Today I feel like I don't even want to bother with trying to repair my damaged credit. Most of my derogs will come off in 2004 anyway... thats less than 3 years for most of them. I have no way to tell if the info is correct or not. I have an account I settled on & it shows $60 still owed. I feel like I need to just pay the $60 and forget about it. How much is my time worth anyway? I've got a CA state tax lien, anyone have luck removing those? The amount has been incorrect from day one, I only owed 1/10 of what they put the lien on for. I've got $200 to pay & then it will be released. I feel this is the single most damaging item on my report. But.. I don't feel like fighting it.
there are low spots... certainly. I took 6 months off last yer because I was tired. This board reinvigorated my efforts. I started looking at it as a really fun and intellectual hobby. a "How can I beat Goliath" game. If you repay the $60 at least get in writing beforehand a full removal of the negative info. That's quick and easy. I'd Pay the lien and go about disputing it with the CRAs. Sometimes govt stuff drops easier. My judgment was the first to go and it was a huge hit to my credit score til it was off. Someone else may have experience with liens specifically.
I know what you mean. I wish I had the extra bucks to just pay someone to do the work for me. Oh well, it will get better. It just so hard being patient and diligent. I swear one of these days a CRA is going to cause someone to go postal. Candi
Doody, Could it be that your not wanting to "bother" was perhaps the trait that started your credit woes? I think that is the case for most of us here but many are now reformed after seeing the damage that "not wanting to bother" creates. Certainly, some simply didn't have the $$ to pay which would prevent the damage but I think the vast majority were careless at some point or another rather than intentionally refusing to pay their obligations. I think you probably fall into the later catagory. Visiting this board and working on "damage control" and following it thru to the end, I think, would be the admirable way to go and might cure the "not wanting to bother" stance for your future credit dealings.
Relative to some of the other challenges I've faced in my life, credit repair isn't that tough. Mostly it's teadious and requires tenacity. Yes, the battle with the bureaus does get very frustrating but the payoff is worth it in the end. For me, the fight is worth the effort because some of my derogs are scheduled to stay on my reports for five more years. I've been working on my credit since February of 2000. I love Marie's idea of making a game out of the battle and allowing ourselves to be intellectually stimulated by the challenge. Actually, coming up with strategies is kind of fun. I've learned so much from everyone here. Take care and hang in there. Donna
Here here, that is certainly the case for me in one or two derogs...I found myself in a state of carelessness and didn't even notice that I didn't pay my obligagtions. I could kick myself from here to timbuktu for doing that but hindsight can only serve to improve my future if I use it correctly instead of beating myself up.
Mist, I am not sure what you're trying to say, I think you're trying to insult me? Just because right now I don't want to bother repairing ACCURATE negative info does NOT mean I will "not bother" to pay my current or future credit obligations. Yes, I was careless enough to lose a good paying job when I was 21 and didn't have any real skills, so had to start over & didnt have enough $$ to pay my bills, except rent, in fact I lived on $20 a month for gas & food money & had no phone but thats besides the point. I was very careless to learn this important lesson very young. All I was trying to see was if anyone else could identify with my feelings, I wasn't trying to say that anyone else shouldn't "bother" & I wasn't looking to offend you.
Doodyhead, I would just tell you to hang in there. In 20 days time, I have managed to negotiate with my creditors to repair a lot of the damage caused by some significant financial problems. These are not easy creditors (sallie mae and chase manhattan)and these were "accurate" negatives. Like you, they were scheduled to fall off in 2004. But as a result of all the work I've done, my FICO has risen from 512 on 8/3 to 654 as of today. Just keep writing letters and hang in there. It is tiring and frustrating, especially when you get the letters telling you NO. But, in the end, you will get somone who can help you, and then it will all pay off.
Hey Doodyhead- I think it all depends on one's personal situation. If you can get by for a few years paying cash for everything, then go for it. A lot of people have to do just that. But, you should continually peck away at your NEG marks and try and get back your good credit as soon as possible. SK
Oh NO, please, please don't think I was trying to insult you. That was not in the least what I was trying to say. Somehow I seem to have stuck my foot in my mouth. I was only trying to help give you some incentive to continue to do the damage control to reduce the effect on future credit needs such as better terms and lower APR's. Please accept my apologies for the miscommunication or misunderstanding of my previous post. PS; I do identify with your feelings and have one or two letters I should write but find myself procrastinating over.
We all feel that way from time to time, about anything difficult, I think - speaking from the experience and perspective of my age (most of you, I could probably be your Mom). Give yourself a break if you need it. Go commune with nature, take a bubble bath, read the Desiderata, nap in your free time, LOL. It's okay. http://acadia.bu.edu/johnk_html/Philosophy/Desiderata.html breeze
Mist, no problem, I just wasnt sure what you were trying to get at, thanks, I will continue to plug away. Right now I am trying to determine the best course of action. I still owe most of the creditors - really there's less than 8 bad accounts, so I am not sure what to do there. Kbelle, Did you still owe YOUR creditors? And what kind of steps have you taken - that's quite an accomplishment for only 20 days time!! congratulations!!
