So about 3 years ago I lost a job and had credit card bills due and wasn't able to pay them off. My bills ended up going into collections but I was then able to get all the money back when I found a job and paid all bills off instantly. Since then I have not had a credit card. My score went from high 700's to extremely low.

 

I've been wanting to get my score back up but have some questions. I recently applied to two apartments and they run your score to make sure all is good to get a apartment. I wasn't there for the first one my gf was and she said my score was WAY low. Second apt place didn't go by score when by a pointing system and I score really good on that. Well from the first apt with my gf saying it was low its got me to wonder what the heck it is. Also I ironically can't find my SS card so I'm hoping nothing got stolen.

 

I was going do the free score checkers but do they harm your score as well? They say its bad to check them if its less then a year, like do a check once a year, so would the apartment thing count as a check?

 

Any advise is appreciated!

if you use a service where you pay for your score ( as in directly to equifax) they do not hurt your score. Just like everything else they want you to pay for there stuff and then you dont receive any consequences. If you do the 14 day free trial just make sure you cancel it after that, been there forgot that. The point system probably has to do with renting. I had a landlord once tell me that she would run a different check just to see if you have ever screwed a landlord but don't quote me on this part i don't really know anything about it.

Go to myfico.com

 

Get your scores.  They have other tools as well.   This will give you some idea of where you are at and what you'll need to do to fix it.

I believe you can do one free credit check a year without it effecting your credit score. The government use to have a site, but I'll be damned if I can remember what it is.

 

If you want to rebuild your credit I would really suggest a secured credit card. I got one from Orchard Bank and it really helped turn my credit around. While most CC companies only report every 3 months to the credit bureaus, Orchard Bank reports every month. In 2004 my credit score was in the 500s, so I ran a credit report, paid off EVERYTHING that was outstanding or got current on what was outstanding (like student loans) then I got a secured card and used it for EVERYTHING and then paid it off each month. By the 2006 I was able to buy a truck, by 2009 I was able to buy another car and in 2011 I was actually able to buy a home.

There is also creditkarma.com that's free and didn't affect score

So if I do the free scores it won't harm my credit even though apartment place ran it?

 

I am looking at getting secured card from my bank ( Fulton ) hitch will help get it back up. I'm just curious why it is so low when I don't remember it being as low as my gf said it was.

Yeah you should definitely keep close tabs on your credit report/score. I went thru similar hardships years ago and just recently got my score back up over 760-770.

Was recommended this on another thread.

 

https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp

There are two types of inquiries - one is a check on the score and the other is more tied to an application for more credit.  That second one will ding you a few points (such as falling into the lure of a dept store card application to get 10% off your purchase that day).

 

I think an apartment application falls under the first type.

I have a credit watch service that I subscribe to through one of my credit cards (it's called "creditkeeper" thru my Orchard Bank card, but I'd imagine others offer similar services) and its been an awesome tool in rebuilding my credit. I found several errors and things that were hurting me, and they file the disputed for you. Also, it allows me to pull my credit report from all 3 companies every 30 days. It's like $15 a month but well worth it IMHO.

Remember, you can't get your score for free (unless you are a customer of some financial institution that gives it to you for free), you have to pay a fee to get the score.  You can get a free credit report, but this does not include your score.

What does report do? Sorry pretty dumb at this.

Reports show all active accounts linked to your name. So if you think someone stole your identity you can locate the cards that they are using linked to you.

Equifax,Experian, and TransUnion are the ones that you are entitled to one free report a year.

Reports show all active accounts linked to your name. So if you think someone stole your identity you can locate the cards that they are using linked to you.

 

and also shows if you are in good standing and how you did paying your credit due on a monthly basis.

Ok, I'll have to do that when I get home. Jgofnj did you like the site you used? I'd like to know if anything is bad on mine, and if so (hopefully not) get it fixed. If there was anything wrong who do I go to?

Equifax,Experian, and TransUnion are the ones that you are entitled to one free report a year.

As a resident of NJ you receive, as per law, one free credit report from each of the reporting bureaus. Cross reference all three and make sure accounts on your report match, and that non are fraudulent or list incorrect balances.

 

The score that most places use is a fico score, which is only available at myfico.com

The 3 reporting bureaus will say you can pay for your score through them, but it's a score they use different paramaters for than FICO.

As a resident of NJ you receive, as per law, one free credit report from each of the reporting bureaus. Cross reference all three and make sure accounts on your report match, and that non are fraudulent or list incorrect balances.

 

The score that most places use is a fico score, which is only available at myfico.com

The 3 reporting bureaus will say you can pay for your score through them, but it's a score they use different paramaters for than FICO.

FYI, I don't think myfico are real

fico scores either. I did a score check there under that premise when house shopping. The numbers didn't match the numbers the mortgage company got at all. They were all lower.

Ok, I'll have to do that when I get home. Jgofnj did you like the site you used? I'd like to know if anything is bad on mine, and if so (hopefully not) get it fixed. If there was anything wrong who do I go to?

Yes, the one I used was OK, a little confusing but it worked fine.

Hoping to do this today after work, just trying figure which site to use!

Hoping to do this today after work, just trying figure which site to use!

 

IMO go straight to equifax's, experien's, or tans union's web sites and work form there, or use myfico. They are high up the food chain and are not fly by night institutions any more than the whole business is a shady made up thing that is deliberately obfuscated. 

 

The price differential is negligible. I've paid for scores form trans union, equifax and myfico over the years. I've worked directly though transunion,  equifax and experien's sites fro the free annual report. 

Use this website for your free credit reports:

 

https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp

 

I do one check every 4 months to keep an eye on my info. 

You can get your credit REPORT free from each of the companies once per year. So do yourself a favor and spread them out and not do them all at once. You can go to each credit company web sites seperately or using one site that will do it for you. (I think it's something like annualcreditreport.com).

 

Getting your credit SCORE it different and typically costs you money unless you sign up for a service that typically costs you money anyway...

CreditKarma.com is great and does not impact your credit.  It reports on all your cards outstanding, balances, score, and much much more.  I believe it even sends out period emails as your score changes.

So about 3 years ago I lost a job and had credit card bills due and wasn't able to pay them off. My bills ended up going into collections but I was then able to get all the money back when I found a job and paid all bills off instantly. Since then I have not had a credit card. My score went from high 700's to extremely low.

I've been wanting to get my score back up but have some questions. I recently applied to two apartments and they run your score to make sure all is good to get a apartment. I wasn't there for the first one my gf was and she said my score was WAY low. Second apt place didn't go by score when by a pointing system and I score really good on that. Well from the first apt with my gf saying it was low its got me to wonder what the heck it is. Also I ironically can't find my SS card so I'm hoping nothing got stolen.

I was going do the free score checkers but do they harm your score as well? They say its bad to check them if its less then a year, like do a check once a year, so would the apartment thing count as a check?

Any advise is appreciated!

The same thing happened with me by the time i was 20 i lost a gov contract job i had, had a repossesion, unpaid bills, collection etc. and im not talking pennies. in the area of $25,000. wat i ended up doing wen i found new work was save a ton of money. I then called all creditors and negotiated a lower settlement if they agreed to update reports as paid in full. Settled 25k in debt for less than 10k Immediatley after paying them all off i disputed most of the items because technically once you pay your report will be invalid. Once you do this. Most companies wont bother gighting the dispute and they will be deleted."Not everyone lucks out like this". Between ages of 18-20 i had a 690. 20-22. 505. Im 26 and now have a 786. After 7 years they will start to fall off.. You should contact your creditors you paid and request paid in full letters to submit with all credit applications. Just because you paid the collections. They will remain on your report with all derogatory information until the legal reporting time is expired. Usually 7 years and 10 years for judgements. Honestly opening new credit accounts will raise your score. How do i know this?? Experience going through credit hell,counseling and almost borderline bankruptcy.

There a way to find out the creditors? Been 3 years now since I paid it all off instantly and I forget who it was.

There a way to find out the creditors? Been 3 years now since I paid it all off instantly and I forget who it was.

You have to pull your reports from equifax,transunion and experian. They will list all creditors,judgements and collections. One you have the official reports, you can usually get all 3 for under $30 shipped certified to your home. Each creditor will include the contact information. You need to call them and get paid in full letters. As i mentioned already even if the collection accounts have a zero balance your score will still be effected due to the collections. Know its important to judt dispute them as invalid because you have a 50% chance the creditor wont respond to the reporting agencies because they got theyre money so they wont bother wasting the man hours and time to respond (30 days) if they dont the reporting agencies will delete them. No matter what anyone tells you. Those paid in full letters will give you an upper hand in obtaining credit and/or lease. Start by getting yourself a little portfolio, once you get it list down each account and the balance with contact info to creditor. Contact creditor and request a paid in full letter once you receive the letter. Make a note to self by highlighting it on the report. After all is done go to each reporting agencies site and start disputing that its invalid. Some agencies will request you provide proof. Thats were your PIF letter cones into play. Its a time consuming and shitty task but your credit is your life trust me. If you need more help please inbox me i will help you as much as i can. I went through it due to life changing circumstances as well as yourself. You can also google sample forgiveness letters to the agencies explaing your situation of why the debt happened and that you paid in full and your requesting to please have the item deleted because you need to provide housing for your family. Some creditors will do this and sone wont. Just type letter and provide the account number in letter and send them in sit back and wait. Create a file titled credit on your desktop to scan and store all dispute, report and pif information to keep track

MyFico.com "estimates" your fico score.  You can not request your own fico score - the formula and the number is a secret.

 

You are entitled to one free report each year from the big three credit reporting agencies - TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian.  go to those companies websites and you will find the info on how to request these.  All other sites offering these services are some sort of scam.

 

Every credit card, credit account, or other credit activity you were involved in for the last 7 years will be on these credit reports including every time your credit info was requested by someone.  Some things stay on your report for 10 years.

 

I have my credit accounts "locked down" so that no one can see my credit report without my permission each time.  I think I paid $10-$20 for three years of this service with two of the companies and the third offered it for free. I could be way off on the cost.  I figure if no one can every check my credit, no one can ever open an account in my name.

 

I've never requested my FICO score but I'm sure it's ridiculously low since my credit report always shows no activity because we're a cash only family.  If I can't afford it, I do without it.  If I want it, I save for it.

^ so what happens when you want a home?  buying that cash too?  Having credit and using credits IS NOT a bad thing, you just have to be responsible with it.  I built my credit starting from day one at 18 years old, using credit and paying stuff off right away gave me a pretty good credit history even at a young age...

I can attest that checking your credit score yearly should be a must. When applying for a refinance, I noticed my score was surprisingly lower than anticipated. Turns out, I received a collection on a worker's comp hospital visit in which I received no correspondence for. This one 2 year old frivolous claim hit my credit score down nearly 100 pts. Had I checked earlier, I would have known that and saved myself some aggravation with refinancing, as well as a better rate for my last car I bought. Got it cleared up and had it removed. Back up to the great credit score I held prior to. Check, check, check your credit report.