Hey guys, first of all, I want to give many thanks to those who have contributed their knowledge to these forums and the articles written on the website. I am just starting off trying to get my credit rehabilitated. Like others i have my reasons for what got me into my debt. I need help as to what I can do or should do in resurrecting my credit score. It stands at 501 as per TU right now. I have been unemployed coming up on two years now. I am only 24 which helps me a lot I have been told. I am full-time student now and expect to graduate next spring (2011) until then I have been getting by on savings and unemployment. I have (maybe) $100 per month available to pay towards my debts. Below listed are the negative marks on my report. Any advice that can be given to me would be fantastic. I have disputed 3 marks through TU's interface. The one was an employment record in 10/2008 that should not be on there. The other two are CITY OF PHILADELPHIA #50400522 which was something that at the time I was told was covered by insurance. The other is something from Penn State my old school. I think they said I owed them library books or something but I told them i never took the books in question out. Am I really liable for this debt? I mean, I never signed anything saying I would pay any outstanding obligations to the school even if I did incur them? Sorry for the length of this. Any advice given is highly appreciated! edit: I have 2 student loans that are in deferment until 2013 with balances of 5,600 in total. PO BOX 2036 WARREN , MI 48090-2036 (800) 398-8814 Balance: $3,321 Date Updated: 02/2010 Original Balance: $2,148 Original Creditor: CITIBANK Past Due: >$3,321< Pay Status: >Collection Account< Account Type: Open Account Responsibility: Individual Account Loan Type: Factoring Company Account Remark: >Placed for collection< Date placed for collection: [ 01/2007] Estimated date that this item will be removed: 12/2011 CAPITAL ONE BANK USA NA #4862362500802098 120 EAST SHORE DR GLEN ALLEN , VA 23059 (800) 955-7070 Balance: $0 Date Updated: 05/2008 High Balance: $510 Credit Limit: $200 Past Due: $0 Pay Status: >Charged Off as Bad Debt< Account Type: Revolving Account Responsibility: Individual Account Date Opened: 11/2004 Date Closed: 07/2005 Loan Type: Credit Card Remark: Purchased by another lender Estimated date that this item will be removed: 11/2011 CITY OF PHILADELPHIA #50400522 FIRE DEPT - EMS DI PO BOX 56317 PHILADELPHIA , PA 19130 (215) 972-8300 Balance: $510 Date Updated: 10/2005 Original Balance: $510 Original Creditor: MED1 02 CITY OF PHILADELPHIA EMS Past Due: >$510< Pay Status: >Collection Account< Account Type: Open Account Responsibility: Individual Account Loan Type: Government Fee for Services Remark: >Placed for collection< Date placed for collection: [ 02/2005] Estimated date that this item will be removed: 01/2012 CONSOLIDATED COLL SVC #945688 2213 FOREST HILLS SUITE #2 HARRISBURG , PA 17112-1090 (717) 652-8601 Balance: $350 Date Updated: 12/2009 Original Balance: $350 Original Creditor: MED1 FOX CHASE ANESTHESIA Past Due: >$350< Pay Status: >Collection Account< Account Type: Open Account Responsibility: Individual Account Loan Type: Collection Agency Attorney Remark: >Placed for collection< Date placed for collection: [ 08/2007] Estimated date that this item will be removed: 01/2014 FIRST BANK OF DELAWARE #5206058000151661 50 S 16TH ST PHILADELPHIA , PA 19102 (888) 323-3511 Balance: $0 Date Updated: 04/2009 High Balance: $528 Credit Limit: $300 Past Due: $0 Pay Status: >Charged Off as Bad Debt< Account Type: Revolving Account Responsibility: Individual Account Date Opened: 02/2008 Date Closed: 05/2008 Loan Type: Credit Card Remark: Purchased by another lender Estimated date that this item will be removed: 03/2015 FIRST PREMIER BANK #4869557017758096 3820 N LOUISE AVE SIOUX FALLS , SD 57107-0145 (800) 987-5521 Balance: $0 Date Updated: 07/2007 High Balance: $443 Collateral: SLDTO ARROW FINANCIAL SERVICES Credit Limit: $300 Past Due: $0 Pay Status: >Charged Off as Bad Debt< Account Type: Revolving Account Responsibility: Individual Account Date Opened: 02/2005 Date Closed: 04/2005 Loan Type: Credit Card Remark: >Profit and loss writeoff< Estimated date that this item will be removed: 02/2012 IMAGINE #5182840008085480 POB 105555 ATLANTA , GA 30348-5555 Phone number not available Balance: $699 Date Updated: 08/2008 High Balance: $699 Credit Limit: $400 Past Due: >$66< Pay Status: >Charged Off as Bad Debt< Account Type: Revolving Account Responsibility: Individual Account Date Opened: 03/2007 Date Closed: 08/2008 Loan Type: Credit Card Remark: Account closed by credit grantor Estimated date that this item will be removed: 01/2015 MIDLAND CREDIT MGMT INC #8532301237 8875 AERO DR STE 2 SAN DIEGO , CA 92123 (800) 265-8825 Balance: $762 Date Updated: 02/2010 Original Balance: $699 Original Creditor: IMAGINE MASTERCARD Past Due: >$762< Pay Status: >Collection Account< Account Type: Open Account Responsibility: Individual Account Loan Type: Factoring Company Account Remark: >Placed for collection< Date placed for collection: [ 09/2009] Estimated date that this item will be removed: 01/2015 NCO - MEDCLEAR #37494118 POB 41448 PHILADELPHIA , PA 19101 (800) 541-2742 Balance: $445 Date Updated: 05/2009 Original Balance: $445 Original Creditor: MED1 02 ROOSEVELT EMERGENCY PHYSICIA Past Due: >$445< Pay Status: >Collection Account< Account Type: Open Account Responsibility: Individual Account Loan Type: Factoring Company Account Remark: >Placed for collection< Date placed for collection: [ 05/2007] Estimated date that this item will be removed: 12/2012 NCO FINANCIAL #17614308 PO BOX 41448 PHILADELPHIA , PA 19101 (800) 709-8613 Balance: $86 Date Updated: 01/2010 Original Balance: $67 Original Creditor: NCO ASGNE OF CITIZENS BANKS Past Due: >$86< Pay Status: >Collection Account< Account Type: Open Account Responsibility: Individual Account Loan Type: Factoring Company Account Remark: >Placed for collection< Date placed for collection: [ 10/2007] Estimated date that this item will be removed: 02/2011 RJM ACQUISITIONS LLC/ RJ #81R010097584447 575 UNDERHILL BLVD SUITE 224 SYOSSET , NY 11791 (800) 268-0623 Balance: $167 Date Updated: 01/2010 Original Balance: $167 Original Creditor: 08 WACHOVIA BANK CHECKING ACCOUNT Past Due: >$167< Pay Status: >Collection Account< Account Type: Open Account Responsibility: Individual Account Loan Type: Factoring Company Account Remark: >Placed for collection< Date placed for collection: [ 10/2007] Estimated date that this item will be removed: 10/2011 TRUMARK FINANCIAL CU #10000010269400001 1000 NORTHBROOK DR TREVOSE , PA 19053-8430 (215) 953-5300 Balance: $189 Date Updated: 02/2010 High Balance: $59 Past Due: $0 Pay Status: >Charged Off as Bad Debt< Account Type: Open Account Responsibility: Individual Account Date Opened: 03/2007 Date Closed: 08/2007 Loan Type: Deposit Related Remark: >Profit and loss writeoff< Estimated date that this item will be removed: 06/2014 UNIQUE NATIONAL COLL #4490437 119 E MAPLE ST JEFFERSONVLLE , IN 47130 (800) 879-5453 Balance: $147 Date Updated: 05/2006 Original Balance: $147 Original Creditor: PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY Past Due: >$147< Pay Status: >Collection Account< Account Type: Open Account Responsibility: Individual Account Loan Type: Collection Agency Attorney Remark: >Placed for collection< Date placed for collection: [ 01/2006] Estimated date that this item will be removed: 01/2012
Dispute these tradelines through the credit reporting agencies per specific data fields such as date of last activity, account type, account status, etc. Dispute any data field which is incomplete; i.e., empty.
Welcome to the forum. Apex gives good advice here to get started, and yes - you can possibly be held liable for those library fees. Unique National Collections specializes in those kind of collections. Remember to avoid the online dispute channels, and keep your communication in writing. You'll likely get a better response and you want to keep a good paper trail of your communication anyway.
First round of online disputes resulted in two lines being removed. Went through a second round but am probably settling one of the ones from Wachovia bank. One thing I am curious about is how one can raise a credit score without good credit. My score is currently around 540. I can't get any credit cards and don't necessarily have the money to get a secured card. I am a student so my income is quite limited right now. Any suggestions as to what I can do?
Congrats on getting the negs removed. Also, if you don't feel ready to get a secured credit card quite yet, do you have a family member or close friend who would be willing to add you as an AU on one of their accounts in good standing with a low credit utilization ratio?
