Haven't been around for awhile, but here's an update

[shellieh98 1,505]

So a few years ago I got into some financial trouble. I found this site, and it helped me immensely. I won 3 court cases, I sued Gold's Gym for collection violations, and I have been cleaning up my credit. I was at an all time low of 430.  I protested every negative on all 3 credit reports. some things were removed, some were not. Some I had to wait until they dropped off after 7 years. But, last week I decided to refinance my house. I thought my score was pretty good now, so thought I'd get a decent % rate. eh, todays market, it was 4.2, but still better than the 5.6 I've been stuck with for 10 years.

My credit score came back at 840!  Pretty much cart blanch if your trying to get credit.  I do have a couple of credit cards, with like 15k limits, but I won't go down that road again. If I have a major purchase I won't use it unless I have a plan to pay it off in a month or 2. I carry a low balance on my main card so it reflects well with payments, etc without getting socked for huge interest. Just wanted to revisit, and let others know this site is a wealth of info if your willing to invest the time. Thanks to all those that contribute! Oh my new house payment is 350.00 less per month, and will be paid off 2 years earlier. So even though I didn't get the low rates of a few years ago, it was still worth it.

[Brotherskeeper 850]

7 minutes ago, shellieh98 said:

My credit score came back at 840!

Fantastic news, Shellie! You've earned it!!! So nice to hear from you. 

[Indy17 5]

Congrats.

[Mr. Mann 0]

On 2/4/2019 at 9:12 AM, shellieh98 said:

 

So a few years ago I got into some financial trouble. I found this site, and it helped me immensely. I won 3 court cases, I sued Gold's Gym for collection violations, and I have been cleaning up my credit. I was at an all time low of 430.  I protested every negative on all 3 credit reports. some things were removed, some were not. Some I had to wait until they dropped off after 7 years. But, last week I decided to refinance my house. I thought my score was pretty good now, so thought I'd get a decent % rate. eh, todays market, it was 4.2, but still better than the 5.6 I've been stuck with for 10 years.

My credit score came back at 840!  Pretty much cart blanch if your trying to get credit.  I do have a couple of credit cards, with like 15k limits, but I won't go down that road again. If I have a major purchase I won't use it unless I have a plan to pay it off in a month or 2. I carry a low balance on my main card so it reflects well with payments, etc without getting socked for huge interest. Just wanted to revisit, and let others know this site is a wealth of info if your willing to invest the time. Thanks to all those that contribute! Oh my new house payment is 350.00 less per month, and will be paid off 2 years earlier. So even though I didn't get the low rates of a few years ago, it was still worth it.

You must use those cards or they will close them. They need an incentive to keep reporting your credit monthly but no activity. They have to keep thinking of you monthly doing nothing and not making money off your credit worthiness. Just don't use cash, use the cards evenly and pay them off with cash monthly. Each month your credit will get stronger and you'll get perks from your cards by doing so. Apply for a card with frequent flyer miles and use it to a a free trip around the would by using your card monthly. Its a game!

[shellieh98 1,505]

Oh I use them. I use them then pay them off.  Sometimes I will let it go a month with min. payment, then pay it off the next. I use it like a debit, then pay it off lol.  I just paid off my 2nd on the house, so I may get another loan for home improvements--just so I stay at a nice ratio. Credit is still over 820! Fluctuates- depending on if I had a inquiry, etc.  I just refinanced too for a lower interest rate, and took out a 15 year loan, and my payment is still lower than before. Old loan was a 30 year loan with 19 years to go. 

[texasrocker 436]

Great news!  I thought I was doing well at 720 and getting a new Corvette at 3.7%.

Good to see you're still alive and well. 

 

[Goody_Ouchless 489]

On 6/14/2019 at 7:49 PM, Mr. Mann said:

You must use those cards or they will close them. They need an incentive to keep reporting your credit monthly but no activity. They have to keep thinking of you monthly doing nothing and not making money off your credit worthiness. Just don't use cash, use the cards evenly and pay them off with cash monthly. Each month your credit will get stronger and you'll get perks from your cards by doing so. Apply for a card with frequent flyer miles and use it to a a free trip around the would by using your card monthly. Its a game!

I guess it all depends. We have some Cap One cards that we never use, and they keep sending those $0.00 Statements, hoping we'll use the card by mistake and forget to pay because it's not in our bi-monthly bill routine. I have a card that I only use for Lyft, and pay it off each month, but my wife got an Amazon card with great plans for earning points - yada, yada, yada, I send them $400.00 every month and balance is still over 2K. Biggest mistake we made since cleaning up our last mess.

[fisthardcheese 1,391]

On 6/20/2019 at 7:25 PM, Goody_Ouchless said:

I guess it all depends. We have some Cap One cards that we never use, and they keep sending those $0.00 Statements, hoping we'll use the card by mistake and forget to pay because it's not in our bi-monthly bill routine. I have a card that I only use for Lyft, and pay it off each month, but my wife got an Amazon card with great plans for earning points - yada, yada, yada, I send them $400.00 every month and balance is still over 2K. Biggest mistake we made since cleaning up our last mess.

If that Synchrony amazon card is not applying interest or fees correctly to keep your balance high every month, it seems like a good dispute for JAMS arbitration that can easily be settled for a 2k account credit before the first arbitrator phone conference.