Credit scores

[Guest101314]

Every year I check my credit. I haven't had a lot of luck actually being able to pay off the things I say, but since I now know what life in the hobby is like, I think I can tackle some things and be better off by the end of the year!

Does anyone else make this a yearly thing? I'm also trying to do my budget. I love to do it, just wish I could stick to it better!

[colt]

The richest people are those that need the least.
Now quit spending money on stuff u don't need.

[SAUrbanAnimal]

Hope you didn't pay any $$ for it.

[Guest101314]

Nothing on my credit was stuff I didn't need. More like stupid decisions almost ten years ago.

I used Credit Karma... it's free

[mayorcastro]

It just boils down to spending wisely. My mother raised four kids on the salary of a elementary school teacher. No welfare, food stamps, etc. We never had video games, new Jordan's , or birthday parties at chunky cheese, but we had a house and never went hungry. We even went on vacation every summer to places like the Grand Canyon . Obviously gas was waaaaaaay cheaper in those times. More money doesn't fix problems. Recent case and point: Vince Young

[Precious_b]

Tracy, do they have the FICA score?
If not, does anyone know a place online that has it free?

[Guest101314]

Yes, you can get the scores there Go check it out!

[Precious_b]

Originally Posted by Tracy Auburn

Yes, you can get the scores there Go check it out!

You can get scores from one of the big three, i'm sure.

*BUT* can you get the FICA score? That is the biggy in credit scoring.

Just want to be sure it is the FICA.

[SAUrbanAnimal]

The FICO score you have to pay to get which I believe is about $10 at each agency. After the last revision to the Fair Credit Reporting Act the only items consumers can access for free once per year are your personal information (current & former address, spouse, employer, etc.) public records (judgements, tax liens, etc.) and your actual account history provided by your creditors. As far as I know, the only website that is "really free" is annualcreditreport.com which is maintained by the big 3 and you can access once every 365 days.

[mayorcastro]

Originally Posted by SAUrbanAnimal

The FICO score you have to pay to get which I believe is about $10 at each agency. After the last revision to the Fair Credit Reporting Act the only items consumers can access for free once per year are your personal information (current & former address, spouse, employer, etc.) public records (judgements, tax liens, etc.) and your actual account history provided by your creditors. As far as I know, the only website that is "really free" is annualcreditreport.com which is maintained by the big 3 and you can access once every 365 days.

Annualcreditreport.com is the only real and legit one. Most of those other credit report sites are trying to sell you a monthly subscription for monitoring or some shit like that.

[gruene_goblin]

Rule of thumb is to give 10%, save 20% and live on 70%...if you can accomplish this, you are doing well. It is hard to have a good credit score because the reporting agencies thrive on those with bad credit - they make way more money on those with scores below 600 because they can charge more for information...it absolutely and morally sucks...but that is how it works.

Solution: Use a debt snowball spreadsheet to capture all your debts and systematically pay down the credit with the highest APR....it is hard, and frustrating...but as you methodically pay each month it gets better and better and your debt will gets lower and lower...just takes time and perseverance....good luck Tracy - if you need any other help PM me....I love working with individuals and lowering their debt so they can enjoy life and not be weighted down with debt! (No, this is not and advertisement...just someone willing to help).

Originally Posted by Tracy Auburn

Every year I check my credit. I haven't had a lot of luck actually being able to pay off the things I say, but since I now know what life in the hobby is like, I think I can tackle some things and be better off by the end of the year!

Does anyone else make this a yearly thing? I'm also trying to do my budget. I love to do it, just wish I could stick to it better!

[Masterchief210]

Credit a big scam! I started my career in the banking industry it's sick! Have lunch with a top executive from chase and it'll make you want to stuff him in the back of your trunk and burn him alive! Scored a 720 right out of high school playing the game kept it there until I bought my house and cars...now everything is paid off house only has 8yrs left I pay with cash for everything! Screw the banks! Get this my score actually dropped when I paid off all my debt minus house. One time that would've been fine but in 2008 they change the scoring system to there benefit it's all bull shit!

What is your goal? Why do you want to have good credit?

[Precious_b]

MC210, i'm there with you.
Most people don't realize there is life without credit.
Cash here also. Albeit through a CC/DC off my checking account.
Been looking to buy a house for quite awhile. Make that one slightly hard payment.
I did finally get a CC because I was tired of the BS when I go to rent a car. Actually had to get a manager to back off when I said "Put the full vehicles value on the card. If I don't come back at the end of the rental period, consider it sold."

Otherwise Credit Free since the mid 90s.

[NDcent]

If the bad decisions happened ten years ago they should not be affecting your credit now. Visit MyFICOdotCom for the best and most reliable information. (Check out "learn about scores" section) Your most recent accounts and the pay history reflected by them has the most influence on your credit today. Simply stated it's a case of what have you done for me lately. Becoming debt free and having good credit are different goals. The reason for having good credit is so you can incur debt at a lower cost (interest rate).

[b0nd]

Just like everyone else, credit is one subject that pisses me off.

One more piece of advice from someone who thinks he knoes...the only true free and UNBIASED website I have found for credit report access is annualcreditreport.com.

If you look at the two mentioned above creditkarma.com and myfico.com, both of these offer info and applications to credit cards. The site may have free info, but they are being paid by the credit card companies. Sounds like a conflict of interest to me.

Annualcreditreport.com is sponsored by the credit reporting agencies but that is because federal law states they have to provide it to you.

Also the score is not free, but unless you are getting ready to buy something on credit you don't need it.