I think I've officially hit the brick wall

[cosimo]

So after 8 months of following repair advice from this board, I've gotten about 50% of my baddies deleted which is good but not great. Today, MYFICO states I've got a 555 which started in the pits at 493. I thought after all of the deletions I've gotten, it would be closer to 600, maybe even 650, given that I've opened up 3 secured cards in the past 4 months with util under 20%. I'm guessing I need to wait until at least the 6 month mark for these secureds to make any real impact? I've got a private student loan with a $42,000 balance which has been paid on time ($350 a month) for over 24 months. I've also got 7 different federal loans that are currently being rehabbed. After the 10th on-time payment (I'm currently on my 4th) those will convert into positive lines. I reached out to a credit repair company (Blue Sky if that matters) to have them analyze and told them what I've been doing. They stated on the phone today that I've pretty much exhausted my disputing and only time will heal the wounds (I'm looking at mid 2017 for the last baddie to fall off if I wait for SOL). Essentially they didn't want my business so for a repair company to not want my money must mean I'm screwed. I only reached out to them to get a fresh pair of eyes and to see if they can take me down any other roads that I haven't travelled but alas... They did say, however, to let my disputing rest and to call them back in 6 months because things might change. I know that repair is a patience game, but I am trying to be proactive and fix sh*t today not 3 years from now. Any advice? Thanks

Edited May 13, 2014 by cosimo

[MrDonivan]

Those companies are based on a effort vs profit margin scenario. They do the same thing you have learned to do here yourself. Stay strong, and continue the fight. Every tiny little thing you find wrong on a TL, dispute it. If the CRA's refuse to dispute, file a complaint. You have been reading and reading, you know the drill, just stay the course and keep pushing.

 

You got this!

[MsIndependent]

Hang in there! As I am sure you know, there are many factors impacting your score. You seem to have your bases covered. Patience and persistence are your new best friends. Continue to dispute, continue to make on time payments.

 

Which secured cards to you have and do they report as secured? What is your AAOA and AAOOA? Have you checked the credit pulls database to see what cards you might apply for in your score range? (Any GE cards or retail cards you are interested in having?)

 

How many baddies are left and who are they with...? Might help get you some more specific advice and renewed encouragement.

 

What is your end goal?

 

I agree with Mr. Donivan....YOU GOT THIS!!

[cosimo]

Thanks for the encouragement. My goal is to be entirely clear with a 720+ Fico by end of the year. That might sound like a pipe dream but I had a 800 back in '09 before the recession killed me. I've posted my tradelines on other threads- here's the official list:

 

EX

BK OF AMER

5XXX

EF

BK OF AMER

431308199995XXXX

TU

BK OF AMER

5XXX

EX

DISCOVER FIN

60110056XXXX

EF

DISCOVER FIN

60110056XXXX

TU

DISCOVER FIN

60110056XXXX

EF

DSNB MACYS

422682711XXXX

TU

DSNB MACYS

42268XXXX

EX

GECRB/CARE CREDIT

601918184801XXXX

TU

GECRB/CARECR

60191818XXXX

EX

GECRB/PAYPAL SMART CON

604407102294XXXX

TU

GECRB/SMRTCN

60440710XXXX

TU

HSBC BANK

51559800XXXX

TU

HSBC BANK

54804201XXXX

EX

MCYDSNB

422682711XXXX

EX

PAUL MICHAEL MARKETING

515XXXX

EX

TARGET N.B.

6XXXX

EF

TARGET N.B.

63187XXXX

TU

TARGET N.B.

6XXXX

EX

US DEP ED

70000204355XXXX

EF

US DEP ED

70000204355XXXX

TU

US DEP ED

70000204355XXXX

EX

US DEP ED

70000204355XXXX

EF

US DEP ED

70000204355XXXX

TU

US DEP ED

70000204355XXXX

EX

US DEP ED

70000204355XXXX

EF

US DEP ED

70000204355XXXX

TU

US DEP ED

70000204355XXXX

EX

US DEP ED

70000204355XXXX

EF

US DEP ED

70000204355XXXX

TU

US DEP ED

70000204355XXXX

EX

US DEP ED

70000204355XXXX

EF

US DEP ED

70000204355XXXX

TU

US DEP ED

70000204355XXXX

EX

US DEP ED

70000204355XXXX

EF

US DEP ED

70000204355XXXX

TU

US DEP ED

70000204355XXXX

STOP

EX

US DEPARTMENT OF EDU

1657XXXX

STOP

EF

US DEPARTMENT OF EDU

1657XXXX

EX

US DEPARTMENT OF EDU

1657XXXX

EF

US DEPARTMENT OF EDU

1657XXXX

EX

US DEPARTMENT OF EDU

1657XXXX

EF

US DEPARTMENT OF EDU

1657XXXX

STOP

EX

US DEPARTMENT OF EDU

1657XXXX

STOP

EF

US DEPARTMENT OF EDU

1657XXXX

STOP

EX

US DEPARTMENT OF EDU

1657XXXX

STOP

EF

US DEPARTMENT OF EDU

1657XXXX

STOP

EX

US DEPARTMENT OF EDU

1657XXXX

STOP

EF

US DEPARTMENT OF EDU

1657XXXX

STOP

EX

U S DEPT OF ED/GSL/ATL

1657XXXX

STOP

EX

US DEPARTMENT OF EDU

1657XXXX

STOP

EF

US DEPARTMENT OF EDU

1657XXXX

EX

US DEP ED

70000204355XXXX

TU

US DEP ED

70000204355XXXX

EX

US DEP ED

70000204355XXXX

TU

US DEP ED

70000204355XXXX

TU

US DEP ED

576277XXXX

TU

US DEP ED

576277XXXX

EF

US DEPARTMENT OF EDU

1657XXXX

 

The Dep of Ed loans are probably whats killing me since they are the most recent but like I stated, they're in rehab and will all be deleted once the 9th payment is made. I hate that they look like duplicates and are allowed to report like this because it looks horrible... Target is for $500, BofA is for $8K (because of all the interest) and everything else is in the middle (all under $3K). All of the OCs have sent me debt validation. I sent back good will PFD letters and they said nope... I've disputed some of these a few times over the past 8 months so am I just taking the risk of having it immediately thrown out if I try again down the road?

[Demonico]

After your student loans convert to positive lines as you said in your first post your scores will improve. I would sit tight on those.

[bmfmustang]

I don't have much experience with the school loans, mine were paid long ago. But it seems to me you are on the right track.

 

Keep your head up. With a little luck you'll be back in the saddle soon!

[cosimo]

In terms of positive lines I've added- I have a US bank Harley secured $700 limit. A Opensky $700. And a fingerhut $200 catalog card. I have paid these down to under 20% and they are all under 4 months old. AAOA is 6 yrs 2 months. If I get these student loans to drop and turn positive, what about these OCs above that will not drop until mid '17? Will they be affecting my score that much? Show I add another Secured card or get a secured personal loan thru PenFed?

[MsIndependent]

Agreed, the student loans deleting the negative info will help tremendously. I can't tell from your list when these others are scheduled to fall off/go positive or the delinquency event and date.

 

If you have something new to dispute, it won't be thrown out...it has to be reinvestigated. You'll have to review each report and look for a discrepancy in the trade line that you can dispute. Is it reported as 30 days late one month and 90 days late the following month...since that is not mathematically possible, the accuracy of the entire trade line is questionable and must be updated or deleted.

 

I believe the advice on the boards is to NOT send a DV to an OC...but what is done is done. Are these all outside of SOL?

Best of luck and hang in there!

[MsIndependent]

In terms of positive lines I've added- I have a US bank Harley secured $700 limit. A Opensky $700. And a fingerhut $200 catalog card. I have paid these down to under 20% and they are all under 4 months old. AAOA is 6 yrs 2 months. If I get these student loans to drop and turn positive, what about these OCs above that will not drop until mid '17? Will they be affecting my score that much? Show I add another Secured card or get a secured personal loan thru PenFed?

 

I would not add another secured card. Wait until your six month mark with the ones you have and see what your scores are...

 

Since you mentioned a PFD....what about a pay to rehab? If you have the money to pay BofA and Target....would they consider re-opening your accounts once you pay them back? That would help your score and look good upon manual review.

[cosimo]

Since you mentioned a PFD....what about a pay to rehab? If you have the money to pay BofA and Target....would they consider re-opening your accounts once you pay them back? That would help your score and look good upon manual review.

 

 

I was curious about this... I'd love to have that BofA account re-established but my last payment was 2010.. Is there a way to have them "rehab" and reopen this? I'm afraid I'd end up paying them back the full amount and then they won't follow thru with reopening. Guess if I got it in writing but still seems iffy

[cosimo]

The BofA was placed with TrakAmerica I was told. So I'm guessing there's no way to go back to BofA and ask to pay them directly...