About 4 years ago, I realized I needed to figure out how to recover from bad credit. Got a divorce and ex-husband didn't pay the house mortgage for a year (he was living in the house). Eventually, the house was sold as a short sale. My beginning scores when I found myfico was the low 600's (Experian) and the high 500's (Equifax and Transunion).
I followed the rebuilding advice. Slowly but surely, my scores began to go up. Then, I qualified to purchase a home, just before COVID hit. Lucky me cause if I had waited until September of 2020, I would not have been able to afford my present home. (Purchased it for $430,000. It was recently assessed for $585,000....I live in the Northeast.).
Today: I still check my credit EVERYDAY. And my scores are now Equifax: 780; Transunion: 756; and Experian: 752.
I am no longer afraid of going to the mailbox or checking my email. I am no longer scared of answering the phone. I feel in control of my life and now guard my credit.
I am writing this for anyone who is going though it. I want you to know that you will get through this. I mean I did it while barely making ends meet; getting a divorce; taking care of my daughter; and working two jobs. If I can do it, I believe in you and know that you can do it. Just give yourself time, and don't beat yoursel up when you make a mistake. You can always recover.
Thank you to all in this forum who had such sage advice. Because of your sage advice, I have come so far. The journey was long and slow, but I'm here.
Just wanted to update: I've reached 800 as of today!!! This was a dream of mine that at one time I thought was unattainable. But, 5 years later, here I am. When I checked my scores today, my Equifax score was 802; Transunion -- 792; and Experian -- 746. I do expect them to go down because I paid off my car note and my other installment loans. However, in a short while, they will rebound. I am taking a screenshot of this momentous occasion. I'm just so happy.
Again, if you knew my story and from where I had to dig myself from, you would know that following the advice of the forum, you can do it too!!
Congrats! I am getting impatient with how slow the process seems to feel. Started in mid 500s to now getting close to mid 600s. Seeing these posts reassures me to be more patient.
Don't give up. It is a long, slow process. If it was fast you would yo-yo between good credit and bad credit. Just keep going and don't give up.
