Two weeks after I turned 18, I moved out into the “real world”. I had a great job at General Electric Aircraft Engines in Erlanger, KY, was making payments on a “new to me” car and had everything a 18 year old would want!
After two years of “living the life” I moved back home. The apartment complex that I had moved into had a huge problem with drugs and there was even a shooting. Once the shooting happened, I was outta there! By breaking up my signed 1 year contract, I began to ruin my credit…at the time, I didn’t know it.
Several years later, my credit was ran to get a store credit card. I was declined for that credit card and I wasn’t to sure why. After days of research it, I realized the bills from that apartment had gone against my credit score. I was so upset and wasn’t sure what to do.
A friend of mine gave me the three credit bureaus numbers. I disputed all of the negative items that were on the credit reports. The companies had 30 days to respond and prove that the items, did in fact belong to me. {No need to pay a company $500 to do this when it takes less than 30 minutes!} I was very surprised that the apartment complex didn’t follow up and the $1,500 was taken off! However, the Cinergy (now Duke) and Cincinnati Bell was still owed and settled with them at a lower cost.
Two years ago, I went to my local Fifth Third bank and applied for a secured credit card. I simply put $300 down and used the card a few times over the year, paying off the bill every month in full. Now that my credit score is where I want it to be, I cut the card up, shut the account down and reinvested the $300. Within these past 2 years, my credit score has doubled!!!
Jason and I are debt FREE! We have no credit cards, pay with cash and are living a great life. I want to help you become debt free as well, because it’s a great feeling!
So go on and get your credit back on track.
1. Pull your FREE credit report every year.
2. Dispute items on your report by calling the 3 credit bureaus:
* Equifax:1-800-685-1111
* Experian: 1-888-397-3742
* TransUnion: 1-800-916-8800
3. Within 60 days of disputing items on your credit report you should receive documentation in the mail on their findings. This will let you know what companies will need to be contacted and arrangements made to pay back the debt.
Be sure to make payment arrangements or negotiate the monies owed. Most companies are willing to take something rather than nothing.
You’ve got to take control of your credit, it’s not going to take care of you!
If you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an email at Marci@CincinnatiCoupons.net.
Disclosure: This information is my own person opinion and what has worked for me. Every individual has their own circumstances and professional advice should be sought after.
[ad#Google Adsense]
[...] second most important thing {most important is beginning to maintain your credit} you have to do is get on track. The only way you can begin to get back onto track is to make a [...]