OK, gang, I just sent my last payment to Bank Of America. That brought a $22,000 credit card debt that began in 1994 to a close! I still cannot believe it. This debt was so old, I can't remember anything I bought with the money. I considered declaring bankruptcy, but decided to enlist with CCCS, and fight my way out of it. Now I have FICOs in the 760's, ZERO credit card debt, and have restored my credit to 1994 levels or better. Like Roni and Momof3 before her, my reward is going to be buying my first home in a couple of months. Some thoughts to everyone: 1) The tunnel for getting out of debt can seem long and dark, but it DOES have an end. Days like today prove it. 2) When scrubbing your reports, after validation fails, always write the creditor and ASK nicely for something to be removed. You'll be amazed at how far that gets you. 3) Read, read, read this board. Then copy and paste all the nuggets you find into text files for future reference. 4) Never get into bad debt again. It takes years off your life that you are unable to do x, y, or z. Finally, thanks to everyone who posts here. This is a great community bonded through the adversity of struggling with debt. And once you get out, your perspective will be forever changed. Like the saying goes: "a mind stretched by new ideas will never return to its original size." Off to make reservations for my steak dinner at Ruth Chris' tonight...
Lordy, Lordy! It's a wonderful day! Congrats to you! And would that be the Ruth's Chris Steakhouse on the "N. Dls Tollway"?
I really appreciate you posting this. CONGRATULATIONS!!! Its nice to hear something like this when some of us, including myself, are so focused on cleanup, and get frustrated at times with the process and how slow it sometimes seems that I am able to reduce my overall debt. I was able to pay off 3 small accounts today-Macy's, Ikea, and First Bankcard of Omaha. These totalled about 800$; however, like you, the actual "charging" that took place on these occured YEARS ago. Macy's was like 1995 or 6! Ikea, too! And I think that the last time I used First bankcard was 1997. All 3 have been closed by credit grantors...it just amazes me that here 4,5,6 years later I am still paying for a shopping spree. I have learned my lesson the hard way. Anyhow, I hope to be in your shoes by this time next year. Thanks for sharing your success!
Congrats! You are an inspiration. I have paid down over $3500 worth of cc debt since mid June. I now have 0% interest on 2 accounts until 4/2002 and 0% interest on another until 12/2001 during which time my goal is to pay off the rest (BEFORE hubby finds out how much credit I used! - sorry, for those who believe in truth in marriage, I'm not lying...just not telling ...and hope not to have to, LOL) Mist
DON'T DO WHAT I DID...I got rid of too many cards...keep a few of them...(buy some stuff on one card each month and then pay in full and switch cards the following month) It will help get a mortgage...If you close all of them, you will have a 20% down OR MORE!!!
Great For You Cosjef...!!!! ;-) I Hope you stick around on this board to help others who are new and learning. We can all use your expertise! Good luck on your new home!! MartysGirl
You are an inspirtation to me . .whose in the hole at 18K.. Take your time and buy a great house. cherie
Congrats on everything! Sounds like all has worked out excellently. I am wondering--did you acquire a 700+ FICO while being part of CCCS or was that post-CCCS? The reason I ask is that after struggling for years to pay down credit card debt from a prior marriage I finally decided to do CCCS (I know, a lot of people here don't think it's wise, but I had some very real reasons for not doing the chargeoff route or bankruptcy). I am now concentrating on paying the debts off and doing my credit actions correctly this time. And of course play the credit card companies' game right back at them, too. I've decided to start posting after lurking for quite a while. I have to say that I have learned a lot already! Congrats again and best of luck!
Congratulations, Few have spoken finer words than thou & you certainly made me focus on what was obviously something that I needed to hear. Sister Girl
My four year story ... as inspiration. Married. Charged up a storm. Got divorced. Ended up paying child support AND all the bills, because she filed for BK. Car was repo'd. Home was taken away. I just couldn't afford to pay all the bills AND child support. Credit history was HORRIBLE. Probably a total of 25 or more derogatory items on any of my credit reports. I couldn't finance the steam off of a hot dog. In 1998, I learned about credit, the credit reporting agencies, the FCRA and FDCPA and the law -- I learned it ALL from places like creditnet.com and other consumer credit web sites. Pulled my first credit report -- a tri-merged -- in 1998. Yuk! I started putting into practice all the good advice that I learned here and elsewhere. Some were lucky deletions, some were settlements and some aged off. Today? I built a new house 1.5 years ago and am in the process of building a new one. A+ paper as of back then, with a 7.0% mortgage. Three platinum credit cards with hellacious credit limits and zero balances. Furniture loans, appliance loans -- all paid off. Two brand new vehicles at killer low interest rates. Other than the house and cars, I owe NOTHING to anybody, and it's great. It was nice to be able to pick up the phone, call the bank for a home equity loan of $21,000 (down payment on the new house -- I don't like bridge loans) and have it approved in HOURS at A+ rates. Without places like creditnet.com, I'd still be in the cellar, wishing and hoping for a $300 credit limit on a Target card. It was a long, long road. But no matter what, keep up the work and take the good advice from those on this message board -- you, too, will be back as an A+ borrower!
