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Help with situation please and thank you

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Anonymous
Not applicable

Help with situation please and thank you

Alright guys, this is what I was thinking of doing. I would like to tell u my financial rundown, and it would really help me your tips that you can give me. So if you could please help me figure out what to do.

 

Experian: 684
Transunion: 672
Equifax: 649

 

 

Debts (some of them i had BEFORE. now i do much less ill explain why)

 

CareCredit: 780 (limit 4,000) (xwz)
Discover: 480 (500) (this is my everyday acc)
Barclays: 1,600 (1.700) (bought a macbook)
Walmart: 20 (400 but i just got a cli to 800)
First premier: 190 (200) (my first credit card from 2009)
First Premier: 312 (300) (second credit card from 2011 i think)
Citi: 1,000 (5000) AU on my ex. (Didnt pay that)
Owed my dad: 4,000

 

The first 3 were all around october last year. I got them thinking it would help my credit since i was adding more accs and higher limits. Now i used all of it so i decided to make another move in order to attempt improving my credit.

 

The approach i decided to take was:

 

Refinance the loan i had taken for 1,500 around the end of last year and pay everything. That way i still have the debt, but im putting it on an installment acc with no limit. Good factors i belive would be:

 

--To add a new type of acc to my history
--have all debt on an acc that has no limit. Therefore, the usage factor which is a big part of my history wouldnt hurt as much since im guessing they still take it as a whole.
--But if thats true then i would technically be using the other credit i have to balance
--Also, I think it would help the factor of paying down all credit cards as a good action.

 

All of this things make me believe that paying down at least 5,000 would help my credit tremendously. The thing is, i have no idea of what to expect since the only thing that has reported was the paydown for Avant credit which gave me 31 pts on exp.

 

Going to my websites right now as i type, balances are.

 

This are the limits that were in the statement closing date which i belive is the only day they report balances.

Care credit: 500 (4,000)
Discover: 129 (500)
Barclays: 170 (1,700)
Walmart: 173 (800)
First premier: 56 (200)
First premier: 16 (300)
Avant loan: 5,800
City: 1,100

 

Did several calculations:

500
129
170
173
56
16
1,100
--------
2,300 - credit card total debt
5.800 - Avant loan
--------
8,000 - Total CC & Loan
--------
4,000
500
1,700
800
200
300
5,000
--------

12,500 - Total limits

8,000 -   Total debt
--------
8,000 - Current debt
2,500 - Balance needed to reach 20 % Usage
--------

5,500 - MUST PAY ASAP to be at 20% usage total credit CARD AND LOAN debt (8,000 - 2,500 = 5,500)

 

Few questions:
If my wife removes me from her citi, is it true that i get to keep the limit but the debt goes away from my report?
What course of action (and how hard) is for me to reach 700's?

If you could please send me a message or post what would YOU do.

 

Thank you, 

 

 

 

 

Message 1 of 12
11 REPLIES 11
NRB525
Super Contributor

Re: Help with situation please and thank you

Thanks for listing the details. Often, posters just put a bare minimum, and it's difficult to get to some recommendations.

 

The AU account with your wife (ex-wife?). If she removes you as AU, that account and the related history is removed from your report, and no, you don't keep the limit, or the history, nothing. The $1,100 becomes a question because technically it is on her credit card. You should pay it just to keep things civil. You should also let her know you are paying it, because unless her payment history with this card is really bad, this card is boosting your current score. If she removes you, if it drops from your report, you probably will see a score drop, because you would lose that positive history. Thus, best action now is to play nice and keep paying and see if she will keep you as AU for a while.

 

The two First Premier accounts, anything you can do to avoid using those, is a good financial decision. The fees associated with even touching those cards are quite outrageous. I'd leave them open because of the history, but try not to use them, or figure out the best way to use them without fees (a difficult game, I think).

 

What is the interest rate on the Avant loan? How many months for the payments? Before deciding whether to let this one ride or pay it faster, that information is needed.

 

Care Credit: Likely best to pay this one off over a reasonable / regular payment plan. $500 as a basis for interest cost is not a lot, so I would not ignore it, but I would not be in a huge rush to pay it down first.

 

Discover, Barclays, and Walmart. There is an important concept of Pay In Full. This is where the card is used as a daily spender, but then you pay the entire statement balance by the due date. These three cards should be put on PIF mode, no carried balances, no interest cost allowed. What this does is, it forces you to stay within your budget. Only those charges that are part of your controlled daily living costs go on the cards, and then you pay them off by the due date, or earlier if you are approaching the credit limit.

 

Now, additional information please: What are the negatives in your file? The scores in your siggy are low 600's, implying some combination of lates or charge offs or other baddies. What is the status of those, because they will have some influence on your score for as long as they are on your credit report.

High Bal Jan 2009 $116k on $146k limits 80% Util.
Oct 2014 $46k on $127k 36% util EQ 722 TU 727 EX 727
April 2018 $18k on $344k 5% util EQ 806 TU 810 EX 812
Jan 2019 $7.6k on $360k EQ 832 TU 839 EX 831
March 2021 $33k on $312k EQ 796 TU 798 EX 801
May 2021 Paid all Installments and Mortgages, one new Mortgage EQ 761 TY 774 EX 777
April 2022 EQ=811 TU=807 EX=805 - TU VS 3.0 765
Message 2 of 12
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Help with situation please and thank you

Hey KS!  Thanks for trying to give us a lot of information.  I think we may be able to reduce it all to the following essentals:

 

Credit Cards ONLY:

How much is your total credit limit?

What is your total debt?

 

Installment loan only:

What is the amount of the original loan?

Of that, how much do you currently owe on that loan?

 

Payment history:

Do you have any negative information?  That would be any lates, missed payments, liens, bankruptcies, etc. 

 

Account age:

What is the age of your oldest account?

What is the average age of your accounts (AAoA)?

Do not include the AU account in those two calculations.

What is the age of the AU account?

 

Your question about the AU:

    * I am almost certain that you can't have it both ways.  Either you get the debt and the credit limit from the AU account, or you get neither (assuming oit is removed).

 

Steps to take:

 

* Remove the Citibank AU account.  The purpose of AU accounts is to help a person who would otherwise have very few accounts of his own.  You have plenty of other accounts.  The only reason to keep it is if the account is WAY older than all your others.  For example, if it is 12 years old and your next oldest account is 2 years old.  Even then I would only keep it if you can convince your wife to pay it down to a smaller amount -- and in the long run you would still be planning to get rid of it in a few years.

 

* Pay off most of your cards, by which I mean pay them down to zero and make sure they report as zero.  Make sure that you have at least one card that reports with a positive balance.  Your score is being harmed by having many accounts that report a positive balance.

 

* Bring your total credit card utilization down to less than 9%.  This does NOT include your installment loan.

 

* Don't open any more new credit cards for a while.

 

* Always pay your bills on time.

 

Those steps should improve your score significantly.  Do those FIRST and then as a secondary measure work on paying down the installment loan (though you may want to keep it open but with a low amount owed).

 

Message 3 of 12
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Help with situation please and thank you

PS.  Just saw that NRB525 posted with his usual good advice. 

 

He emphasizes the issue of negatives and I agree (one of the reasons I asked about it).  He's right that these will create a "ceiling" for your credit score.  In other words, you could make all the rest of it perfect and you still won't be able to score higher than a certain amount.  That's why any forward looking plan should include a clear sense of exactly what your past negative payment history is (assuming you have any, which seems quite possible).

Message 4 of 12
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Help with situation please and thank you

Hello and thanks for the tips, really helpfull it gave me more knowledge.

 

I say it bcause we havent divorced yet but were are separated... She got me as AU to help me build credit so theres nothing to worry about that... shes on her side and im on mine... thats why i didnt pay it, because i just have it there to help me.

 

About the Premiers, dont worry... i had left them in like $20 and $30 balances because i though it would help me more than just having them on a zero balance (doesnt it work like that?). but i will bring them down to zero now that i see your advice.

 

AVANT loan rate is 35.90% (Insanely high but i though it would be very to have a loan with no limit than maxed out credit cards).

Term 60 months

Payments 230

Loan= 6,400

Finance= 7,450

Total= 13,850 (I know this is outrageous but im planing to pay it by nest april when i recieve my taxes)

 

CareCredit i had a high balance and i just brough it down and make payments of 50/month

 

Now Baddies...

 

I cannot belive that after writing all of that information i left out the most important thing, which are the baddies...

 

There is a history of baddies but i only have one right now. I do think it might help you to help me by knowing all the details of my baddies history

 

Very first baddie i had was on my first credit card (First Premier $200). 5 months delinquent

-- My dad got me my first credit card but he didnt explained me nor coached me on how to handle it... Im from Venezuela and by that time i was 19 and no idea what credit was (or how important it was for me) since there is no cuch thing as credit in my country. I decided to just use it and never paid it, it went up till like 190% usage but i didnt even bother on worrying about that...

 

Second baddie i had on my credit was more than 3 years ago, a collection acc. I know this, because i started worrying about credit around that time (3 years ago when i started to work at Wells Fargo) and decided to catch up on my report. so i called the company to see what was all that about and found out that it was a collection for my sister but they had made an error since we both lived at the same household. got that removed and my credit score went up alot of points (cant remember how many) but i know thats when i got my hopes back up.

 

Then i cant remember but i know ive had in the history a total of about 3 more collections. (like 3 months ago was the last one of them)

 

Then i had another lates on my walmart and one on discover a few months ago (i though i had automatic payments and when they called me it was too late.

ALL of this baddies have been removed  with Lexington Law. I know alot of people had a horrible experience with them but for me has worked like a charm. 

 

NOW... my ceiling... the one i created for neglicence... is a 30 day late payment i had on my oldest (First premier $200) reported last december. i had changed banks because i moved and didnt change it online for auto payments... once again... when they called was too late...

-- This baddie HAS been there like a fricking bubble gum... they been working on it for a LOOONG time... and in the midtime they removed the late from my walmart, the other one, and the collection i got recently (without having to pay anything). 

 

Its frustrating the fact that everything has gone away in such a fast way, yet the one ive had for years wont help me remove that. i dont know what to do regarding this but hopefully with your help you guys can guide me in the right direction.

 

BTW: today morning i got an update on my scores!!! Great improvement (you can see it on my signature) hopefully i will keep on going up since the only factor reported was the payoff for the barclays $1700 and the premier paydown.

 

 

Message 5 of 12
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Help with situation please and thank you

Hello CG and thanks for reading and helping, very much appreciated.

 

Credit Cards ONLY:

How much is your total credit limit? - 12,500 

What is your total debt? 2,300

 

Installment loan only:

What is the amount of the original loan? 6400

Of that, how much do you currently owe on that loan? 5800

 

Payment history:

Do you have any negative information?  That would be any lates, missed payments, liens, bankruptcies, etc. - only one acc with 30 day late

 

Account age:

What is the age of your oldest account? 05/11/2009

What is the average age of your accounts (AAoA)? I DNT KNOW HOW TO CHECK but i know not more than 2 years since i got most of the cc on a short period of time

Do not include the AU account in those two calculations.

What is the age of the AU account? 10/28/2011

 

Your question about the AU:

    * I am almost certain that you can't have it both ways.  Either you get the debt and the credit limit from the AU account, or you get neither (assuming oit is removed).

 

Steps to take:

 

* Remove the Citibank AU account.  The purpose of AU accounts is to help a person who would otherwise have very few accounts of his own.  You have plenty of other accounts.  The only reason to keep it is if the account is WAY older than all your others.  For example, if it is 12 years old and your next oldest account is 2 years old.  Even then I would only keep it if you can convince your wife to pay it down to a smaller amount -- and in the long run you would still be planning to get rid of it in a few years.

 

* Pay off most of your cards, by which I mean pay them down to zero and make sure they report as zero.  Make sure that you have at least one card that reports with a positive balance.  Your score is being harmed by having many accounts that report a positive balance.

 

* Bring your total credit card utilization down to less than 9%.  This does NOT include your installment loan.

 

* Don't open any more new credit cards for a while.

 

* Always pay your bills on time.

 

Those steps should improve your score significantly.  Do those FIRST and then as a secondary measure work on paying down the installment loan (though you may want to keep it open but with a low amount owed).

 

BTW question, my sister had 2 horrible history with credit cards (CO, USbank) would t help her if i add her to my acc with highes limit? 1,700

 

Message 6 of 12
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Help with situation please and thank you

I also red that if im added to an AU such as an amex it benefits me alot because they backdate and limits... would anyone be able to help me adding me?

Message 7 of 12
NRB525
Super Contributor

Re: Help with situation please and thank you


@Anonymous wrote:

I also red that if im added to an AU such as an amex it benefits me alot because they backdate and limits... would anyone be able to help me adding me?


The AU situation results in picking up the history from the existing user, while you are an AU. You may be thinking of the AMEX Backdating method where the AU could app for a new card and pick up that older starting date as their own. I believe AMEX ceased all their backdating of new cards earlier this year. So, while you could get history benefit from the AU situation, likely not from extending that to a new AMEX of your own.

High Bal Jan 2009 $116k on $146k limits 80% Util.
Oct 2014 $46k on $127k 36% util EQ 722 TU 727 EX 727
April 2018 $18k on $344k 5% util EQ 806 TU 810 EX 812
Jan 2019 $7.6k on $360k EQ 832 TU 839 EX 831
March 2021 $33k on $312k EQ 796 TU 798 EX 801
May 2021 Paid all Installments and Mortgages, one new Mortgage EQ 761 TY 774 EX 777
April 2022 EQ=811 TU=807 EX=805 - TU VS 3.0 765
Message 8 of 12
NRB525
Super Contributor

Re: Help with situation please and thank you


@Anonymous wrote:

 

About the Premiers, dont worry... i had left them in like $20 and $30 balances because i though it would help me more than just having them on a zero balance (doesnt it work like that?). but i will bring them down to zero now that i see your advice.

 

AVANT loan rate is 35.90% (Insanely high but i though it would be very to have a loan with no limit than maxed out credit cards).

Term 60 months

Payments 230

Loan= 6,400

Finance= 7,450

Total= 13,850 (I know this is outrageous but im planing to pay it by nest april when i recieve my taxes)

 

 

 

 


For the First Premier cards, I have not had one, but from what I hear about the terms, it may be possible to use them now and then, and then use the limited number of "free early payments" to pay that charge, or a few charges over a few days, before they have much time to generate interest and fees. In other words, it is probably a good idea to use them for something minor like a tank of gas or some groceries, and then arrange to pay that off a few days later. This may also avoid some "inactive fee" that they have and I am speculating about Smiley Happy

 

Yeah, you understand where you are with the Avant loan. At that rate, any spare cash you come up with early, to pay that down ahead of the tax refund will put lots of extra money in your pocket. With the available credit cards you have from Discover and such, you can handle daily spend there, manage payments on those cards to PIF. If you have any savings, I would consider drawing some of those down, because the 0.01% APR you are earning on the savings can be improved to saving 36% APR by putting that money toward the Avant loan, particularly if you get a windfall tax refund later.

 

What is the APR on each of the three regular credit cards you have, Discover, Walmart and I think you had Barclays? (I am being charitiable about the walmart card, it's probably a store card, but they sell so much stuff that it might as well be a regular CC)

 

You might check the Capital One prequalification site, to see if any cards come up there. Your recent improvement in scores, and even with a late, you may be OK to get a basic Capital One card. Try to go for a Quicksilver no annual fee card, but they may route you to Quicksilver One with an AF. No matter, if you get a CapOne card, you can start building a relationship with them and 6 months or a year from now apply for a better Capital One card.

 

Good luck!

High Bal Jan 2009 $116k on $146k limits 80% Util.
Oct 2014 $46k on $127k 36% util EQ 722 TU 727 EX 727
April 2018 $18k on $344k 5% util EQ 806 TU 810 EX 812
Jan 2019 $7.6k on $360k EQ 832 TU 839 EX 831
March 2021 $33k on $312k EQ 796 TU 798 EX 801
May 2021 Paid all Installments and Mortgages, one new Mortgage EQ 761 TY 774 EX 777
April 2022 EQ=811 TU=807 EX=805 - TU VS 3.0 765
Message 9 of 12
redbeard
Frequent Contributor

Re: Help with situation please and thank you

Given your current scores, it won't be hard to reach 700.

You have several cards at or above 90% of their limit. This is scoring penalty territory. Focus on paying everything to less than 85% of the limit and you'll probably be pretty close, at least on Experian and TransUnion.

A rule of thumb to live by:
Do NOT EVER borrow money at 30+%. This is treadmill territory, where its very difficult to pay it off because so much of it is interest only. I've been there, you have to make SUBSTANTIALLY more than minimum payments to ever get off the treadmill at this rate.

Unless you have a need for jumping your score, work on paying all the cards down to under 85%, then focus on paying off things.

Don't pay extra for a few FICO points just to play the FICO game, do what is best for you financially, which usually means getting rid of high interest debt first.

Dan
Just trying to get my scores to rise from the dead......

Wait.... I think I just heard a heartbeat!

Message 10 of 12
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