax 4/14/2015 - 531 up from 523 (Februrary '15)
TransUnion 2/6/2015 - 540 down 533 point from (Feburary '15)
Experian 2/3/2015 - 515 - up from 511 (Feburary '15)
Also thank you Norman for that suggestion on the T-Mobile, I'm definitely going to write up a letter this weekend for that to see how that goes.
Sounds good gdale, I'll give them the time recommended then see about pursuing the removal. I'm curious though, are you referring to speaking with the CA on the matter? I paid the old balance to the OC as it wasn't sold off, it was just assigned to a CA to try and collect it, so I was able to clear the old balance with the OC directly.
Also, what should be my next step as far as accumulating more unsecured cards? Should I try any currently as I only have 1 inquiry that was on April 13, 2015 for the Capital One card. Or should I wait about 6 months before applying for another?
Just not sure how the inquiry time frame impacts new approvals or the approval right chances I currently have with my scores.
Thanks again
@super_dave05 wrote:Sounds good gdale, I'll give them the time recommended then see about pursuing the removal. I'm curious though, are you referring to speaking with the CA on the matter? I paid the old balance to the OC as it wasn't sold off, it was just assigned to a CA to try and collect it, so I was able to clear the old balance with the OC directly.
Also, what should be my next step as far as accumulating more unsecured cards? Should I try any currently as I only have 1 inquiry that was on April 13, 2015 for the Capital One card. Or should I wait about 6 months before applying for another?
Just not sure how the inquiry time frame impacts new approvals or the approval right chances I currently have with my scores.
Thanks again
Oh well, the OC had to recall it from the CA in order for the TL to be dropped and if the OC agreed to do it your call would go to the OC since thats who you dealt with, complaints would also be filed against the OC. Before you filed complaints you could always try GW letter directly to the CA. On another card SDFCU secured would be a good one and I understand if you put the money in savings and phone them to open the secured card its a SP.