my progress so far

[heartsflowers2002]

I'm writing this down for those folks like me, who are a little afraid to get started.

(whether or not it's actually success so far depends on what you're trying to accomplish, since getting some deletes can lower a score. We're in it more, for the potential lenders eyes right now I guess)

Anyway,

last year (before I even knew this site existed) we had a medical collection account pop up, after about 2-3 years of the original service. We disputed it online, only asking its date be reported correctly, (we had original bill) but it was deleted.


Last month, we had 5 collection accounts, and by next month, hopefully it will be one.

**One collection account was paid, $0 balance, a couple of years old, utility bill. We disputed online (again it was before I came to this site) for the reason that, payment had been contingent upon removal and it was deleted. This appeared to come off within only a few days (going by the daily generic credit report), even though it was the full thirty days before we were notified by the actual bureaus.

**One collection account was supposed to come off at the end of this year, and was deleted. This was after the full 30 days investigation. It reported on the generic report all month long.

**One collection account was supposed to come off in a couple of months-It was verified and updated. But, it says it will be reported until Mar 2009 (experian, the only bureau reporting it), which I am taking to mean it's off in April.

**One collection account was verified and updated (twice by Experian) and this is the one I wrote about in another thread,

We sent the CMRRR disputes with supporting documentation to the CA and CRAs and Experian has deleted it. Equifax says the results are in the mail, and TransUnion hasn't sent an update yet

BUT, the generic report shows it off of all of them (I am using it only as a daily guideline, but mostly the generic report has been accurate in comaprison with the bureaus' main info, so I am hopeful. When we disputed before, this inaccurate account was on the generic report the whole time, just like the main bureaus, and now it is off of it completely. The generic report was also my first indication that the first collection I listed had been deleted. So hopefully it is correct on this also. If not, more work to do.)


Now in terms of rebuilding,


(My bf's credit is worse, and mine is limited)

*We've paid off our truck (it should show in April --I think I've read this only helps a couple of points to a credit score though. Our benefit would be more in the account history through a lender's eyes)

*I've paid down alot on the credit cards and used the credit card reporting cycles as much as possible to make the cards seem closer to zero balances (this would be the fastest and biggest bump up to a credit score I've read)

*And I added my bf (of 15 yrs) as an authorized user on a couple of credit cards to help his accounts in good standing (credit score wise, this hurt him a little since the accounts are 1yr old and 6 mos old)


It will be a couple of months before I get/purchase any real scores, but with the generic report, the scores are all higher.

His generic experian had been 514, but is currently +650 <--will drop when that collection drops in April since it was an old account

His generic equifax was 526, but is 595 <---was higher before I added him as authorized user since my accounts are 1 yr old or less.

And his generic transunion was about 580 and +650 currently also.


Anyway, still a work in progress, still learning, wanted to share this for others just getting started.

[improving]

Nice post and sorry I missed this!
Your information is very useful for others starting out and gives hope that with knowledge and persistence, bad things can be removed.
Thanks for sharing!

[Lucky500]

Dang, nice credit improving hearts flower.

It is nice when you take upon yourself to fix your credit and you see real results. I am pretty sure equifax score will go up quickly and catch on the other two

[SDTIM]

Originally Posted by heartsflowers2002

*And I added my bf (of 15 yrs) as an authorized user on a couple of credit cards to help his accounts in good standing (credit score wise, this hurt him a little since the accounts are 1yr old and 6 mos old)

Hi, when you added your BF to your credit cards do you know if they checked his credit? I was concerned about inquiries and possibly the request being declined....I'm not really sure how the process works.

Also, would you happen to know the age the accounts should have been to help his score?

I was considering doing the same thing with my wife to attempt to boost my score.