My credit is bad how do I get it better
- Thread starter Luckyflux
- Start date
The modern consumer....piss the fuck off then, you fucking asshole. You trying to make fun of me? What for? What did I ever do to you? I asked a simple question, I tried to give all of the relevant info in the original post, like that this happened many years ago when I was younger. I have since moved many times and I never updated my moving address. My fault sure, but I am just asking for help from anyone that has ever experienced this before.
But nooooooo, I get assholes that don't even read the original post and say Pay your Bills. No shit Sherlock, but if you read the post you'll know that I don't know how to read the credit report. Again, I know that is my fault, but I am trying to do something about it. Which is why I came here asking for help? I am not sure where to start so I thought I'd ask some friendly people on the trekbbs for assistance.
Why do people need to know how it happened? Knowing won't help with a solution. It happened because I was stupid and made some mistakes in my life. Now I am on better footing and I want to make it right. Let's concentrate on making it right instead of focusing on me being an idiot.
Thanks for the people that gave me a serious answer. Everyone else can fuck the hell off and die. I never thought I'd say that on my favorite website either.
But nooooooo, I get assholes that don't even read the original post and say Pay your Bills. No shit Sherlock, but if you read the post you'll know that I don't know how to read the credit report. Again, I know that is my fault, but I am trying to do something about it. Which is why I came here asking for help? I am not sure where to start so I thought I'd ask some friendly people on the trekbbs for assistance.
Why do people need to know how it happened? Knowing won't help with a solution. It happened because I was stupid and made some mistakes in my life. Now I am on better footing and I want to make it right. Let's concentrate on making it right instead of focusing on me being an idiot.
Thanks for the people that gave me a serious answer. Everyone else can fuck the hell off and die. I never thought I'd say that on my favorite website either.
I'm just seriously trying to understand where your debt came from that you're not sure who you need to pay. I'm not trying to make fun of you; I genuinely don't get it. Debt doesn't just appear. You get it because you buy things you can't afford.
I don't know the first thing about reading a credit report; I've never needed to read one. And honestly, "paying your bills" is what you need to do. It's all you need to do.
Yes, unless you're the victim of identity theft, you seriously deserve the
reaction for the question " How do I know which companies I owe money to?" When I read that I had to stop to consider whether or not you were trolling us all. It was starting to read like a MadBaggins thread.Wait....
Is this the long awaited spinoff!? Oh FRABJOUS DAY, CALLOOH CALLAY!
Yes, unless you're the victim of identity theft, you seriously deserve the
Exactly.
You pay the companies you borrowed from. You have a lot of credit card debt? Pay the credit card company(ies). A large student loan? Pay the bank that gave you the loan. Did you fail to pay your utilities for a long time? Pay the power company.
Well, it's not I don't mod Misc anymore, so it's not a concern for me to worry about. And from a personal point of view, I'm not bothered by "a robust expression of someone's opinion" (esp. on the net) so I'm not going to complain about it either.
I still don't see how someone loses track of who they owe money too. If it's the local loan shark, they find you. If it's a major corporation, your debt gets sold on, and then they find you. If it's a large bank, your debt gets sold on, the bank gets bailed out by the taxpayer, and then the government finds you....
I'm sure it will come as no surprise that you have a Warning for Flaming. Comments to PM.
Surely you've been on your favorite website long enough to know what kind of responses you'd get. The idea is to listen to the good advice, laugh at the jokes and ignore what makes you angry. I can appreciate that you're stressed out over your situation, but you really can't go on a rampage like that.
Still hanging around causing trouble, though.
Its his wayStill hanging around causing trouble, though.
Sorry for the outburst, bad day for me. I am 38 now, when I was in my early 20's I didn't know or care about credit. I had some credit cards that were basically given to me with pre-qualifications. I tried to pay the bills on time, but I was slack. Then sometimes I would get a utility bill under my name, and I would pay that. But as it happened I lost my job and couldn't keep paying the bills or paying the rent so I would have to move. I would move into various friends house's and not worry about the bills I was leaving behind.
As I said I was an idiot for doing that, but the deed was done, and my credit suffered.
Then I would live with different girlfriends and have them get a credit card for me since my credit was bad, or have them get the utilities in their name instead of mine.
Everytime I moved I never updated my address. Again super stupid, and all my fault. But I can't go back and change that so I have to live with what I did.
So it kind of snowballed from there. Then I spent 6 years in the Army, so I didn't have to worry about credit.
Flashforward to today, I am 38 with a wrecked credit. Some entries on the credit report are probably 10 years old or more! But I am a novice when it comes to credit, so I am not sure how to read the credit report.
It is difficult to back track everything which is why I just simply can't pay the bills. And it is also why I don't know who I owe. I had a case of Identity theft happen, but that was 5 years ago. I don't know what damage was done with that, or if it is even resolved. That is why I want to fix everything so I can stay on top of it now. Once you lose track , it is tough to get back on.
So that is the story. I thought I could get help here, but I found nothing but snark and rude comments. I know I shouldn't have said all those things before, but I didn't feel that my comments earned this kind of mistreatment. I am always a good poster on this website, and I always try to help people. So like Ro, you are good, you genuienly tried to help. But people like Guartho can fuck the hell off. Comparing me to a troll! That highly offends me and I would love for you to say that to my face, you fucking pussy. Lindsey and his/her wonderful comment about bills. Well there are also these things called manners. You didn't have to make that kind of comment. What was that trying to prove? Why couldn't you post something that might help me instead of trying to make fun of me? You can fuck off.
Yes the comments in this thread did upset me. Wouldn't you be upset if you reached out for help and all you got was bad comments and people trying to make fun of you?
As I said I was an idiot for doing that, but the deed was done, and my credit suffered.
Then I would live with different girlfriends and have them get a credit card for me since my credit was bad, or have them get the utilities in their name instead of mine.
Everytime I moved I never updated my address. Again super stupid, and all my fault. But I can't go back and change that so I have to live with what I did.
So it kind of snowballed from there. Then I spent 6 years in the Army, so I didn't have to worry about credit.
Flashforward to today, I am 38 with a wrecked credit. Some entries on the credit report are probably 10 years old or more! But I am a novice when it comes to credit, so I am not sure how to read the credit report.
It is difficult to back track everything which is why I just simply can't pay the bills. And it is also why I don't know who I owe. I had a case of Identity theft happen, but that was 5 years ago. I don't know what damage was done with that, or if it is even resolved. That is why I want to fix everything so I can stay on top of it now. Once you lose track , it is tough to get back on.
So that is the story. I thought I could get help here, but I found nothing but snark and rude comments. I know I shouldn't have said all those things before, but I didn't feel that my comments earned this kind of mistreatment. I am always a good poster on this website, and I always try to help people. So like Ro, you are good, you genuienly tried to help. But people like Guartho can fuck the hell off. Comparing me to a troll! That highly offends me and I would love for you to say that to my face, you fucking pussy. Lindsey and his/her wonderful comment about bills. Well there are also these things called manners. You didn't have to make that kind of comment. What was that trying to prove? Why couldn't you post something that might help me instead of trying to make fun of me? You can fuck off.
Yes the comments in this thread did upset me. Wouldn't you be upset if you reached out for help and all you got was bad comments and people trying to make fun of you?
Its his wayStill hanging around causing trouble, though.
It still gives me that gentle little warming glow in my heart. Sort of like the Devil toasting marshmallows over a fire...
Luckyflux, when I was 38 I was not only divorced but declared bankruptcy. It was about the most devastating time in my life. I had to start from absolutely nothing. And I mean NOTHING. Over the next ten years, with a singular determination to overcome, I managed to reestablish my name and my credit. If you had told me back in 1997 that I would own a home again in 10 years I... well, I would have said OF COURSE I WILL 
But those were lean years. At first terrifying, then happier and happier. You have no bankruptcy behind you so you CAN get past this, my friend. And you will.
But those were lean years. At first terrifying, then happier and happier. You have no bankruptcy behind you so you CAN get past this, my friend. And you will.
This part was good.
But these comments are also Warnable. I feel your pain, man, but you've got to chill.
I can't tell you how to read the credit report because it's been a while since I've seen one. This is how I'd approach it, though. I'mnot any kind of credit advisor but this worked for me once when we found an old collection account on my then-husband's credit report.
From what you've said, probably most of the items on your report anymore are collection agencies, right? Contact each of them and ask what what it is that they're trying to collect and ask them to send you the back-up, proof of the debt. By law, they have to either provide that or remove the item from your report. Calling them is fine but always follow up in writing. Be prepared that the moment you're in touch with them they'll start trying to collect from you. Be firm and require the proof of the debt. My guess is that if the items are as old as you think, they'll have to take them off because they won't have proof. Collection accounts are sold and resold constantly and probably only the first couple of agencies ever had the proof from the original creditor.
After (I think) 30 days, if you haven't gotten the proof, contact them again by registered letter and require the proof again. In this letter state that they must provide it or cease collections and remove the item from your credit report immediately. If they still haven't done it within a reasonable length of time (probably another 30 days, write to your State District Attorney Office and ask them to follow up.
The District Attorney will send them a letter that lets them know that they're (the DA office) keeping an eye on this agency for further evidence of abuse and the item will be removed quickly.
If they provide the proof, you'll need to work out payment arrangements but this may help eliminate some of the negative data.
I urge you to check this out and not take my word, though. Your state's DA Office website may well have info that would be helpful.
Good luck,
Jan
ETA: One other thing for you to see if you can find out online. As I recall, there's a limit to how long negative information can stay on your report but I don't recall any details. It might be worth picking up a book about it. That's how I learned everything I wrote above back in the 90s.
From what you've said, probably most of the items on your report anymore are collection agencies, right? Contact each of them and ask what what it is that they're trying to collect and ask them to send you the back-up, proof of the debt. By law, they have to either provide that or remove the item from your report. Calling them is fine but always follow up in writing. Be prepared that the moment you're in touch with them they'll start trying to collect from you. Be firm and require the proof of the debt. My guess is that if the items are as old as you think, they'll have to take them off because they won't have proof. Collection accounts are sold and resold constantly and probably only the first couple of agencies ever had the proof from the original creditor.
After (I think) 30 days, if you haven't gotten the proof, contact them again by registered letter and require the proof again. In this letter state that they must provide it or cease collections and remove the item from your credit report immediately. If they still haven't done it within a reasonable length of time (probably another 30 days, write to your State District Attorney Office and ask them to follow up.
The District Attorney will send them a letter that lets them know that they're (the DA office) keeping an eye on this agency for further evidence of abuse and the item will be removed quickly.
If they provide the proof, you'll need to work out payment arrangements but this may help eliminate some of the negative data.
I urge you to check this out and not take my word, though. Your state's DA Office website may well have info that would be helpful.
Good luck,
Jan
ETA: One other thing for you to see if you can find out online. As I recall, there's a limit to how long negative information can stay on your report but I don't recall any details. It might be worth picking up a book about it. That's how I learned everything I wrote above back in the 90s.
* Disclaimer. I totally do not approve of this poster's comments, but since he already got warned again, I can take off my mod hat and enjoy the lulz.
Thanks Jan. That is good looking out, and a great place to start. Thank you Spocked for the kind words. I hope to have a similar story in 10 years.
I will also apologize to everyone in this thread, even the a--holes. It was wrong of me to go ape-shit and start yelling. I lost my cool, and I regret that I was very rude to total strangers. I know the trekbbs requires better manners, and I was wrong to be all crazy. I am sorry for all of the disruption, I will be a better person in the future.
I will also apologize to everyone in this thread, even the a--holes. It was wrong of me to go ape-shit and start yelling. I lost my cool, and I regret that I was very rude to total strangers. I know the trekbbs requires better manners, and I was wrong to be all crazy. I am sorry for all of the disruption, I will be a better person in the future.
Luckyflux, do you have any idea what states your debts originated in? Odds are anything more than 10 years old is past the statute of limitations for collection, and I think anything more than 10 years old can't be on your credit, anyway. If it is, you can request that it be removed.
If you want to discuss this, PM me. I used to work in the debt collection industry so I know a little about this stuff.
If you want to discuss this, PM me. I used to work in the debt collection industry so I know a little about this stuff.
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