im not getting anywhere

[CreditDrama85]

my credit seems so hopeless. every time i do a pfd another collection hits my reports and will lower my score by 40 pts or so.

maybe i am concentrating my efforts in the wrong way? if i leave the collections on my report, it will have less of an effect when another collection is posted....and if i am eventually able to do a pfd down the road....fine.

i have been working to make sure i have no collections, should i be working on my utilization (which is very high) and keeping other accounts current instead?

[Anonymous]

UTL will definitely help your score...that should be main focus...paying down as much as you can...but getting recent collection deleted should help too...

[BooBee]

I feel your pain (as I'm sure others do too), but don't give up.  We all messed up at some point or another and it's just going to take time and patience to see those numbers go up.  As well as responsible spending and bill payments.  I know for me it took a bad record to learn my lesson.  Now I can walk around with credit cards in my wallet and a zero balance.  If I use my card I try not to use too much and pay as quickly as I can.  If I know I can't pay quickly I reconsider my purchase.  I know everyone is not like that but keep reading the board and you'll be encouraged like I was.

[Anonymous]

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CreditDrama85 wrote:

my credit seems so hopeless. every time i do a pfd another collection hits my reports and will lower my score by 40 pts or so.

maybe i am concentrating my efforts in the wrong way? if i leave the collections on my report, it will have less of an effect when another collection is posted....and if i am eventually able to do a pfd down the road....fine.

i have been working to make sure i have no collections, should i be working on my utilization (which is very high) and keeping other accounts current instead?

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In the end, obviously everything will help you. Util accounts for about 30% of your score. A good Util is less than 10%, so try to lower it. Also keep current on payments, being late will add negatvies to your accounts. 120+ late account, takes the same hit as a charge off!

In the end, you will have to pay off your collections as well. Otherwise they will report every month.

[Anonymous]

Always attack your most recent collection first.

Try and intercept collections before they hit your credit report. If you know you are behind on something, try and work with the original creditor to keep the delinquency out of collections.