OK, so for the last three years I have been monitoring my score and I have been doing what seems right financially. I was fiscally responsible, I lived within my means, I only applied for credit that I needed and when I received my bills I paid them. And I was rewarded with an increase in my FICO of about 50 points.
This didn’t seem right, so I set out to learn more. I disputed everything that didn’t seem exactly accurate, I applied for credit I didn’t need and I learned the system. In less than 6 months I got a bigger increase in my FICOs than I did in the previous 3 years.
In the next couple of months I will get even more increases, as I start paying bills before I need to, and my extra unwanted credit makes it look like I use less credit, even if it is the same dollar amount.
And yet in essence, my financial behavior has not changed at all. I will be using the same amount of credit, I will PIF as usual, I am no more or less of a risk than I was before. But my FICO will probably 75-100 points higher. Why does this make me feel dishonest?
Maybe it is just that I am so old I remember when people made decisions, not computers 
Why dirty? Now days excellent credit is sexy? Out bad credit, in excellent credit!
MidnightVoice wrote:OK, so for the last three years I have been monitoring my score and I have been doing what seems right financially. I was fiscally responsible, I lived within my means, I only applied for credit that I needed and when I received my bills I paid them. And I was rewarded with an increase in my FICO of about 50 points.
This didn’t seem right, so I set out to learn more. I disputed everything that didn’t seem exactly accurate, I applied for credit I didn’t need and I learned the system. In less than 6 months I got a bigger increase in my FICOs than I did in the previous 3 years.
In the next couple of months I will get even more increases, as I start paying bills before I need to, and my extra unwanted credit makes it look like I use less credit, even if it is the same dollar amount.
And yet in essence, my financial behavior has not changed at all. I will be using the same amount of credit, I will PIF as usual, I am no more or less of a risk than I was before. But my FICO will probably 75-100 points higher. Why does this make me feel dishonest?
Maybe it is just that I am so old I remember when people made decisions, not computers
Cmon... FICO Forums needs to at least stay PG-13. 
What are 12 year old doing here?
Tuscani wrote:Cmon... FICO Forums needs to at least stay PG-13.
When I finally hit 800's will I get more dates? I can see a tacky pick up line... Hi. I eat pizza and I have an 800 FICO score. Lets go to my place your place. hehe. Sorry. 
Actually I felt the same way. But then I realized by doing what I am doing, I am not taking advantage of the system since I am really doing it in real life. If anything at all, your credit score shows that you are willing to go the extra mile or 10 miles to show for it. Anyone that cares enough about their credit image deserves the highest they can get. I would be proud! :-)
Message Edited by ilovepizza on 05-27-2007 03:24 PM
Actually I felt the same way. But then I realized by doing what I am doing, I am not taking advantage of the system since I am really doing it in real life. If anything at all, your credit score shows that you are willing to go the extra mile or 10 miles to show for it. Anyone that cares enough about their credit image deserves the highest they can get. I would be proud! :-)
Message Edited by ilovepizza on 05-27-2007 03:24 PM
I would like to think so and I am sure everyone is. I have concerns though with posts that say "try and get it deleted" even when they know the info is either accurate or well within the SOL.
dekrist wrote:I wouldn't feel dirty...to me this is all a game and your playing by their rules.