i've moved out of the USA abut 2.5 years ago... when i moved i maxed out all my credit cards and i am sure if i check my credit score today they are all showing account "charge off" or closed accounts...\nso my question is "is there any way of getting a clean slate without changing "ID's"... i am planing to go back in about 2 to 3 years because i have a runing business in the USA... however this time i want to buy a house and not fall behind in debt... help...
211493
The debt may be charged off but they will still be looking for you.  The debt was probably sold to a collection agency.  \n\nWord of advice, once you come back and start seeking new credit, it will flag your credit history with your new address.  Once the collection agencies get hold of it, they will come looking for you.  So take whatever precautions you can.\n\nI can't give you much information on the Statute of Limitations, and how it will effect you.  Most states have certain clauses related to people who leave and come back to the state, or bring their debts from another state.  I don't know what your situation is, so you need to investigate this also.  Restarting the SOL could add more years to your legal liability.\n\nCheck out the link below for info on this.
15711
Stop using your credit cards.\n\n \n\n“People change their lives only when they say, ‘I’ve had it!’” – Les Brown\n\n \n\nThink you can’t exist in the 21st century without credit?  Do you have at least one credit card?  Did you sign up just for the bonus miles or cash back?  Sounds like it’s time for you to perform a plasectomy.  (That’s what Dave calls cutting up your credit card.)  You’ve heard all the lies, now here are a few facts about credit.\n\n \n\nMyth: No on can live without credit cards.\n\nFact: Actually, 24% of American households are getting by just fine without any type of credit according to a Federal Reserve survey of consumer finances.  Try using your debit card or cash instead.  If millions of Americans can live without credit, so can you!\n\n \n\nMyth: Credit cards help me get airline miles, cash back and other discounts.\n\nFact: Yeah, credit cards also help you get into debt.  Consumer Reports say that only 25% of airline miles are ever redeemed – and credit card companies know it.  Earning a few airline miles is not worth thousands of dollars in debt.  \n\n \n\nMyth: I can just pay off the balance at the end of every month.\n\nFact: You’ll be in the minority.  According to CardWeb.com, only 40% of credit card users pay off their balance when they receive the bill.  Plus, overspending is inevitable when you use a credit card.  It’s just easier to swipe a piece of plastic than it is to flash the cash.\n\n \n\nMyth: “Ninety days same as cash” is the smart way to buy.\n\nFact: “Ninety days same as cash” is a scam.  Retailers know that most consumers won’t pay their balance in 90 days, which means you get stuck with outrageous interest rates and back charges to boot.\n\n \n\nMyth: I’m required to have a credit card to buy a house.\n\nFact: Several quality mortgage companies provide underwriting which allows you to purchase a home without a credit card.  If your mortgage lender requires a credit card for your home loan, run – don’t walk – to a lender who will actually help you achieve freedom from credit.
438368
Don't cancel your cards. A large portion of your credit score is based on the percentage of revolving credit available. In english it is the percentage between your credit limit and your balances. i.e If your credit limit is $100 and your balance is $10, your percentage available is 90%, credit score goes up, on the other hand if your limit is $100 and your balance is $90, now you only have 10% available, credit score goes down. It, however does not help you if you do not use the cards, it doesnt hurt, either. My recommendation would be to randomly use the other cards to keep their status active, but pay the balances off at the end of the month to avoid accrueing finance charges. But don't close them, that will actually pull your score down. \n---I've been a Finance Manager for 12 years.
377960
I hope that in your divorce this issue was addressed.\n\nIf there are still amounts owing on the joint debts, they will stay on your report until they are paid off.  And as long as your name is on the debt, you credit will reflect the payments & history.\n\nThere is no way to remove the joint debt reporting, this will be a part of your credit history for at least 7 years.   If the debts have been paid off and the accounts closed, then you can submit a paper explaining why accounts were late (if they were) etc. \n\nGood luck & congrats on your new life.
535813
Fraud on your part, or theirs?  Your response is simply that the credit card company told you what consitituted "income."  The bankruptcy court is likely far more interested in what your CURRENT ability to pay your debts is, than it is what you put on an application six years ago.\n\nSounds like a question for your lawyer (you do have one, right?) just to make sure, though.
17773
You have the right idea, just needs a little tweaking.  First of all, never max out your credit card, even if you are planning on paying it off immediately when the bill arrives.  Most credit card companies update your credit report monthly on the day your new statement is avaliable.  The current balance listed on your credit report is actually the balance on your last statement.  If every month you max out and then pay off your card your credit report will still reflect your card as maxed out.  You would be much better off if you made a couple of small purchases each month and then pay them off in full when the bill arrives.  Using over 50% of your avaliable credit is considered excessive and will probably lower your credit score.  If you are relatively new to credit and still building your credit score, I would keep your monthly statement balance below a third of your credit limit.
416727
This is because the accounts still fall within a 7 year history. The key on the report is the "date of last activity" which is the actual date that counts. Regardsless of account status, there is a monthly submission from each creditor as to the standing of the account in reference.\n\nI write a blog on the subject of credit management, mortgages, real estate trends, etc. Check it out for more information that may be helpful.
44585
If you have satisfied the debt and it's showing a $0 balance, that is not an inaccuracy.\n\nIt also does not bring down your score unless your payment history for that account show slow pays beyond 30, 60 and 90 days.  Additionally, it also brings down your score even if you paid down the account if the payment was received in response to a collection or a chargeoff.\n\nAlso, the reporting of a credit account does not, by itself, bring down your credit score.  Other factors come into play such as\n\n1) How old your credit history is.  \n2) What types of credit you have/had: revolving (credit cards, etc), installment (car loans typically), real estate (mortgages).\n3) Your repayment history and whether your accounts are paid as agreed or whether there have been slow pays\n4) Whether there have been garnishments, collections, liens, bankruptcies\n5) How many inquiries have been made in the past few months (i.e. have you been applying for loans all over town or trying to get credit cards)\n\nUnfortunately, I think you're out of luck on this one.  \n\nUnless you have grounds to have those accounts removed (e.g. that wasn't your account, the payment history is inaccurate), they will continue to be reported for about 5-7 years.  \n\nThe reason for this is that, before approving your credit application, creditors want to know how well you repay credit lines and loans in the past, not just the accounts with open balances.  They also want to know if you're carrying too much debt.
210760
First, you need to obtain all three of your credit reports from Equifax, Ecperian, and Trans Union. There is a fourth, somewhat smaller bureau called Innovis (Minneapolis, Minnesota). It would do good to ask for a report from them as well. Set a goal as to the time frame you want to "clear" your credit. Judging from your credit reports, assess which negative reports will be "falling off"(7-10 years, depending on the case), and which ones you need to pay. Before you pay anything, try to do what is called a "debt validation", . This is when you can write letters to creditors requesting proof of what you owe. If they can prove you owe it, then write certified letters to the company(s), and negotiate how much you will actually pay. If not, then request via certified mail that they remove negative listings from your credit report. DO NOT CALL THEM, and if they call you, simply say "no comment", and hang up the phone. MAKE SURE you get any promises in writing, including the promise that they will promptly report to all 3 credit bureaus that you have satisfied your debts. Budget yourself. Save whatever you can, and pay off debt in lump sums. This is a long process, so be patient. It is well worth your time. I have said this time and time again, but this is a great website. It helped me greatly when I was getting my credit together: www.creditinfocenter.com    This site also has some templates for the letter I was just talking about. This stuff works, and you will be using the same steps all these debt consolidation companies use, and get results. The only difference is is that you will be saving yourself some money.
266987
Having a history of good, revolving credit (finger hut, Mervyns, Sears, JC Penney) will help you.  Just use it.  If you buy one thing, once, that won't really help.  I got a card at Mervyns and bought maybe one item every three months.  It helped me.  I had a great credit history but "lack of revolving accounts".
416937
Short answer is yes and after seven years your credit history would be clean aswell. I just moved in this country and didn't tell them where and they wrote my debt off but my credit has been screwed for years, and if i could go back i would not do it again
205013
I risk the wrath of God by disagreeing with Credit Guru, but here goes....\n\nJust based on the fact that you are paying $99 for a credit card you don't use is a good enough reason to dump it.\n\nWhat you never want to do is cancel 3-4 cards at one time.  That will have an impact on your score.  But closing 1 account every few months will not hurt that bad, and it will recover after a few months.  \n\nAs long as you are not planning to purchase a home or car in the next few months, cancel the card and use that $10 a month you save to treat yourself on making a smart decision.  \n\n0;)
348718
I guessing that your scores are low due to late payments on you open or even your closed accounts. Also If your looking at getting a home in 8 months, you should NOT open any new accounts and stay current on the accounts you have now. That is very important. Because time heals bad credit. The sprint, auto insurance, and paying your father has no impact on your credit, the reason being is that they don't report to the bureaus unless you go bad on the accounts. Then it'll show up as a collection account. \nOn you visa and MasterCard try to pay the balance below 35% of the high limit on the cards. That will show that your not living in debt, and will improve you score in a short time.\nA company that I support in credit repair is Trinity Credit Services, Talk to Leana, she a senior consultant. They'll give you some professional help on getting your scores up within a 6 months period.\nGood luck!!
614512
For the most part, it doesn't matter what country you're in. The only thing that can improve your credit rating is time and better credit history. Make your payments on time. Make extra payments when possible. Call your creditors to see if they can help you by lowering your interest rates and refinancing loans for a lower cost. My husband and I had BAD credit, and this was the only thing that could help. If you file for a bankruptcy, that will be on your credit for several years and will look worse to possible creditors than the fact that you are trying to dig yourself out on your own. You made the mess, no you have to clean it up. I know it sucks, but it's true. Make sure you keep accurate records so that when you finally pay a bill off, you can contact the credit bureaus with that information and get the bad info off quickly. We did this and we were able to buy a home, a new car, and a motorcycle within a year and a half! Good luck!
528769
I'm sorry but I think the best way to know for sure your closings are processed properly, it would be best to take the painstaking time to call each of the cards numbers and void those accounts.  Either that or call Experian to see what they can do to help.
292802
A "charge off" basically means that the company that you owe has given up on you and taken a charge on their books as a bad debt.  This way, they can report you as a loss and not have to pay taxes on money they never got.  \n\nBut that's not the end of it.  First, they may sell your debt to a collection firm or some company that will keep trying to collect from you.  They tend to be very aggressive and sometimes abusive, even disobeying the law to collect sometimes.\n\nSecond, it will most likely be reported as a "charge off" on your credit report, which is one of the worst things to have on your credit.  Normally, after 7 years, bad credit like this will "roll off" your credit report, because after 7 years of no action on your account, the information expires.  However, if you make any payments during that 7 years, the seven year period starts all over again!!!  Also, if a company really hates you, or if they think you've done it on purpose, there are ways that they can play the system, and keep your bad record alive longer.  Most times they won't do that, but you never know.  Basically, it's good to avoid a charge-off if you can, and if you plan to buy a house or anything major in the next 7 years, it will make it extremely difficult.
351447
How did you manage to "forget" that you had a HELOC?\n\nIn your Affidavit of Title, you would have had to swear that there were no other outstanding mortgages or liens, etc that were not being paid off with the sale.  You had a duty to inform them of any known items that did not show up in the title search.  \n\nOccasionally documents are filed in the wrong county, etc so they don't show up on the search.  That in no way absolves you from the responsibility of paying.\n\nPay off that HELOC right now and close the account, and make sure the discharge is filed.  It is your only hope of not getting sued for fraud.