hey - that seems pretty cool - thanks for the link to the backdoor numbers! I will try that Monday.   another question. Increasing your credit limits seem like a great way to improve your credit score and borrowing capacity. Are there any guidlines to this process, like how often can I apply for a CLI? maybe once a month? as soon as I increase one card can I go to another? and so on and so on?   Are there any downsides to this if all the inquiries are soft?   I have 1 card I just opened in Jan - when can/should I ask them for a CLI? ... View more

yeah - I just figured that out - wish i had researched before I paid it off... I would have haggled for a PFD!   not sure what to do now - call and/or write a GW to try and get it removed... arrrggg... ... View more

thank you for your detailed info and questions. I don't know enough about credit to even ask the right questions yet!   I will start from the top:   1. the bank is BofA (soft sounds good)   2. I owe $868 and that is 11% so like 8K (my reports don't show my total)   3. Recent Inquiries show as follows EQ: 0  TU: 1 EX: [I have not pulled anything from EX because not available from myFICO]   4. FICOs as of yesterday 4/3/09 EQ:701 TU:690 EX: [again - no EX - just started working on my credit score recently]   Sounds like there is no reason I shouldn't ask BofA to increase my limit - what is the best way to do this? just call and ask them? do I need to ask for a limit or do they just come up with it on their own? Message Edited by natasjlp on 04-04-2009 09:43 AM ... View more

Is raising my credit limit subtantially something I can do to increase my credit score by lowering the % of balance to limit?   How long would something like that take to show on my score and would it offset any negatives like an inquiry and a 'new line of credit' mark.   I know a 'new line of credit' would negatively affect my score - how do they mark an increase of an existing credit line? do they mark it the same? ... View more

All of my balances are very low except for one that I am paying off - should be paid off in about 10 months.   Will the bank tell me if they do a hard inquiry?   Will the new ratio of revolving balances offset the negative of an inquiry if the new credit line is high enough?   Will it show as a negative because it is a 'new line of credit'? or does it slip by because it is on an older existing account - how is it reported?   I have 2 new accounts within a year but only 1 'recent inquiry'.   The Ratio of my revolving balances to my credit limits is 11%.   What are all possible ramifications of an increased credit limit on an existing card? I plan on keeping a low balance.     ... View more

fair enough - I just ordered the free trial score watch for EQ and the Quarter monitoring for TU.   Who has experience with the Suze package - is there an advantage to getting that on top of the 2 monitoring services I just bought or should I just stick with these 2?   By the way - I had noooo idea I was part of the 700 club!!! yeeha!! I thought for sure I was in the dumper!   just barely but hey - feeling pretty elated right now: EQ: 701 TU: 690 EX: ??? (jerks)   TU only 690 but both reports are still showing a collection that I paid off about 2 weeks ago. Does anyone know how long it takes for a paid collection to show? - and I have 2 relatively new accounts which should be maturing soon and another that the amount is going down.   Happy days are here again - going to get pre-approved in the next month! thanks myFICO! ... View more

right, but I think if you buy the Suze package I think you get better tools and advice you don't get than if you were to purchase 3 standards.   And I think there is a different info you get from the score watchers than you get from either standard or the Suze.   I am thinking about getting both score monitors and the Suze at the same time. This I think would make getting the standard obsolete.   Is there an advantage to getting those 3 packages as opposed to just the monitoring packages other than extra scores and reports? ... View more

gotcha - just read that in your info areas - What the heck does EX think they are doing?   it just seems weird - what is their reasoning? will they make more money this way? ... View more

does myFICO offer EX credit reports? I know they can no longer offer EX FICO scores - but can I get at least reports so I know what and if I need to dispute something? ... View more

Never really done this before - should I ask to speak with someone specific - what sort of questions should I ask etc...? ... View more

What is the easiest way to find out who owned the loan throughout the years? ... View more

yes, I guess that is part of my problem... I didn't know what I was doing years ago concerning my credit. I have (on paper) been making the same $85 payment for 4 years, 2 of which are said to be 'late' at this point. I am now making the same payment of $85 and no 'late payments' have been added since late 2007.   I have nothing in 'paper' or 'writing' (that I am aware of). Not sure where to start - perhaps calling and writing the CC again? Is there a simple legal explanation where after a payment agreement is made after the account is closed there are no 'late payments' if the agreed payment is made?    I am sure I did not agree to 'late payment' marks being allowed through this 'verbal agreement' after "I" closed the account. What do I do from here? legal counsel?? that is why I am here in the first place - please advise me. Even if that means advising me to seek legal counsel. ... View more

well, I closed the account over the phone and made an agreement to pay $85 a month. If the account was closed and I was making payments - how could anything past that be late? The account is closed, right? ... View more

thank you for the hope and idea. It is not completely paid off as yet - so maybe they will eventually remove the lates? should I write them a GW? I am not currently being reported as late (for year and a half now) but for 2 previous years I have been marked that way.   Thanks! I will need it... ... View more

gotcha - well, here is my predicament. I can get my statements online but they only go back to the begining of 2008. I am sure I can ask BofA to send me those statements in which they reported me to the CRAs as late and see what they say.   The issue is, I had an agreement for $85 a month and have been paying that steadily (with proof) for 4 years. 2 of those years are 120 days 'late payment' marks. I am curious if that is possible, even theoretically.   The only thing I can think of is let's say I had the payment program (which I did). And I somehow a payment didn't go through one month (they are all 'auto' payments), so the next month I owed them for 2 payments of $85 - but instead only 1 payment went through of $85 and then so on continuously every month. Would I be permantly late from then on until the 'second' missed payment went through?? which was never - and was not stopped as 'late' until I called them about it years later?? but perhaps negleted to remove the lates from before? ... View more

what sort of statement info or CR info would you like to know?   statement is clean as far as I know (at least now)   CR shows: remarks: 'closed by consumer' status: "paid or paying as agreed" Account type: "revolving debt"     ... View more

the CC account I think was originally like bank of boston or something in 1999. Never switched to a different Creditor, stayed with the company and worked it with them directly. Over years ultimately BofA now owns the account because they bought the bank who had my CC. So yes now BofA.   I also have another CC with BofA that has a perfect payment history for several years.   My current status is 'paying as agreed' and up to date etc... is there another status I should check? They stopped the 'late payment' marks in late 2007, but still 2 years of 120 days.   hmmm... It might have been a DMP (I don't recall excatly) - but whatever it was, it was through them directly.   ... View more

so seriously. What is stopping someone from becoming a 'lender' corporation of some sort and purchase FICO scroes from EX and resell them to end users like us?   Also - does anyone have a list of banks that offer EX FICO scores?? I think I may get a checking/savings account there - - - - > ... View more

Alright - so... what is my course of action. If not even Experian will give me the EX FICO score - what do I do? Perhaps I can start a lending company and buy scores for people? hmmm...   What is the difference from buying my scores here and somewhere else - how can I know anything about EX? ... View more