Welcome New Members!

[breeze]

I love Bejeweled!!

[nanara]

Hello every one! I'm so sorry, I thought I did post here already but I guess I didn't. I have to admit I find myself getting lost easily here LOL. The emotions swirling through my head are endless right now. Long story short, we've been defeated by our credit for way too long. I'm just learning how to hopefully repair our credit, right now I need a miracle. There's this home that was owned by my friend whom just passed away from Cancer a few weeks ago that we're trying to buy. It went for foreclosure and needs some TLC but I just feel compelled to try until I drop. I just spoke with a lender, he pulled our credit and the score is 601. The lender told me if I can fix 2 issues they could help us. ONE, the biggest is an auto repo, the other is a credit card. I'm sorry for rambling, please forgive me. I pulled all 3 credit reports and am sitting here just not knowing where to begin to fix this!!

[breeze]

You did! http://creditboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1149&st=625&p=4712173entry4712173 - there are several different threads for new members, they all start out with "Welcome!" click your name and you can pull up all your own posts.

[nanara]

Hahaha so I did, at least I know I'm not crazy now!!! Thank you Breeze!!

[breeze]

You aren't the first.

[funky1]

Hello all. New guy here, looking forward to utilizing the services of this board to help me repair my credit. You all seem like a great group of guys and gals.

[VolFan]

Hi All,

 

Just wanted to stop in and say hello. I've recently gotten serious about improving my FICO scores, and that means paying down revolving debt and waiting for inquiries to age off. However, I found this site and a new hobby - B* will hopefully become my new best friend...

Edited July 24, 2012 by VolFan

[Burukan]

Hey all. Long time lurker who finally decided to join (although I don't know why I waited so long). This place is just a great source of knowledge for the new as well as the experienced. I appreciate the knowledge you've all shared and I will continue to do so (and perhaps share some if I can).

[thechairman123]

Totally new to the boards. I'm 27 and ever since I got out of HS. I was a "bad boy" when it came to my credit. About 2007, things were going well. I started a new job that paid very well. I was able to get a car loan (after putting 2000 down) and things were going up. In 2009, I lost that job but was able to collect unemployment. Plus, I stocked away some cash and I was able to stay afloat until something else came along. I ended up going back to an old company I worked for at much less pay than I was making. Paycheck to paycheck was the life. Around 2011 early, after not paying attention to my scores and such, show I was over 600 for the first time in I don't know how long.

 

But....that all came crashing down. 2011 I ended up losing another job and was not able to collect unemployment. I was living paycheck to paycheck as I said so I had no savings. The 2 credit cards I did have (HSBC BBMC and Cap1) Cap1 would not work with me at all as far as payments and such. HSBC was a little more accommodating. The Cap1 ended up going to collections but my BBMC I still have (and I keep the usage low.) But, in addition to that, I also had a repo of my car (which sucks because it would have been paid off this year). ATT also ended up shutting down my account (even though I called them to "suspend" it).

 

Needless to say, I'm trying to rebuild. I've though of bankruptcy but not sure if I want to go that route.

 

As of right now. I do still have one credit card (300 limit). I have a house (purchased on Land-contract from my parents but does not report to any CRA) and today I was approved for Fingerhut's Fresh Start program (just bought something small.)

 

The goal is to have an American Express Zync (and move up the food chain in Amex) and a Apple Barclays card (I now work for Apple, so I'd like to buy some more of our stuff. )

 

I've been checking scores via several places and it's too damn confusing as to what might be an "official score" or not.

 

MyFico: Equifax-525 as of July 19th 2012

Credit Karma: 501 as of July 24 2012

Credit Sesame: 591 as of July 19th 2012

 

 

I know this will all take time but I'm ready to take charge! And I'm hoping the post and advice from members here will help.

 

-Joe

[caducus]

Just wanted to say hello. I've been studying hard and hope to make some change with this place. I posted a question in the credit forum but it never showed-- mate it thought I was spam.

 

Anyway, hello world.

[breeze]

I see 3 posts, including this one. The first one was yesterday morning it's here http://creditboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=497191&st=0&p=4721959entry4721959. To find your own posts, click your name.

[renc]

Hi All,

 

My wife and I have lived completely on a cash basis for 20 years, and we never even looked at our credit reports because we never wanted to borrow any money. We have no debt and good income and savings, but we are now "thin file" credit zombies who can't even generate a score of any kind on the credit reports.

 

We'd like to buy a home that we can't afford to pay cash for, so we are here to learn how to establish and maintain excellent credit.

 

Thanks for having us and for sharing so much useful knowledge here!

 

Rick & Elizabeth

[lovelymae]

Hi Everyone!

 

 

I found this site after I paid of my credit card debt from university. Now I'm paying in full each month, and keeping my spending in check. Thanks so much to all the members; ya'lls advice helped my fiance build his credit as well!

[ceemee]

Just found the site and I've been reading since last night. My credit is not where I'd like it to be. I still have 2 negatives on my CR from 1st Financial Bank, my last 30 day late was from 03/08 (from the CR that I have, it was the only one). The other bigger one is from Bank of America, where I have as much as 120 day late back in 08/07. They're definitely not willing to work with me, I've been trying to have them removed for a couple years now, to no avail. Unfortunately, I was one of the young and dumb ones back in college. I have 2 CCs. One from AMEX, the blue card -- account opened in May 2012. I started with the SPG but I realized that I never travel (I work too hard for that) so the rewards really weren't worth it to me. I also have a Bank of America CC (different from the last account, which was really when they bought an older debt). I pay my AMEX off every month but rarely use my BofA so I keep that at 0 balance. I have a pretty good job, one that I recently started but it's a growing firm where people tend to stay a very long time. I'm making a little more than my old job (which was terrible, btw). I have a savings account with a decent nest egg that I try to put money into every month at AMEX, which has 0.85% apy. My FAKO scores are 680EX, 676EQ, 666TU according to AMEX Credit Secure. I went to myfico.com and got a 702EQ score as of 07/29/12. I don't live an extravagant life. I do like to buy things occasionally, but I try not to spend more than $20-40 for things like shoes and I tend to return them. I share an apartment so my expenses aren't too high, but I live in Los Angeles so the cost of living is almost on par with NY. It gets expensive here. I don't have a car, nor am I planning on getting one. I'm focused on repaying my college loans, of which there are about $11,800 left. There is a private loan with $1,600 amount, the rest is Fed. I pay more than the minimum on both. I use things like Mint, PageOnce, and Quicken to pay bills on time and track spending each month. My ultimate goal is to get rid of those last 2 negatives (I should mention there was another from HSBC that was removed back in April of this year when I started attempting to clean up my credit). I'm still confused about the SOL stuff so I'm not sure if I should keep trying to get the companies to remove them (each balance has already been paid in full) as of the last times they were late) or not. I've been living in CA for the past 3.5 years but each debt occurred in NY and was paid off while I was living in NY. I would also like 1 more credit card, either the AMEX Gold or the Amex Green card. I was recently declined for the Gold card (but it was a SP because I already have an AMEX account). I would like to re-apply for the Green card in 3 months, which was AMEX's recommendation.

[Emperor Codeman]

Hi everyone!

 

Just thought I would thank everyone here for their contributions. This site is wonderful and the statement "knowledge is power' has never been truer. I can't wait to get things under control!

[Chappy J]

Hello everyone...

 

I love this forum! Tons of knowledge and tips...

[Gino4500]

Hello all. Im the new kid on the block. I have really taken a beating with my personal credit so I started googling out how to fix it myself. I found this site yesterday and I have been reading ever since. Great information.

[In It to Win It]

Hi all!

 

I've been a long-time lurker who never really did anything with all of the information that I soaked up. I finally took it upon myself a few weeks ago to print out PsycDoc's transcripts and read them while on vacation. I'm a mixed bag of emotions right now when it comes to repairing my credit, but my goal is to fix my credit as well as my husbands so that we can purchase a house in the next 2 years.

[cloudy]

So much to learn! Hoping to find out if I can buy a car before mine falls apart and then do the work needed towards buying a house.

[San Grand]

Hey guys!

 

I have been lurking around the site for a couple days now and finally decided to sign up and get involved in the discussions.

 

I'm 25 years old and when I first went to college, I racked up as much credit card debt as I could. Yes...stupid I know. It's what every parent fears for their college kid. Anyway, I am now making a comfortable amount of money and last year I paid off all of my credit card debt. By that time, everything was in collections...about $2500 in credit card debt. I have since been able to obtain a few credit cards in an effort to build my credit back up and to create a foundation for future, solid, and positive credit history. I have not missed 1 payment or been late on any payments since I've gotten my new cards. Right now, I am determined to clean up my report and increase my debt to credit ratio. My goal is to have all of the paid collections removed from my report which will help increase my score. I feel I have a good foundation and the only place I can go from here is up.

 

I will also be working on cleaning my boyfriend's credit report who did the same thing I did when he was younger. Though he has about 7 unpaid collections on his report, his score is still much higher than mine. The more I read, the more this makes sense.

 

Experian - 501

Trans Union - ??

Equifax - ??

 

I'm excited to begin this journey to improved credit. I'd like to buy a home in the next few years.

[Seaduck]

Welcome to CreditBoards!

 

Please begin by reading the rules of the forum and some posting tips (read only, no questions here):

Board Rules, Tips and Tricks

 

Here is basic reference material (read only no questions here):

Beginner's Credit information

 

When you are ready to join in the discussion, or have a question to ask, please join in our discussion forums!

Discussion Forums

You will find forums specific to general credit questions, automotive financing, mortgages, money management and bankrupcy. Additionally there is a forum for general (off-topic) discussion.

Please select the forum appropriate to your questions.

Thank you very much!! I have alot to learn and this site has me in awe!

[Seaduck]

Well, I've been lurking and taking in information so I guess it's time to interact. Overwhelmed but taking it step by step and optimistic. This is the best credit resource I have come across so thank you to all those that post info.

[Iron Man]

Hello all,

 

 

 

I thought I'd finally join in, I've reading here for about a month and actually joined about a week ago.

 

 

My story begins several years ago, I had always been in the auto sales world and had started "flipping" houses on the side as the market started growing. Well as the market took off I left the dealership and started a small construction business, it took off fast and grew to a total of 18 employees, as we all know after a few years the housing market changed quick! Looking back I should've closed up and gone back to work, but no, I had employees and my thought was towards them and their familes. I thought we could make some changes and survive, very long story short, it didn't happen. I ended up closing, sold off everything, even the shop and property I had just purchased.

 

Over the next six months I ended up letting my house, car payments and credit cards get really, really far behind, I decided it was time to make a change (downsize). I was able to sell the house for what I owed (miracle) and sold the SUV and took $10k in equity there was in it and bought a very small place that was a OWC (owner will carry) and a cheap vehicle for transportation. In my eyes I had hit rock bottom! This was six years ago, I've been buying rental properties, all of them are OWC as my credit is wrecked. I figured I'd end up being a cash guy the rest of my life as it's impossible to get derogatory items off your credit reports, especially having as many as I did.

 

Going back in the car world since then, I found myself in a position I didn't like, I felt I was being a hypocrite by telling my customers how important it was to keep their cedit in good standing for being able to finance a vehicle or anything else. I had been talking to a good freind about it and he said he had some derogatory things removed from his credit at a "credit repair" business, I didn't believe him, I said credit repair is "snake oil" it's something you hear about but never know anyone personally that's had it work. So, a couple days later he shows up at my office and shows me two credit reports, first one sub 600, the second was just below 800! I still couldn't belive it, started asking a million questions, he told me to just go see his "people". A few days later with all the things I thought they'd need I went in to see them, I asked several question and was told " don't worry, we'll handle it". OK, how could I not at least try? They ran my credit, made copies of it, my drivers Lic, SS card and said sign here. Well I looked it over and found that all they did was put "Not mine/ please delete" on all derogatory items and address (that weren't mine), I asked how could they do that? I mean they were mine. I was told "this is how it's done", when you get replies bring them back to us.

 

 

Forward six weeks I get letters from all three bureau's, to my surprise several of the (wrong) address have been removed and a couple of the items are also gone. At this point I'm liking the results but not the means, also, the items that did not come off now say "verified", now I thinking "it kind of worked"? My score had gone up to 620, but not nearly where I need (want) it to be. So off to the repair people, they look at it and say "great, we'll hit 'em again", and that's exactly what they did, same letters. Forward a little over a month and now I have letters from all bureau's again, this time there is a couple more small items gone but all the big ones are still in place and now state that these items have been verified and they are not going to revisit these usless I can provide a letter signed by a judge. Now my score is up to 640 but I kind of wishing I hadn't gone this route, I didn't want to lie to begin with but just went with the flow.

 

 

This brings us to today, I've been reading this board like it's my job (treating it that way)! I'm going to take the things I've learned here and apply them to my battle, I just wish I'd have seen this board before I went the route I did. Any thoughts or advice is always welcome, I hope as I learn more I can in turn help others.

 

 

 

Iron.

[L'intellectuelle573]

Thankful to be a part of such a great community that cares about making sure the JDB's stay broke & off our credit reports!

[abetterme]

Hello to everyone

Looking forward to learning as much as I possibly can about credit (especially the do's and don'ts). This is an amazing site and I want to thank the owners and my fellow members for contributing a wealth of info. My brain hurts I've read so much. I'm hoping to accomplish my goals and help anyone I can along the way. Cheers!