First off - this is a great board. I've read the FAQ and as many posts as I could the last few days. I had already been working on my credit using info from a couple of other boards but this one definitely is the most active! I've had a small amount of success getting some things removed and don't have anything all that "terrible" left on my reports but have something I need some advice on. I have Sears and Discover cr cards and both were near their limit in 1996 when we encountered several financial setbacks. As you might guess, due to late charges and over limit charges both are reporting WAY over their limit. The Discover has a $1,500 limit and shows about $3100. Sears doesn't report a limit (0 or n/a) and has a balance of $1800. I think the orig. CL was $1000 or $1500. The only other account showing on my report as a CC/store account is Lowes. Two weeks ago we received a letter saying due to our balance/CL ratio or use of card or some such jargon that the account was being closed. We went over our limit one month after making a payment late but it is reflecting a perfect payment history on all 3 reports right up until the time closed. So....just how bad is this for the scores? I have no hard inquiries in almost 2 years and then only 1 for an auto loan in 01/01. Have gotten 2 old charge off's removed and working on getting some 60 and 30 day lates that are less than 2 y/o removed. I know it looks bad to only have 3 CC reporting, 2 with bal over the CL. Any way to make this look better? Should I open another one and keep it paid off or at least to 50% below to help offset the others or would this matter? Thanks for any and all advice and I'm sure I'll be back with many more ? soon! TU ? EQ 590 (had some deletions since this time) EX 610 (same) Also - anywhere you can subscribe for 30 days and get a true FICO score? Thanks!
