Based on my credit report, it appears as if I have established credit six years ago, and have a few minor blemishes. However, 2 of the three problems were paid in full, and are closed accounts, but still appear. One was as a result of missing two payments with best buy, the other was a medical bill that was sent to collection. Would it help to write to these people? Credit is really important to me. I truly believe it says something about a persons character. Some day I hope to buy a house, but most importantly, I am looking to buy a car in the next few months, and its important that I have the best credit possible. Thanks. Also, I have five credit cards, YES 5, very stupid on my part, but I plan to pay them off in full before the new year. Should I keep them open though?
2007-06-06 12:20:24 · 3 answers · asked by Johnny5 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Personal Finance
Have you run a credit report with Experian that includes all three major bureaus? Normally, the reports will offer suggestions for what you need to do to improve your rating. It costs around $35 for a full report. The report offers a section where you can make your plea to the company. All bad credit reports disappear after 7 years. Even if the companies will not remove the negative information, you can add a note of explanation. Your report will also tell you your total number.
2007-06-06 12:27:25 · answer #1 · answered by Beach Saint 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Contact the creditors and work with them to erase the notices from your credit report. You should also contact the three major credit reporting agencies (Transunion, Equifax, and Experian) and alert them of these "mistakes" on your record and the actions you are taking to correct them.
If you're carrying a balance on your credit cards, you need to take care of that pronto, because that is what is killing your credit score and racking up tons of extra interest - and debt - for you. Devote yourself to paying off these debts as soon as humanely possible. Once you have, close at least three of the credit cards (cut up the actual card in the meantime so you're not tempted to use it).
Keep one card for most expenses, and make sure you're earning cash back or rewards on it. You can keep the other card, if you have one with a high limit, for major emergencies; but keep it locked away at home so you're not tempted to use it for "emergency" impulse buys. Vow to yourself to always pay your credit card balance IN FULL every month - if you can't afford to pay for something this month, then you should wait and save the money instead.
2007-06-06 19:31:05 · answer #2 · answered by teresathegreat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It won't hurt to write to the companies involved but they probably will not remove the negatives from your credit report. Because the negatives are old, every passing month makes them less important in the FICO scoring model. Concentrate on paying down your credit cards and making all of your payments on time. By building a positive record you can improve your score and get the car and house. Good Luck
2007-06-06 19:27:49 · answer #3 · answered by GUS 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋