MSgt Private RallyPoint Member 1274119 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div> 2016-02-01T21:13:17-05:00 MSgt Private RallyPoint Member 1274119

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2016-02-01T21:13:17-05:00 2016-02-01T21:13:17-05:00 SGM Matthew Quick 1274129

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Fixing your credit takes time, dedication and discipline...there are NO easy fixes.

2016-02-01T21:19:02-05:00 2016-02-01T21:19:02-05:00 SPC William Del Valle 1274143

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I know a few ways you can start to fix your credit if you want?<br />Step one: request your annual credit report from all three Credit bureau's. <br />Step two: check your reports for false information. <br />Step three: disputed everything on the reports. <br />Step four: wait 30 days for confirmation <br />These steps will not improve your overall credit but it's what the people in that field will start with.

2016-02-01T21:24:04-05:00 2016-02-01T21:24:04-05:00 MAJ Ken Landgren 1274207

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Don't get married.

2016-02-01T21:47:26-05:00 2016-02-01T21:47:26-05:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 1274231

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I would not recommend any company to help fix your credit. I used one of those companies a long time ago. Bad idea. Took me longer to rebuild myself after that. Dave Ramsey has some excellent advice/material to where you can help yourself.

2016-02-01T22:01:13-05:00 2016-02-01T22:01:13-05:00 Capt Mark Strobl 1274351

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Several strategies out there to improve your credit ratings. However, most of the "credit repair" companies aren't. They're in business to take your money --just before all your other debtors. You're a service-member with a Direct Deposit and a guaranteed pay-check = easy target, regardless of rank. Be weary.

2016-02-01T23:05:31-05:00 2016-02-01T23:05:31-05:00 SPC William Del Valle 1274370

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I just remembered, piggybacking! <br />Yes, I am for real, it's when you know someone that has good credit and that person puts you on a credit card that they make payments on anyway. I know this to be true because my wife at one point had worst credit then I. I put her on my capital one credit card like 2 or 3 years ago and it may have took some time but she is the one with a better score and a higher limit.<br />Yes, that is easily said then done but if you find someone like a family member it's very much possible.

2016-02-01T23:28:38-05:00 2016-02-01T23:28:38-05:00 1SG Private RallyPoint Member 1274517

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>This is going to sound contrite, but it really comes down to discipline.<br />Step 1 - stop buying stuff you don't need.<br />Step 2 - make a plan. Start with identifying all of your necessities, your luxuries, and what is left over.<br />Step 3 - determine which of your luxuries you can do without. That big cable bill and huge data plan for your cell phone are good places to start.<br />Step 4 - with what is left, take 2/3 of it and apply it to your highest interest credit cards and save the remainder for "surprises" like the kid needs braces or your car breaks down. Because crap still happens.<br />Step 5 - as you pay off your cards, start to eliminate ones you don't need. Two or three of the major cards is enough for most people. Having too much available credit drives down your score almost as much as having debt in the first place. I don't like annual fee cards, but interest rate is more important if you ever think you'll be carrying a balance.<br /><br />By now, you're well on your way.<br />My wife left me in a nasty hole, one I'm still digging out from. But with discipline and a little smarts, I've been able to nearly eliminate the $30k credit card debt she ran up while I was deployed.

2016-02-02T03:31:31-05:00 2016-02-02T03:31:31-05:00 MAJ Private RallyPoint Member 1274629

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>As just about everyone else has said here, your best bet is to make a plan and to be disciplined in your adherence to it. There's no reason to pay someone else to manage something that you can easily do yourself. <br /><br />There are six primary factors that are considered by the credit bureaus. As long as you create a plan (budget) that adheres to these six factors, your credit will climb steadily until you get to where you need/want to be. I will list the factors below in level of the impact that they have on your credit:<br /><br />1. Credit Card Utilization: This is the percentage of your overall available credit that you are utilizing. It's good to use each card that you have at least once every 90 days, but of course its best to pay off each one every month in order to avoid finance charges. The 'sweet spot' for credit card utilization is 5%-19%. That shows the companies that you have the ability to manage a higher level of available credit and that you have the self-control to not max it out.<br /><br />2. Payment History: This one is self explanatory. Do not make late payments... EVER! If you have no other choice because you do not have the ability to pay all of your bills each month, rotate which payment you allow to be late and do your best to avoid letting any of them be more than 30 days late. MOST companies only report a late payment to the credit bureaus if you are over 30 days late or late twice within a 4-6 month span.<br /><br />3. Derogatory Marks: This is the number of collection accounts, bankruptcies, foreclosures, civil judgments or tax liens that you have on your record. These take SEVEN years to be removed from your credit report. If you get one, it is not the end of the world, but it certainly hurts. Do you best to make you credit as strong as possible in lieu of these, that way once these are removed, your credit score will make a significant jump in the right direction.<br /><br />4. Age of Credit History: This is the average length of time that your accounts have been open. This includes all credit accounts (credit cards, mortgages, car loans, personal loans, etc...). Every time you open a new account, it brings your average down, but sometimes this is unavoidable. 9+ years is the ideal average account age, but obviously it takes a while to get there. Be patient.<br /><br />5. Total Accounts: This is the total number of accounts that are being reported to the credit bureaus (currently open or closed within the past 3 years). Just like "Age of Credit History", this factor shows well established credit which tells a lender that you are responsible enough and have the ability to manage multiple account simultaneously. The sweet spot for this section is having 24-40 credit accounts (including credit cards, mortgages, car loans, personal loans, etc...). This is why its better to keep accounts open when you pay them off instead of closing them. Like I mentioned above. If you pay off a credit card or charge account, instead of closing it, choose something that you need to purchase anyway (food, gas, etc...) and then make one purchase with it every 90 days and then pay that purchase off 10-20 days later. This will keep the account active without causing you to pay interest.<br /><br />6. Credit Inquiries: This is the number of "hard pulls" on your credit report over the last two years. 'Hard pulls' are done when you apply for credit. Too many credit inquiries in a short amount of time will make a customer look desperate to have money to spend.<br /><br />I hope this is helpful.

2016-02-02T07:17:09-05:00 2016-02-02T07:17:09-05:00 CPT Joseph K Murdock 1439919

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>My ex cost me $500,000 in payments and debt. It was a giant tsunami of debt that had a ripple effect even 10 years later. We have thus talked to a CEO of a mortgage lender and he has solid advice. Plow the extra money to pay off debt and we should be able to buy a house in 2 years. Its been a long, rough, and stressful road.

2016-04-08T18:49:40-04:00 2016-04-08T18:49:40-04:00 2016-02-01T21:13:17-05:00