Credit Score
 

So my credit score is considered average, but upon looking through it recently, I have one card that went into collection in 2010.

I clearly remember having it, being a jackass when I was younger and I just let it go thinking it was no big deal. After doing a lot of research, it seems like there are a bunch of answers on what I should with that collection.

I would like my credit score to improve (who wouldn't?) but some people have written that it could possibly bring my score down because it would make it "recent". Other people have put to let it take its course for 7 years and it'll disappear.

Has anyone here gone through the credit rebuild? Or even my situation of just trying to get it from average to great credit?

I finished school with 15 maxed out cards. Didn't pay a one off. Let it go. The more in debt you are the higher the score.

The final answer is whatever Reighters says. Nobody else need answer.

You can do what's called a "pay for delete". If you haven't paid off the debt, write a letter (actual letter!) to the collection agency offering to settle the debt. You can pay in full if you want (or try to negotiate a lower settlement), but stipulate in WRITING that you wish to have the collection deleted from your record. If they call you, ask for correspondence in writing prior to paying them to leave a paper trail. I did this with several creditors from my past who didn't even put up a fight and immediately removed derogatory marks from my record. Google around for some pay for delete letter templates, not too hard to find. Otherwise you have to wait 7 years for the record to drop off.

Otherwise, the keys to having a good credit score are:

1. Open revolving balance (credit balances available to you)
2. Debt utilization between 1-20% of your total revolving balance
3. Number of open accounts (the more the better, to a point)
4. Average age of open accounts (anything 3-4 years and over is decent)
5. No derogatory marks
6. Keep hard credit inquiries low (under 5)
7. Good mix of revolving and installment accounts (credit cards and loans)

Creditkarma.com is an excellent tool, and free. The estimated score is usually very close to the actual score, and you can manage your accounts through it.

It is likely that it won't drop after 7 years. The creditor will likely sell it to another creditor starting the 7 year wait over.

A paid collection will drop off, but an unpaid one will languish forever. Even if it just gets traded around from agency to agency for pennies on the dollar.

Do a pay for delete and your credit score will be much happier.

Inability to pay my massive student loan monthly payments is just destroying my credit score.

I never would have imagined 12 years ago, that the most catastrophic decision I'd ever make in my life would be the decision to go to college. I seriously wish I could travel back in time, kick my 19 year old self in the balls while screaming, "DO NOT ENROLL IN THAT PRIVATE COLLEGE!!! DO NOT MAJOR IN ****ING PSYCHOLOGY!!! **** WRESTLING!!! WRESTLE AT A JUCO IF YOU HAVE TO!!!"

Unless I'm remembering incorrectly (which is possible), it seems like Mr. Flopnuts used to work helping people with these types of issues. Might be worth a PM to him if he doesn't chime in.

after years of getting our ass kicked after '08 crash and our foreclosure, Dayze and the wife made a hard choice by ditching one of our old 401s that we didn't roll over. Nothing significant at all. considering I still have at least 30 more years of woking, I'm not sweating it.

today, we paid off my car a year early (a whopping $3500 bucks for pay off); one of our 'oh shit ' credit cards we had to use during the recent layoff (had about $700 on it); and 2 others that were on payment plans after the companies waived fees, interest and penalties if we entered into a 5 yr plan back in 2010. those 2 cards are done a year early.

freed up about $1000/mo in cash flow which is needed in a bad way given the employment situation. Still have our other 401s. Sucked to cash out, but after freeing up 1k/mo in cash flow and allowing us o stick back the remaining $8k/ish into our savings......the relief is overwhelming.


but even before all this jockeying around, my score was still at like 700. not awesome by any means, but considering all the bullshit we've had to battle the last 5-6 years, it's not bad. I'm anxious to see what impact it will have on my score.
1 card left (the wife's, of course lol). the light at the end of the tunnel is near.

Good credit is a huge deal. When I was in your situation, I worked out a deal with the creditor, paid it and it was all good. Hopefully it works the same for you.

Top-notch advice you'll only get on CP!

I have a feeling he was being highly sarcastic.

me too

What do you do now?

I'm trying to get a decorative concrete business going. It hasn't been a very quick process. I also announce sporting events via radio and podcast for the high school I graduated at.

I was in nursing school, but gave that a break after a year and a half (in December). Was raising 1 and 2 year old girls along with an 8 year old step daughter at the time. It became too much...timing was just awful. Not to mention, I was tutoring my wife through her electives and getting paid to tutor other students in Chemistry/Biomolecular Processes at the college I was enrolled at. Was in way over my head...I have never felt more defeated in every facet of life, than I did in December.

If the decorative concrete business doesn't work out, I'll probably either go back to nursing or try to get on at this local fertilizer plant that is in it's infancy stage. Place pays real well.

Prior to nursing school, I was the Service Coordinator and Regional Business Auditor for a mental health facility for 5 years. It was in these 5 years, where I decided I needed to pursue something different (nursing). That is a field infested with unsatisfying dead ends, low income, politics and drama.