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Another angle: you might qualify for a credit-builder loan through your local credit union. They basically lend you money but hold it in a savings account while you make payments. It builds positive history without much risk. But yeah, I wouldn’t do that until you get your existing balances...

Can confirm: paid off my balance early last month, my utilization showed up as 8% instead of 95%, and my score jumped 45 points instantly. No exaggeration. It’s crazy how much that number swings based on timing. Super dumb, but hey, play the game.

Chapter 13 sucks. But it’s still better than Chapter 7 in terms of optics. Some lenders actually prefer seeing you went through 13, because it means you repaid something instead of walking away. Long term, it may help you look more responsible.

You already have CSR. Why even consider AA? Unless you live in an AA hub and literally only fly them, UR points are more versatile. 1.5x on CFU is not bad when transferred and boosted through CSR.

I’ve worked in auto finance. Rule of thumb: lenders like to see at least 12 months of clean credit after a repo. That means no missed payments on anything. They’ll also usually want bigger down payments—10–20%. So yeah, save up and keep your other accounts spotless.

I’m in the camp of why close at all? Unless it’s costing you money, just cut it up and forget it exists. If you’re worried about fraud, set up alerts on it so you get notified instantly if it’s used. That way you get all the benefits of open credit lines with none of the headache.

A lot of people forget that credit repair also includes coaching people on credit building. A good manual will include stuff like how to set up secured cards, authorized user strategies, and credit mix tips, not just how to fight negative items.

For small businesses just starting out, I’d say 1-2 cards max. Your focus should be on revenue, not points. The real risk with too many cards is over-leveraging. If a downturn hits and you’ve got balances on five cards, you’ll be stressed out beyond belief. Keep it lean until you’ve scaled.

Bro, you’re basically paying $10 a pop for peace of mind. That’s cheaper than therapy. Seriously though, it won’t hurt as long as you don’t over-apply. But the real cure is boring: time and patience. Keep grinding.

Mine was a soft pull back in 2017, but I think I was already in their system. Not sure if they changed the rules since then, but judging by these comments… they have.

Be careful with the timing. If you’re planning to rent in 16 months, you don’t want several brand-new accounts right before you apply. Landlords often check more than just your score........they look at your credit history for stability.

I wouldn’t get your hopes up. They’re a subprime lender, so they stick to the rules hard. They make a lot of money off people slipping up. Removing late payments is against their financial interests, so it’s rare unless you really push.

You don’t need a company to do it, but if you’re overwhelmed or just don’t have the time, it can be a decent option like hiring a cleaning service for your house. You could clean it yourself, but sometimes you’d rather pay someone else. Just make sure you’re paying for convenience, not empty...

Some landlords actually pull a tenant screening report rather than just a raw credit score. That can include criminal background checks, eviction history, and even employment verification. So if you think they are only seeing your Experian number, think again.

Do not roll that negative equity if you can avoid it. It’s like putting your debt on a treadmill..it keeps running but never really goes away. Sell your current car outright if possible, even if it means driving something cheap for a while, then lease later.

I tried using a business debit card at first. Big mistake. No rewards, no fraud protection like credit cards, and harder to dispute charges.

I’ve read that some collectors in Florida buy old debt for pennies and hope you don’t know the law. They send official-looking letters that make it seem urgent. The whole business model relies on fear and ignorance.

If you’re tech-savvy, you can use budgeting tools like YNAB or EveryDollar alongside a debt payoff spreadsheet. That’s what helped me see my debt-free date visually. Makes it way more motivating than just throwing money blindly. Also, Savannah Public Library has free access to financial coaching...

If you’re renting from a corporate apartment complex, 99% of the time they won’t even consider it. I tried with a full year’s rent in hand. They said computer says no basically.

I don’t even see the judgment listed there Not uncommon. Some courts don’t report to credit bureaus anymore due to a 2017 rule change, so it might not appear at all. Employers could still find it through public record searches though.