Help a sister out please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Erica.cobb]

I need help. My credit score is very poor - 529. I want to improve this score so that I can move forward in life. I have 2 boys - a 1 year old and a 5 year old. I do not want to live in an apartment for the rest of my life!!! I want to get a nice house to raise my boys in. So can someone please tell me their story so I can understand it. I am not familiar with all the abbreviations going on here. If someone can, please tell me where to start. Should I validate every creditor on my report or what should I do? I am very lost. I see a lot of people on here who have improved their credit scores so if you don't mind, please tell me how I can get like you!

Thanks In advance!!!!!!

[incognito]

Erica,

My suggestion would be to first try to help yourself by spending some time on these blog / forum threads and reading. Once you read a lot of these questions will be answered easily. If you are still confused then ask specific question so people here can help you out.

Remember people here want to help but no one will spoon feed you so read up and good luck.

[zfire]

The stickys have the info re what you need to do, and how to start.

There is even a nice flow chart up there re how to do your repair. It was

created by one who knows what he's doing. you may w3ant to print and study it.

The abreviations are there also.

[2HIGHINDEBT]

My score is 540 and I have some serious repair work to do. When I first started looking @ this site last night and at the "credit repair kit", it seemed very easy. There's even sample letters. But when I tried to type my first dispute letter, it didn't come out right. Then, I started reading more and more in the forums and there's so much more information and lots of tips . . . I started to feel overloaded! I guess we'll just have 2 take it one thing at a time. I have a feeling I'm going to be spending a lot of time on this site. But, it beats paying someone else $500-$2000!!!! I'm very grateful to have found all this information and everyone who is so helpful and eager to help!!! Good luck sista!!!!

[chilton1]

I need help. My credit score is very poor - 529. I want to improve this score so that I can move forward in life. I have 2 boys - a 1 year old and a 5 year old. I do not want to live in an apartment for the rest of my life!!! I want to get a nice house to raise my boys in. So can someone please tell me their story so I can understand it. I am not familiar with all the abbreviations going on here. If someone can, please tell me where to start. Should I validate every creditor on my report or what should I do? I am very lost. I see a lot of people on here who have improved their credit scores so if you don't mind, please tell me how I can get like you!

Thanks In advance!!!!!!

Welcome Erica ++

If erica cobb is your name you may want to change the name.

http://www.debt-consolidation-credit-repair-service.com/forums/showthread.php?t=247970

http://www.debt-consolidation-credit-repair-service.com/forums/showthread.php?t=263069

good luck Erica. Everyone is here to help start reading and come back if you have questions or just to let us know your progress.

[kevin3344]

I can only tell you what I did, started I think around 592, now I'm close to 700 on all 3 reports. One of my reports is clean, the other two will be in Spring '08. I've got a house, car, enough revolving credit to get into trouble. Here's what you do:

(1) The first thing I did was commit to paying every bill on time. The reason being a 30 day late will hurt you as much as a charge off, or worse, so if you're behind on anything you'll want to get caught up fast. And don't be late again if you can help it. Remember, things come up for everyone, your car breaks down, etc. We're all late from time to time. Just don't be 30 DAYS late if you can help it.

(2) I learned this a little late, but open up a revolving account, even if it's a secured credit card. You'll need to start building a good history to offset the bad on your reports, until you get it removed.

(3) DV the CAs on your reports. I got rid of 90% of my COs that way, even a year or two after the fact. It works wonders. Disputing with the credit bureaus will only get you so far; you'll have to take much harsher tactics than that...beging writing letters, contact the BBB, AG, whatever you have to do to remove the baddies. You have to get serious. I have 3-ring binders with all of my DV letters and successes...I look through it from time to time.

(4) Start now. The longer you wait the worse it will be. And eventually you'll have to do it anyway! It's like that term paper you had in high school...you can do it now or do it later, but you'll still have to do it! Tackle the little stuff first and move forward from there.

[razr]

I started reading more and more in the forums and there's so much more information and lots of tips . . . I started to feel overloaded!

One step at a time!

First, drink beer.

Then, just dispute a few easy targets on your CRs, like old collections. Just so you get a feel for it.

Next, drink beer.

Then dispute the crap out of everything.

Next, drink beer.

You'll get some brand new letters from creditors and some will validate information on your credit report.

Next, drink beer.

Now move on to debt validtion...and have a beer.

See! It's easy!

-r

[SecretAgentWoman]

One step at a time!

First, drink beer.

Then, just dispute a few easy targets on your CRs, like old collections. Just so you get a feel for it.

Next, drink beer.

Then dispute the crap out of everything.

Next, drink beer.

You'll get some brand new letters from creditors and some will validate information on your credit report.

Next, drink beer.

Now move on to debt validtion...and have a beer.

See! It's easy!

-r

Take note, the BEER is the key to the whole process.

[momof5]

Welcome Erica!

A few thoughts....

As you can see, I am a mom of 5! The first thing is that while your kiddos are little, they don't 'know' that they aren't living in a house! All they care about is that this place is theirs and mommy is there when they need her! (This buys you emotional time during repair!)

When I started my first repair journey I had 13 PR, tons of bad TLs and a few CAs. Within a year, I was up to 650 and had 1 PR left (BK13).....I bought a beautiful new construction home!

Remember that we have been in your shoes and share what has worked (and what no longer works - because things change!). We created stickies for newbies so that you could get answers to all the early stage questions in one place without having to use the search button. (BTW, search is your friend!)

Yes, there is a lot to digest, but you will get through it! One day you will be here telling other newbies how you did it!

It takes TIME and work to get this done. You will celebrate deletions, dance when you get new CCs or loans, and cry when your score drops. This process is a roller coaster ride like you have never been on before! BUT, know THIS - the end of the ride is not only better than the best roller coaster, but it LASTS!

[jetscarbie]

Hey, I like the beer method.

Erica, Welcome to the board. There is a ton of stuff to take in. When I came here, I read the newbie sticky thread first. It has a list of what all the abbreviations means. It will also tell you some things you can do to start the process.

I recommed getting all 3 of your credit reports first. Compare all of them. Circle ANYTHING that doesn't look right such as, wrong addresses, spelled names, account numbers, dates, amounts. duplicate entries (there were a ton of those on mine) basically things that don't look right or things you wanna dispute.

It helped me getting a huge white poster board and listing them in order but whichever is easier for you.

Good luck