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I've been in the garden since I received my secured Discover it card back in December, but I hopped out of the garden when I received a preapproval for an unsecured Capital One Premium card with no AF today. I was approved, so while I hated leaving the garden it was worth it to add a second credit card to aid in my credit building. I'm right back in, though, because I am proof that gardening works. I went from no credit and some kind of fako in the 500s to (according to Discover's credit score) a 669. So, I definitely hit a milestone today. Hoping to be in the mid to high 700s by the end of the year.
Over 600 in all 3 CRAs now!
paid off loan reported
new $500 cl visa w cu reported
EX down 5
EQ up 14
hasnt reported to TU yet
In the past month, I've raised my FICO from 580 to 685, by removing all 5 of the collection accounts on my report, and dropping credit util from 99% to 22%. To top it off, I was just approved for a Chase Sapphire Preferred and an Amex Blue Cash Preferred!
It's been a hell of a month! I've been eying those cards for a long time.
I'll be gardening now for 6 months, until I request a CLI on the CSP, then continue gardening the rest of the year. Meanwhile, I'm hoping to get SP CLIs on my WF Platinum and Amex BCP. Hopefully I can also take care of the late payments still on my report and continue moving on up past 700.
I'm just checking in for the month. Still fairly new to credit building but excited none the less. I noticed my mindset has changed since Ive started being active here. I actually spend ALL my free time combing through reports trying to make sure nothing else gets added( it did) and writing letters to medical collectors and sending in payments that are comfortable for me and my income..all to prevent ANYTHING from hindering my progress. I did have a setback a few days ago when I saw a new collection added to my EX. It says its from Comcast but thing is I've never had comcast...I'm an ATT person. Well I am on top of it with writing my letter to CA to get that disputed. I also received another letter from someone else whom I have no idea for offering to settle for me. A letter went out to them same day. I am not playing with debt anymore...legitimate or not. I am staying on top of it and requesting information when I dont recognize instead of having things added my report in error or stupidity. I promise it seems the minute you get serious about debt and payoff all the crap you owe and get those collections taken care of the COLLECTION GODS find out and EVERYONE you ever done business with starts coming out of their hiding place! But I'm staying focused...this forum has done wonders for my self esteem in regards to credit. I literally eat, breath, sleep "credit" and what I can do to improve my standing. Not numbers so much but rather learning good habits.
Checking in for March! So far so good, paying down my debt, slowyly but I'm getting there.
In February I was able to accomplish one of my goals for the year! Got an auto loan for a good rate from DCU and traded in my dying 15 year old car for a 2 year old Subaru that I love! Also added more money to my savings and paid another chunk off credit cards.
For March I will keep adding to savings, keep paying on the cards, and make my first car payment. Gardening until summer then I will app for a rewards card.
Best of luck to everybody for the month
@MarineVietVet wrote:
@coffeegal wrote:So January was a great month for me, February -- not so much scorewise. I was able to see the results of having tax liens and old collections removed from my credit reports. The timing was great, as I needed to replace my old car. February was a month of change. I paid off my old auto loan, opened a new one, closed my stupid FP MC, and my J Crew card finally saw a CLI, going from $740 to $4940 (yay!). My scores literally change daily with new items reporting, and other items going away. In January, I opened an AMEX BCE and a Green card, as well as a Visa from my CU (preapproved/offered to me from the same HP as my new auto loan). All of the ups and downs in my scores were within 1-5pts -- no big deal, however yesterday my old auto loan reported as paid on EX and caused my score to drop 25 points! I am very bummed to say the least. I am now waiting to see another anticipated drop in score when my new auto loan reports later this week or next (I just made my first payment yesterday).
So -- all that said, while I am sad to see my scores drop after they've seen some big jumps up, I have to remind myself that I am in a much better place financially and though my scores are not where I want them to be, I believe they will be in time. So, at this time, I am gardening, gardening, gardening.
Wise words indeed!
Thank you for the support!
Good morning! Checking in for March, didn't in Feb but my other half is doing a lot more work.
Just checked today after an alert and got a 34 point bump on EX 627! EQ is also showing me at 600 now! TU didn't update yet.
Feb opened a Credit One VISA, $300. Also have CapOne Plat $300 and CapOne QS $300 both in Step Program.
Bump was result of CreditOne reporting $75 balance and now reporting $0...........they bumped me yesterday from $300->$500 without asking.
CapOne balances reported on both in Feb and that got a small score increase then too..........statement is 3/14 and both PIF to report $0 this month.
Fingerhut raised me from $500 -> $1000. Let balance report in Feb which will now report 0 for March with the CLI when they report.
The Mrs has had huge credit growth and put me on as AU for some, not reporting yet. When they do will have Amex PRG nsl, USAA Visa 1500, Kay Jewelers $6000, Amercan Eagle $650 for now.
She will also add me to another higher limit just deciding which one, prob BJs Perks @ $4000.
Cap One Steps I think for me is July ; hoping they bump early like others are seeing on the forum since using and paying heavily few times per month.
No new apps for me on the horizon. She is now getting down to business to clean up the baddies for both of us. In the fall should both be in good shape with those plus building a record of payments.
i have very few inquiries so plan is for me to hit Barclays as my first new try around September......since they are inquiry sensitive, they will be first and I should be close to or at 700 after the clean up. My last app 1/27/15.
The Mrs is now officially in the garden too and has made huge leaps in available credit due ot this forum!
Hoping to see spring here in PA very soon.............enough cold and ice already!!!!
Good luck everyone!!