| It's raining...Its thundering. The lightening | | | | you really think it would be that easy). |
| is casting your shadow against the wall as it | | | | |
| flashes in the night sky. You look under the | | | | What I suggest to my clients is a double |
| bed...nothing. You cut the bathroom light | | | | sided attack. As you try to get negative |
| on...nothing. You cut it back off. Only one | | | | marks removed from your file, you also should |
| other place left to look, and that's the | | | | be taking steps to add positive marks to your |
| closet. You begin to walk slowly to the | | | | file. This creates a synergy effect, boosting |
| closet. Oddly, you hear that eerie horror | | | | your score faster than what could be done by |
| music in your mind, not remembering leaving | | | | each tactic separately. |
| the door cracked like it is. | | | | |
| | | | Start with the easy accounts. Look for |
| Your heart starts racing. Your brow begins to | | | | entries that are not even yours, these should |
| perspire with beads of sweat. You reach to | | | | be very easy to remove from your file. Next, |
| grab the door knob, with a twist and pull it | | | | look for items that have been paid (or maybe |
| open...nothing! Whew! Your pulse slows to its | | | | still not paid) and they're seven years older |
| normal pace. You laugh to yourself, thinking | | | | or more. The seven year period begins 180 |
| how silly you were acting. Its a little | | | | days after account goes into default (post 97 |
| chilly, so you grab your jacket from a | | | | law changes) or last date of activity. This |
| hanger. Wait...something is wrong. | | | | can be tricky. |
| | | | |
| You feel the inside pocket and there are | | | | This is 2006, so anything from 1999 and back |
| several envelops. Spreading the envelops over | | | | would be good candidates to attack. But what |
| the bed, chill bumps begin to erupt all over | | | | if you made a payment (but not total amount) |
| your body. It can't be. Its not possible. The | | | | in 2004, and then stopped paying again. This |
| mortgage payment. The car note. All the | | | | would make your seven years begin over from |
| utilities. Water, gas, and light bills...all | | | | 2004 instead of 1999 |
| there. How?! You know without a doubt that | | | | |
| you put these in the mail weeks ago. A quick | | | | Now, lets start adding positive trade lines |
| glance at the calender and your chill bumps | | | | to your credit file. Don't have a lot of |
| double in number. All are now OVER 30 DAYS | | | | money, then you'll love this strategy. Get |
| late! | | | | several loans from different lending |
| | | | institutions. Depending on the amount of |
| "Ha...ha...ha!" Then again even louder, | | | | funds you have access to use for this |
| "HA...HA...HA!" As you run to the window, you | | | | strategy, banks may be not be an available |
| catch a faint glimpse of something fading | | | | avenue. Here's the easiest way to handle this |
| into the rainy night in the yard. Snow has | | | | situation. Obtain a passbook savings account |
| more color to it than your skin does at this | | | | loan. |
| point. The night wind echoes one final | | | | |
| message. "Your...(your...your) | | | | Here's where it gets interesting. Most banks |
| Score...(score..score) | | | | won't do this unless you have $10k or more in |
| Shall...(shall...shall) FALL...(fall...fall). | | | | your saving account. Wow! A better solution |
| | | | are credit unions. This is what I have done |
| This is what most likely happened. | | | | before and still do on occasion. Call your |
| | | | credit union (or one you'll join) and ask |
| You had that jacket on three or four weeks | | | | them about their savings account secured |
| ago meaning to drop the bills in the mail, | | | | loans. Most will allow you to make yearly |
| but forgot. Just like children have their 'my | | | | payments, meaning you don't have to make |
| dog ate my homework' story, we adults have | | | | payments during the course of the loan. If |
| our 'Credit Boogie Man' urban legends. The | | | | that isn't good enough, you can renew the |
| 'Credit Boogie' man didn't damage your credit | | | | loan for another year by simply paying the |
| score, you did. But not to worry, there is | | | | INTEREST ONLY that's due. |
| always time to change your perception on the | | | | |
| proper use of credit. | | | | This is what you can do to fund the loan. |
| | | | When you get paid, go by the credit union and |
| First you need to obtain a copy of all three | | | | place (or open an account) your cashed check |
| of your credit scores and reports. | | | | money into the account. Then turn right |
| MyFico(.com) handles scores and reports for | | | | around fill out the loan paperwork and have |
| Eqifax. CreditExpert(.com) handles reports | | | | your funds back in you hands. Now, just rinse |
| and scores for Experian. TransUnion uses | | | | and repeat these steps with several credit |
| TrueCredit(.com) as their site to get your | | | | unions. My credit report shows these accounts |
| report and score. And yes, I'm aware that you | | | | as 'paid as agreed'. What else could it show. |
| can get a copy of each of your reports from | | | | I don't make any payments, therefore there's |
| each bureau free from | | | | no way to be 30 (or more) days late. |
| AnnualCreditReport(.com), but most people | | | | |
| don't know that your score is not free. You | | | | You must prepare yourself. Who knows? Maybe |
| will still have to go through one of the | | | | next time the 'Credit Boogie Man' won't be |
| sites I listed above to get your scores (did | | | | able to cause so much drama in your life. |