Author Topic: How do I improve my credit score?  (Read 2465 times)

P938LVR

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How do I improve my credit score?
« on: July 13, 2014, 08:05:34 AM »
I have a couple of dings in my credit. One from a medical bill that I am sure I had paid off but they never took the money out of my account. I was so busy with bad things happening in my life at that time that I assumed they had taken it out. Now, its a year later and its still showing as a potentially negative close account. Is there anything I can do to get this off of my credit report?

Also, there is another ding that I want desperately to get rid of. One of my cc's was bought out by another company and failed to notify me. I had been paying on time for the whole length of the credit card but when they switched I couldnt figure out who to pay and had missed a payment because of this. I have talked to the new cc company and they refuse to work with me at all on taking it off of my credit report even though I already had another credit with them and had been making on time payments for years. I fought it and fought it but they still wouldnt take it off. I dont have the money for a lawyer and they would probably win due to them being so large.

Is there anything I can do? Thanks.

Chrissy

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Re: How do I improve my credit score?
« Reply #1 on: July 13, 2014, 10:09:12 AM »
Call the medical vendor about the bill.  Make sure you write down the names of the person/people who take your call.  Explain that you sent payment ages ago, but now see that it was never received.  Ask how you can take care of the bill TODAY.  Tell them how embarrassing you find it to have any unpaid bills, then very sweetly ask if there's any possible way they could not report this to the credit agencies.

With the cc company, file a dispute online with each of the the credit agencies:  Equifax, Transunion, Experian.  Just explain that your credit card changed owners, and you were not notified.  You took care of payment as soon as you determined the proper owner, and tried to work with the new company about reporting the delinquency.  The agencies might not take it off your report, but I believe they can add your explanation to your file, which could help.

frugaliknowit

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Re: How do I improve my credit score?
« Reply #2 on: July 13, 2014, 10:29:04 AM »
In addition to what others have said, be vigilant about paying on time going forward.  In order to pay on time, pay early.  You can also read this:  http://www.myfico.com/CreditEducation/ImproveYourScore.aspx

If you do not have an emergency reserve, build one.  With an emergency reserve, one is less dependent on credit.  The less one is dependent on credit, the less likely one is to have "dings" on ones' credit report.