I'm getting ready to assess where I am at credit-wise and then doing what I can to bring my score up. I'm eligible for free credit reports once a year in ky, and I'm going to be pulling those soon. I'd also like to get a look at my fico number, and I know that there is some debate on which is the best, but I'm asking anyway- What is the best most accurate and affordable way to get my credit score, I'm not looking to track it at this time - just to see where it is to see what my options will be to open a line of credit and see how far down the hole I am. My score got tanked a few years ago as I got cards as a college student and then got unemployed and irresponsible. Ended up doing a charge off on two of the cards. Those are probably going to stay on until they fall off, but right now I get denied for credit cards, and I want to try to find a way to get at least one open that I can use monthly for my gas to try to add some positive history to my credit reports.
At this point, ascertaining your FICO scores is really immaterial. Get your reports first and make a determination as to what is significant and what isn't. Simply because something was your account at one point doesn't necessarily mean that its accurate or complete. Look at the data fields when deciding what to dispute and beware of accounts which are within the statute of limitations. At some point, you will need to address the unpaid charge-offs. This can be accomplished through settling the accounts or accruing violations per disputes. Again, be forewarned of live accounts. As far as opening a line of credit, put that on the back burner. A new account will not help immediately in most cases and most prime issuers will not touch you with an unpaid, recent charge-off. An aged tradeline may help you but, again, those two unpaid charge-offs will remain problematic.
The following accounts contain information that some creditors may consider to be adverse. Adverse account information may generally be reported for 7 years from the date of the first delinquency, depending on your state of residence. The adverse information in these accounts has been printed in >brackets< or is shaded for your convenience, to help you understand your report. They are not bracketed or shaded this way for creditors. (Note: The account # may be scrambled by the creditor for your protection). AMERICAN EXPRESS #xx PO BOX 297871 FT LAUDERDALE , FL 33329 (800) 874-2717 Balance: $0 Date Updated: 01/2004 High Balance: $2,592 Credit Limit: $1,700 Past Due: $0 Pay Status: >Payment After Charge Off/Collection< Account Type: Revolving Account Responsibility: Individual Account Date Opened: 04/2001 Date Closed: 05/2003 Date Paid: 12/2003 Loan Type: Credit Card Remark: >Settled - less than full balance< Estimated date that this item will be removed: 10/2009 DISCOVER FINCL SVC LLC #xx PO BOX 15316 WILMINGTON , DE 19850-5316 (800) 347-2683 Balance: $0 Date Updated: 08/2005 High Balance: $3,229 Credit Limit: $1,500 Past Due: $0 Pay Status: Paid or Paying as Agreed Account Type: Revolving Account Responsibility: Individual Account Date Opened: 07/2000 Date Closed: 07/2005 Date Paid: 07/2005 Loan Type: Credit Card Remark: >Settled - less than full balance< >Maximum delinquency of 120+ days in 04/2005 for $287< Estimated date that this item will be removed: 10/2009 Late Payments This one has a lot of late payments, some 60's and some 120's. About a year and a half of good payments, then just over that in various late payment.s HSBC BEST BUY #xx POB 15521 WILMINGTON , DE 19805 (302) 327-2000 Balance: $867 Date Updated: 03/2004 High Balance: $850 Credit Limit: $500 Past Due: $0 Pay Status: >Collection Account< Account Type: Revolving Account Responsibility: Individual Account Date Opened: 11/2002 Date Closed: 10/2003 Loan Type: Charge Account Remark: Account closed by credit grantor Estimated date that this item will be removed: 12/2009 LVNV FUNDING LLC #xx PO BOX 10497 GREENVILLE , SC 29603-0584 (866) 464-1183 Balance: $0 Date Updated: 05/2007 High Balance: $866 Collateral: 12 HOUSEHOLD BEST BUY Past Due: $0 Pay Status: >Payment After Charge Off/Collection< Account Type: Open Account Responsibility: Individual Account Date Opened: 04/2004 Date Closed: 06/2004 Date Paid: 06/2004 Loan Type: Factoring Company Account Remark: >Paid collection< Estimated date that this item will be removed: 02/2010 PENTAGROUP FINANCIAL LLC #xx 5959 CORPORATE DRI SUITE 1400 HOUSTON , TX 77036 (832) 615-2100 Balance: $248 Date Updated: 05/2007 Original Balance: $174 Original Creditor: 08 US BANK DDA Past Due: >$248< Pay Status: >Collection Account< Account Type: Open Account Responsibility: Individual Account Loan Type: Collection Agency Attorney Remark: >Placed for collection< Date placed for collection: [ 02/2007] Estimated date that this item will be removed: 12/2008 The following accounts are reported with no adverse information. (Note: The account # may be scrambled by the creditor for your protection). CAPITAL ONE SERVICES #xx POB 30281 SALT LAKE CITY , UT 84130-0281 (800) 955-7070 Balance: $0 Date Updated: 09/2004 High Balance: $292 Past Due: $0 Pay Status: Paid or Paying as Agreed Account Type: Revolving Account Responsibility: Individual Account Date Opened: 03/2001 Date Closed: 09/2004 Date Paid: 09/2001 Loan Type: Credit Card Remark: Account closed by credit grantor Late Payments No Late Payments showing on this account. 1.5 years of ontime payment Regular Inquiries The following companies have received your credit report. Their inquiries remain on your credit report for two years. BANK ONE CONSUMER LENDIN P O BOX 2071 MILWAUKEE , WI 53201 (877) 226-7402 Requested On: Inquiry Type: 08/17/2006 Individual FIRST USA NA 800 BROOKSEDGE BLV WESTERVILLE , OH 43081 Phone number not available Requested On: Inquiry Type: 07/23/2006 Individual AMERICAN EXPRESS 4315 S 2700 WEST ST. LAKE CITY , UT 84184 Phone number not available Requested On: Inquiry Type: 06/15/2005 Individual DISCOVER FIN SERVICES 8475 SO. SANDY PK CMA -UTAH CENTER SANDY , UT 84070 Phone number not available Requested On: Inquiry Type: 06/07/2005 Individual Promotional Inquires The companies listed below received your name, address and other limited information about you so they could make a firm offer of credit or insurance. They did not receive your full credit report. These inquiries are not seen by anyone but you and do not affect your credit score. HSBC BANK NV FKA HHLB POB 19360 PORTLAND , OR 97280 (800) 477-6000 Requested On: 02/2007 HSBC BANK NV FKA HHLB POB 19360 PORTLAND , OR 97280 (800) 477-6000 Requested On: 01/2007 FIRST PREMIER PO BOX 5114 SIOUX FALLS , SD 57117-5114 (800) 584-7097 Requested On: 12/2006 HSBC BANK NV FKA HHLB POB 19360 PORTLAND , OR 97280 (800) 477-6000 Requested On: 11/2006 Account Review The companies listed below obtained information from your consumer report for the purpose of an account review or other business transaction with you. These inquiries are not displayed to anyone but you and will not affect any creditor's decision or any score (except insurance companies may have access to other insurance company inquiries, where permitted by law). FACTACT FREE DISCLOSURE P O BOX 1000 CHESTER , PA 19022 (800) 888-4213 Requested On: 01/2006 TRAVELERS INSURANCE 10777 NW FREEWAY HOUSTON , TX 77092 Phone number not available Requested On: 09/2005 DISCOVER FINCL SVC LLC 2500 LAKE COOK RD RIVERWOODS , IL 60015-3851 Phone number not available Requested On: 07/2005
This is my Transunion report. The bad charge off - Discover(07/05) and American Express(05/03) paid after going to collections - Best Buy (Showing twice on report) incorrect - Pentagroup account currently in collections - This is a collection of overdraft fees from my bank that were refunded by the branch manager. It's not a valid debt so it's got to go and it only recently showed up. The good Capital one card was paid on time for a year and a half. I think I need to attack the Pentagroup first and it may be fairly easy to get rid of since it was never a valid debt. After that how/what can I do on the other stuff. I may try to get a screen shot of the report as it is much clearer in the original formatting.