Oh well, back to the drawing board...sort of...

[elyse449]

Hi folks,

Coming back over to these folders.

I've got some baddies to work out on my credit reports. I like to think I did accomplish SOME positive steps in my credit journey. After all, when I started this a few years back I was in the upper 400's...got up to almost 600 and now I'm back to the 537-550 range.

Current issues to attack-

First, lates on mortgages. Unfortunately I am in NO position to argue them because they ARE valid, so I won't bother. But getting them paid up and continuing to pay on time IS my goal there. We do need to desperately do a refi before our ARM adjusts again, to though. So, I'm in a particularly nasty spot w/ this. Not having my dh's FULL support on permanent spending changes has hurt me, but each day he is improving and I hold out hope that it can be done.

Second, collection agencies continuing to report negatively on my files. I have 1. Sentry Credit-opened in 08/03 (med bill)

2. NCO Financial-opened in 11/02 (Power bill)

3. OSI -opened in 09/02. (Old Ticket)I made some initial payments on this, but due to job loss was unable to continue.

4. Pacific NW Collection-opened in 04/02. (Vet bill) I did attempt a settlement last year and was basically told to go crap up a tree.

5. A credit card that's from about 4 yrs back. Don't have their info in front of me, but I tried to do THAT to repair my credit, it was before coming and getting good an educated here!

On the plus side, I do have some positives building to...

Orchard (secured) 200.00 CL

Crown Jewelers 1500.00 CL (only reports 500.00 CL)

Macy's 100.00 CL (unused just yet)

First Premier 250.00 CL

Target 200.00 CL (too new to be reporting on my files)

AMEX 500.00 CL (I'm an AU, but it isn't listing that any longer on my file, unsure why, but it's a positive TL for now)

Also on the plus side, I am anticipating going back to work the first week of September!!!!

NEVER late on ANY of these. Current FAKO's (according to True Credit) is Transunion: 538, Experian 537 and Equifax 550

Anyway...sigh...here I go again.

Elyse

[momof5]

Elyse, I feel your pain!

When I came here years ago, I had 22 pages of bad TLs, PR, CAs...everything. My scores were BAD! Like you, I got up into the uppers 600s to low 700s and bought a house, car and got some unsecured CCs.

Nearly 3 years later, I was laid off and that was after my sons had some legal issues that were costly. When I re-started repair my EQ was down in the high 400s. That was 03/06. EQ is 606, EX 655, TU 659 and that is on 90% util!

I will start a new job sometime after next week. (Been off work for the past 2 months).

It will get better again for you! Congrats on the new job, and remember, we are here for ya!

[elyse449]

Elyse, I feel your pain!

When I came here years ago, I had 22 pages of bad TLs, PR, CAs...everything. My scores were BAD! Like you, I got up into the uppers 600s to low 700s and bought a house, car and got some unsecured CCs.

Nearly 3 years later, I was laid off and that was after my sons had some legal issues that were costly. When I re-started repair my EQ was down in the high 400s. That was 03/06. EQ is 606, EX 655, TU 659 and that is on 90% util!

I will start a new job sometime after next week. (Been off work for the past 2 months).

It will get better again for you! Congrats on the new job, and remember, we are here for ya!

Hi momof5,

It's nice to know I am not the only one. My dh has had several lay off's in the past 4 yrs or so, it's the nature of the beast w/ his line of work (construction-HVAC to be exact) so I definitely feel your pain on that one.

On the upside, I just "updated" my credit files today w/ Truecredit and my current FAKO is Tu=555, Ex=543, Eq=569 *I'm too cheap to check my fico's right now, lol. I hear the only place to get a true FICO is myfico.com....do you know if that's true?

LOL...so slowly but surely it's going back up...of course once my Target acct reports it may dip back down, but oh well...it's a process.

I'm glad to hear things for you are getting better, to. And I can understand legal troubles. My dh and I were locked into a 3 yr custody battle from 1997-2000. It also just so happened at the time that my dh got out of the military due to medical causes, to. It wasn't HIS choice to get out per say, but he didn't fight them figuring he needed to be there for his sons whom he'd received custody of in their divorce (she came back later to try to get custody, her welfare was running out as her two older teen sons were aging) Than, I was fortunate to get a job with Boeing at the time--(1997) but got laid off w/ in 2 yrs..., I got laid off in 1999...PRIOR to the custody battle resolving, so yep--we had to beg, borrow and steal to keep our sons from being forced into the hands of their untreated, mentally ill bm. It was a nightmare, a true nightmare and when it rains it POURS. We ended up losing my dh's home to foreclosure, we got a car repossession....it was truly costly, and not just financially. I ended up having to later file BK (10/2000) so yeah....

Our poor family has been attacked at all directions, so I can empathize. You'd honestly think I'd be a FAB country music STAR! LOL...

Elyse

[hopelesscred]

well you are not alone...when I started a month ago my EQ FICO was at 439. CRAP 1 and a PR tax lien is wreaking havoc on my score, so I am still under 500. I also have lates on my mortgage, I will be sending a GW letter out today, after I've paid for july ..hopefully they will do something. If not, I will send them a GW letter until they at least remove the most recent 30 late.

[direred]

Well, at least you know what to do now.

Hey, I'm back in the 500s on EQ, so I know how you feel. At least my report is cleaner even if the score sucks more.

[elyse449]

Well, at least you know what to do now.

Hey, I'm back in the 500s on EQ, so I know how you feel. At least my report is cleaner even if the score sucks more.

Yes, that's true! I forgot that when I started this journey I also had twice as many collections! I can't recall now exactly what all I had, but I know some were paid collections, others were outdated ones, etc-etc. Now, I'm down to a mere five or whatever...so, yeah-not bad. It is progress, SLOW progress MAYBE-but progress nonetheless.

Elyse

[elyse449]

Well, it's finally happening. The seams are coming undone. I just can't do it all, folks. I can't be everywhere and do everything. Improve credit, do budgeting/finance, refinance home, pay bills, care of mentally sick child, other child's IEP, trying to find work, clean house, etc. etc.

The spending didn't change a whole lot, I didn't have enough funds to work with and now we're in dire straits. It looks like they'll be doing a repo on dh's car...our ONLY car. The only saving grace is that it's NOT in my name...but hello community property state!

What sickens me is that he's had a repo ALREADY! You'd think the guy would get a clue...but sometimes I guess they never do.

We've truly been stupid. I can admit that. But I can't force my husband to get educated...but I can walk away from this situation because obviously it's never going to change, I don't blame my husband fully---I developed my own "habits" but they aren't like his....

All prayers and good thoughts welcome...even for stupid people. We were suppose to get our payment mailed to them in two days....RIIIIGHT.

Elyse

[divemedic]

All of the credit repair in the world will not help you until you learn (as a couple) to live within a budget. Have you thought of a yours/mine/ours bank account?

Three bank accounts, one for each of you, and one for your bills. Your accounts each get an allowance. When it is gone, it is gone.

The "bills" account has no check card, and the only thing it is used for is bills.

If that does not work, you need to have a talk with your spouse. You cannot lead each other into financial ruin and remain married. I know, I have been there.

[momof5]

Good advice Dive!

That is the plan when BF and I eventually make things permanent! It has sooo many benefits. (1) the bills always get paid, (2) you can spend your extra as you see fit, (3) when he buys you a gift, he isn't spending your money on it! and (4) if he trashes his credit, yours is safe!

Elsye, I *know* how hard it is. I was a single mom of 5. Both of my boys were ADD/ADHD. IEPs down here in FL (@ HS level) are useless since the teachers don't care, don't bother to check, etc. (They believe if the kid is mainstreamed, he doesn't get adaptations!) My now ex-H could never get his spending under control and it was a battle for over a decade to keep our heads above water! While married to this man, I had to file BK TWICE. (The first BK was because my prior divorce was a obscene custody battle that raged on for 3 years and cost me $72K in the end!)

I know how it feels to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and once AGAIN, it is an oncoming train!!!!

I am praying for ya lady! You can get through this!

If they repo his car, go to a note lot. You can always get approved there. I had to resort to note lots a few times and it wasn't so bad. For years I lived on cash only. (And believe it or not, the lack of stress was fantastic!) I went so far one time that I allowed the H to pawn our TV. We didn't get a new one for over 4 years! (No cable bill and it is amazing what kind of relationship you can build with your kids when there is no distractions! We bought BOOKS! The kids got addicted and their biggest complaint was they read everything in the house and needed new books! They were the best readers in their classes and had the largest vocabularies!) Look for the bread outlet stores. The stuff they have is good and MUCH cheaper! Kill any cell phone accts you have. (you can live without them....I have) Life actually gets very peaceful when people cant find you driving or shopping or doing other things like that! When there is no news to watch making you think the world is coming to an end! LOL Reevaluate your budget....see what you can get rid of - then do it.

For budget....I use an excel spreadsheet.

Column 1 is title of creditor. Bal or past due in column 2 (use a negative number). In column 3 I calc interest or put new charges or expectations of what rent or elect (etc) will cost for the month. (For elect, see if you can get on level billing.) Column 4 is what I paid. Column 5 is Col2 - Col3 + Col4 = balance. Jan is sheet 1. Feb is sheet 2. etc. (name them on the tab). Copy paste the first month onto the second. Take column2 and change to =Jan!E2 (Jan being Tab. E= column 5 '2' = row you are on.) Do this for the rest of the year. At the bottom, I have a totals row. Then a few rows below that I have income computed. In column 1 - source of the income and date, column 2 is the amount of the income. I total that. On the next row down, I enter "D19" (as an example)...this is the Cell that has the total of what you paid. Next row down is Income total, minus the expense total = remaining. (Negative #s will be converted to red in excel!)

Each month, enter the real values that were billed in Column3 (aka "C"). Don't forget, cash withdrawls, grocery shopping, and sudden bills like car repairs. Add a new row when you need to. When I pay the bill, I change the font color to green. Same thing when I receive income. I also carry any "balance" in the 'income' area to the next page.....

What this does is show you your budget for an entire year. You keep track of your spending. When you go to pay bills, you have everything in front of you and dont have to recalculate every month. Anything you change ripples across the year! It can help you plan out paying OFF debts!

OH, use your debit card for everything. You can get your bank statements online and better track your spending and enter valid values each month...

If you want, PM me your email addy and I will send you my spreadsheet so that you can use it to create your own. (Save it as YOUR doc and change creditors and amounts..... ) You can resave this doc each year to the new year....and change the balances or past due columns in Jan to match that in Dec the year before.

[PeggyBundy]

Good call the excel spreadsheet, momof5. I use them too. One of my classes last year was a "business use of computers" class, and they taught us how to use excel.

Last summer I set up a budget for myself and dh, but didn't end up using it very long.

I revamped it at the beginning of this month, and actually made a second spreadsheet too, so I have one titled Budget, and one titled CreditRepair.

On the Budget sheet, I have three tabs; one is Budget 2007, one is Loan Analysis, and one is Bank Accounts. On the Budget 2007 tab, I have an Expected Monthly Totals, which is where the expected income and output of all money, and is prefilled with totals. Below that, Actual Monthly Totals, which is filled as income and expenses arise. To the right of those, in a yellow background area, is my income and my husband's income, plus other random income areas (like gift money received at holidays, that kind of thing, it's all accounted for.) Below all that, is a Year End Summary area totalling the averages and highs and lows for the year.

Loan Analysis takes the high expenses and low incomes from Budget 2007 year end summary and compares them with numbers that can be plugged in by me. (the idea of this page is to determine if I'm ready for a mortgage.) For example, if I put in a loan amount of $150,000 at 5% interest, it displays a value of YES. If I change that to $250000 at 7% interest, it displays a value of NO.

Third tab on the budget spreadsheet is Bank Accounts. This is where I keep a detailed record of all deposits and withdrawals in my savings account, (withdrawals are in red) with the new bank balance calculating automatically.

The CreditRepair spreadsheet has 6 tabs. The first tab, Misc, just has random stuff like my Fingerhut membership ID, my TC id, that kind of thing. The second tab, Past Due Bills, has a listing of all the unpaid collections on our credit reports, including CA name, acct number, acct type, acct status, date opened, balance, and payment status.

Tab 3, AgencyAddresses, has all the CA and CRA's mailing addresses. Tab 4 is CreditScores, just a chronological way of keeping track of our credit scores whenever they change.

The fifth tab is Goals, where I've written down all the goals I plan to achieve by doing this, ranging from short term goals like opening new credit lines, to longer term goals like purchasing a house.

The last tab is StudentLoans, which is where I keep detailed track of all my student loan info.

I'm lucky though, in addition to the class I took on spreadsheets, I also have a buddy who LOVES computers and is addicted to excel, so if I have a calculation that I want my spreadsheet to perform, and I don't know how to do it, I just ask him on Yahoo Msgr, and he gives me the formula.

Doing this has helped me tremendously in getting an idea of where I'm standing financially. I would share my spreadsheets with anyone, as well.

[direred]

Elyse, sorry to hear about your trials.

I currently owe a heck of a lot of CC debt, which I'll be working on. I need to get my spending under control.

So I know how you feel, I've had an imminent repo situation twice.

[hinky]

Sending hugs your way, Elyse. I'm dealing with some newer baddies myself. SO AGGRAVATING. I made it to 650 and then *boom* back to the 540's in some cases. We will bounce back. I'm glad you're still posting here!

[soulthoughts]

Hang in there. I see that there are a few people that are using spreadsheets to track stuff. I do it too. I have a credit repair spreadsheet. It has 4 tabs on it.

The first stab is a timeline. Any time I take any sort of action, I list it there. I list the date, creditor, account #, and comments.

The next three tabs are broken out by CRA. I list all my actions there too. I find it easier to see what I've done for each CRA.

FYI, if you don't want to pony up for MS Office, Open Office is a great and FREE alternative. It has all the same functions as MS Office only it's free. It's a great way to save money but still be able to use a spreadsheet.

[jets1934]

sorry to divert from subject I need help badly.......I'm in PA...My car was repo..about a year and a half ago..keystone national was the lender. My personal beloging and license plate were never returned..keystone claimed they mailed notices to the address they had on file which was my old address, I told them I requested an address change on 08/04/2005 when I made a payment a a local branch..I have a copy of payment receipt but they never gave me a copy of address change form. the lady at the ask for my ID and she said she changed the address..also I was making payments for about six month from the new address , which was on my checks and letters I sent. I had also received a late payment notification from them once at this address.. my question is how can I get my personal property back? and is the bank and repo company responsible?

[direred]

jets, please start your own thread -- it's easier to get help that way.

[jets1934]

ok..sorry wont happen again

[pointman]

FYI, if you don't want to pony up for MS Office, Open Office is a great and FREE alternative. It has all the same functions as MS Office only it's free. It's a great way to save money but still be able to use a spreadsheet.

I have MS Office on all my PCs but I went ahead and installed OpenOffice 2.0

Some files, if saved in the right format, will open in both applications.

Good Luck E!

I just started my second repair journey in 10 years so I have little to add. I'm also in a total state of confusion, as I don't want to shoot myself in the foot by firing off the wrong letter in the wrong sequence...

In any case... Here's the path I'm following while I wait for USPS to deliver my SEXY book;

http://www.creditinfocenter.com/repair/RepairTool.shtml

and here's a link for the latest version of FREE OpenOffice;

http://download.openoffice.org/2.2.1/index.html

Go ahead and get the whole package; spreadsheet, word processor, etc.

Good Luck ALL!