My Progress report after a little over a year. Trans Union: 1/10/03 3 Judgments 22 Negatives 10 CAâ??s 12 OCâ??s 11 Positives 45 Hard inquiries in 1 yr. Trans Union: now O Judgments 2 Negatives 1 CA in dispute 1 OC (paid auto showing 30 day late) 12 Positive accounts. 29 Hard inquiries, 15 this year CSC/EQ: 10/04/02 3 Judgements 14 Negatives 8 OCâ??s 6 CAâ??s 11 Positive 17 Hard inquiries 1 yr. CSC/EQ: now 0 Judgments 1 Negative CA reporting as In Dispute 7 Positive 8 inquiries, 3 this year Experian: 3/2/03 3 Judgments 12 Negatives 7 OCâ??s 5 CAâ??s 3 Positives 16 Inquiries 1 yr Experian now: 3 Judgments 6 Negatives 4 CAâ??s 2 OCâ??s (1 is paid off with a 30 day late) 6 Positives 11 Inquiries (2 this year) Overall I think my progress has been pretty good. I know I could have done better. I did not do enough reading to begin with. Reading and learning is VERY important. When I started, it was dispute, dispute, dispute with the CRAâ??s while fighting the CAâ??s. Experian just started their process of limiting disputes, where they now request new information. I didnâ??t get a chance to see if a CA would mark an account with the CRAâ??s in dispute. With TU and EQ I lost 11 positive accounts while disputing. I got them back on TU but EQ would not put them back. First thing I did in the repair process was stop applying for credit. It was the hardest thing to do. How often did I want to apply for something? Every time a negative came off my report. I did need a new car late last summer, and applied for a loanâ?¦luckily the dealer pulled TU. My best at the time. He told me my score was 621, and I was approved for a $13,000 loan. WOW, I was amazed. I felt pretty good. But I still did not apply. I have never checked my FICO scoresâ?¦not once have I. I want to, I just donâ??t want to spend the money. Call me cheap. I finally felt comfortable, thanks to a little push from TEE in chat to apply for the Household Trio. This was just about a month ago. I was approved for my first credit card, Union Plus, and then Corvette, GM turned me down, but a request for reconsideration 3 times through PFB finally Paid off and they gave me one. And I got a Target and AmEX Gold Rewards card shortly after, neither that I want to use. I was pretty happy and applied for the DCU and they gave me approval for $1000 CC and a refinance on my auto loan from 14% now to 4.49% through them. She told me my score from EQ was 721, she said it was a high score for having a 14% APR with my auto loan. Iâ??m waiting to hear from them now in regards to my app. I know I probably should wait, but I do want to apply for a CC through PenFed and Lockheed. When the time comes I will, and maybe apply for AMEX Blue and MBNA, I donâ??t know. My point is, it does work. Credit repair, that is. I have done things out of order, and hastily sometimes. Sometimes I caved when I shouldnâ??t have, and other times I pushed and won ($2000 out of court settlement on a CA that completely validated a $200 debt of mine). I have paid maybe whatâ?¦$100-200 in postage at the most, over a year and a half! Donâ??t get discouraged when everyone else is applying and getting approved for cards and you are really itching. Save the inquiry. Wait until you get that next round of disputes back and there is a delete, or that letter from a CA stating they are deleting an account. IS it hard? Yes, discouraging, yes. Sometimes you wonâ??t win. Be patient and try a different approach. If one CRA is giving you a hard time, try an easier one for a bit. EX has kicked my ass, so I have focused on the other 2 to help me rebuild. Then Iâ??ll attack EX again. Just donâ??t give upâ?¦it didnâ??t happen to you overnight and you canâ??t fix it overnight. Read and understand before you begin. Ask questionsâ?¦and keep a positive attitude. Sometimes itâ??s actually fun!! Just my opinion
Sounds good. I am a fellow "Priority Department" consumer who is "locked out." TU did not return my calls for over three months. I am sending email over to you.
That is a great story above. Not surprisingly, Experian appears to be the stiffest of the big 3. My repair history is very similar to yours: Fighting the CRAs and CAs incessantly at the beginning, then eventually looking back and realizing that I spent way too much time fighting without acquiring the tools first. Like anything, the right tools make all of the difference.
