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newbie needs help!

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Anonymous
Not applicable

newbie needs help!

hi, i have a 468 score and can't get even a secured card to begin rebuilding credit.  i have student loans and old collections that keep getting renewed.  where do i start?

Message 1 of 9
8 REPLIES 8
GoodCredBen
Valued Contributor

Re: newbie needs help!

FIRSt begin with grabbing your credit reports.

 

https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp

 

Second, detirmine what has been paid and what has not....

 

If anything has not been paid, then i would start sending PFD's (Pay-for-Delete) if you have the funds to pay them.

 

If not, i would start with little ones trying to get some of those knocked off...

 

 

These are just a few first steps, but this is what i have learned from the people here.

 

I am sure others are going to post on here as well, but its a good starter Smiley Happy

My credit journey has completed. I am currently sitting at 800+ across the board.

I started my journey here years ago, and thanks to MyFico, it really is possible.
Message 2 of 9
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: newbie needs help!

VERY much appreciated!  is there a standard PFD format i could find somewhere?  Also, if i pay off things, won't that make my score go down initially?  should i pay off the most recent first?  thanks.

Message 3 of 9
GoodCredBen
Valued Contributor

Re: newbie needs help!

There are alot of roads you can go down right now, if your oldest account is a collection, then i would wait to pay that once, but paying thing off (and getting them deleted) should make your score go up..... just paying them off vs leaving a balance (and it staying on your report either way) will show no improvement to your score...

 

 

 

My credit journey has completed. I am currently sitting at 800+ across the board.

I started my journey here years ago, and thanks to MyFico, it really is possible.
Message 4 of 9
Guava
Established Contributor

Re: newbie needs help!

There's really no "standard" form for Pay for Deletion letter. You should write your letter so that it reflects your personal situation and pleading in a sympathetic way.

There are a samples here on the forum, you can look at those to have some idea: PFD Example Letter and here's a straight forward one: Settlement letter 

 

Hope it helps

 


Starting Score (08/11/11): TU08: 643
Current Score: TU08: 741
Goal Score: Stay in the 700s; keep reports clean


Take the FICO Fitness Challenge
Message 5 of 9
bichonmom
Senior Contributor

Re: newbie needs help!

To clarify what someone else posted here: If you pay a collection, it still remains on your credit report and I believe that a paid collection does NOT improve your score over an UNPAID one. Be sure you get a PFD agreement BEFORE you pay anything. 

 

Also, you may be able to qualify for a secured loan with your local bank or CU. (Probably not a big bank, like BofA or Wells Fargo, etc., but a *small* local bank or credit union.)

 

A secured loan is easier to get because it's not revolving. You just need to be sure that they will report it to the CRAs each month. Also, it doesn't affect your cash flow because, let's say you deposit $1000. They will usually keep 10%, so you would be able to "borrow" $900. So your cash flow is only affected by $100 (unlike with a secured credit card). Then you just make monthly payments. The interest is usually *very* low, too, so it's an inexpensive way to begin rebuilding positive credit.

EQ FICO 750 | TU FICO 761 (Walmart) | EX FAKO 767 | Goal: 800+

Edits, funky spacing and spelling due to my iPad not getting along with the forum editor!

Message 6 of 9
LIGHTNIN
Senior Contributor

Re: newbie needs help!

Hi and Welcome to the forums,

 

When you pull your Free CR's, check for mistakes. 

Make sure all the items on your CR's are yours, and not someone elses.

 

Oh and btw, What do you mean by "old collections that keep getting renewed"?

How many collections do you have?   and how old are they?

And what state do you live in?

 

Credit repairing and rebuilding does take time to do, but it can be done. There is alot of reading to do.

Also you can make friends along the way. Start with reading Credit Scoring 101 , Freq Requested Threads.

And check out the stickys at the top of the board, loaded with wonderful infoSmiley Wink

 

 

FICO's May 2015 EQ764 ~~Live below your means and always keep an emergency fund -Love Everybody ~ Big Kenny ~ Big and Rich ~~~~~Credit Scoring 101 - Common Abbreviations - Freq Req Threads - Free Credit Reports - What Steps Do I Take?DV? PFD?
Message 7 of 9
GoodCredBen
Valued Contributor

Re: newbie needs help!

Isnt lightnin just wonderful?!?! theres a reson they are community leader!!! Smiley Very Happy

My credit journey has completed. I am currently sitting at 800+ across the board.

I started my journey here years ago, and thanks to MyFico, it really is possible.
Message 8 of 9
SupraTurbo2jz
Regular Contributor

Re: newbie needs help!

O.H...

CH 7 BK discharged 05/15 goal scores 680 across the board
Current Score: TU 657 EQ 676 EX 657 FICO pull 03/20/17

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Message 9 of 9
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