Topic Wiki

Credit Bureau Info:

Experian: 800-493-1058 With A Report Number

Experian: 714-830-7000 (Without A Report Number) Call and Press 0. You will get connected to the switchboard operator. Tell them you just called in and entered your report number and the automated system disconnected you. Ask them if they can get a human on the line for disputes. That's the only way you'll be able to get through to a live person at Experian without a Report Number.

Equifax: 800-846-5279

TransUnion: 800-916-8800


Comparison between FAKO from Credit karma and FICO from Barclays and Citi.


Cards that give you free monthly FICO's


AMEX personal cards = EX 08 Switched to FAKO (VantageScore 3.0)
Chase Slate = EX (either 08 or Bankcard enhanced)
PSECU = EX 04

Citi branded cards = EQ 08 Bankcard enhanced
Citi AA = EQ bankcard enhanced
DCU= EQ 04
PenFed = EQ NextGen
Elements Financial (Credit Union, score available for without opening CC) = EQ 5

Barclays = TU 08
Discover it = TU 08
Walmart (store or MC) = TU 08
« Last edited by Lev26 on April 13, 2022, 02:28:07 AM »

Author Topic: credit score  (Read 809974 times)

Offline as2

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Re: credit score
« Reply #4000 on: June 21, 2018, 03:19:49 PM »


Scores dont get boosted overnight.
On CK they do
Memories last forever, make them while you can.

Offline mord1

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Re: credit score
« Reply #4001 on: June 21, 2018, 04:10:20 PM »

Offline davidrotts63

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Re: credit score
« Reply #4002 on: June 21, 2018, 04:11:11 PM »
(Quit) pulling out the flowers, and watering the weeds. -Peter Lynch

Offline mord1

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Re: credit score
« Reply #4003 on: June 21, 2018, 04:23:30 PM »
Oh no it doesn't
I know,  to summarize- to receive the largest boost quickly- make sure every card closes with 0 balance, except the card that closes soonest and let that close with $3 balance on it?

Offline davidrotts63

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Re: credit score
« Reply #4004 on: June 21, 2018, 04:24:45 PM »
I know,  to summarize- to receive the largest boost quickly- make sure every card closes with 0 balance, except the card that closes soonest and let that close with $3 balance on it?
Why the card that closes the soonest?
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Offline mord1

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Re: credit score
« Reply #4005 on: June 21, 2018, 04:25:35 PM »
Why the card that closes the soonest?
so, it will hit the CBs the soonest, and therefore give the boost the soonest?

Offline davidrotts63

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Re: credit score
« Reply #4006 on: June 21, 2018, 04:27:32 PM »
so, it will hit the CBs the soonest, and therefore give the boost the soonest?
You want to get them all but one to zero ASAP. so the first ones pay till 0,then the last to class pay to $2-$3
(Quit) pulling out the flowers, and watering the weeds. -Peter Lynch

Offline mord1

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Re: credit score
« Reply #4007 on: June 21, 2018, 04:31:37 PM »
You want to get them all but one to zero ASAP. so the first ones pay till 0,then the last to class pay to $2-$3
Most are sock drawer cards with 0, which one is the last one? what is considered the last?

Offline davidrotts63

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Re: credit score
« Reply #4008 on: June 21, 2018, 04:32:31 PM »
Most are sock drawer cards with 0, which one is the last one? what is considered the last?
Don't worry about the order too much, just get 1 to $2-$3 and the rest to 0
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Offline mord1

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Re: credit score
« Reply #4009 on: June 21, 2018, 04:41:20 PM »
Don't worry about the order too much, just get 1 to $2-$3 and the rest to 0
ok, just personal cards, I dont have to worry about amex or chase biz, correct?

Offline PillanSmye

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Re: credit score
« Reply #4010 on: June 21, 2018, 07:05:26 PM »
On CK they do

Every time your FICO score is generated, it is updated to that instance.

The problem is it takes times for creditors to report your changes to the CRA's.  Until that happens, nothing changes.

Offline PillanSmye

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Re: credit score
« Reply #4011 on: June 21, 2018, 07:06:14 PM »
I know,  to summarize- to receive the largest boost quickly- make sure every card closes with 0 balance, except the card that closes soonest and let that close with $3 balance on it?

And best not to do it with Chase.

Offline davidrotts63

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Re: credit score
« Reply #4012 on: June 21, 2018, 07:07:15 PM »
And best not to do it with Chase.
Why, because they'll report it when you pay it?
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Offline PillanSmye

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Re: credit score
« Reply #4013 on: June 21, 2018, 07:14:44 PM »
Why, because they'll report it when you pay it?

Yes, if you leave a $3 balance on Chase to report, then they will re-report when you pay that $3.  Unless you spend more money in the interim and make sure to wait until the charges post.

When I was actually doing the $2 trick, I've found it easier to just use some random card to buy a beer on once a month.  When the statement comes, pay it.  You'll always have a card reporting with $6 or $8 or whatever.  Close enough.

I worried more about the $2 trick when I had 700, 720, 750 credit.  Now at 830 or whatever I don't care.

Also what gets lost here is that the $2 trick is most effective on the FICO models used for mortgages.  If I was mortgage shopping/applying, you'd be darned sure I'd be using the $2 trick even if it wasn't necessary.

Offline mord1

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Re: credit score
« Reply #4014 on: June 22, 2018, 12:23:25 AM »
Yes, if you leave a $3 balance on Chase to report, then they will re-report when you pay that $3.  Unless you spend more money in the interim and make sure to wait until the charges post.

When I was actually doing the $2 trick, I've found it easier to just use some random card to buy a beer on once a month.  When the statement comes, pay it.  You'll always have a card reporting with $6 or $8 or whatever.  Close enough.

I worried more about the $2 trick when I had 700, 720, 750 credit.  Now at 830 or whatever I don't care.

Also what gets lost here is that the $2 trick is most effective on the FICO models used for mortgages.  If I was mortgage shopping/applying, you'd be darned sure I'd be using the $2 trick even if it wasn't necessary.
so basically, all non biz cards close with no balance except 1 non chase card for $3 or so

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Re: credit score
« Reply #4015 on: June 24, 2018, 02:28:00 AM »
Yes, if you leave a $3 balance on Chase to report, then they will re-report when you pay that $3.  Unless you spend more money in the interim and make sure to wait until the charges post.

When I was actually doing the $2 trick, I've found it easier to just use some random card to buy a beer on once a month.  When the statement comes, pay it.  You'll always have a card reporting with $6 or $8 or whatever.  Close enough.

I worried more about the $2 trick when I had 700, 720, 750 credit.  Now at 830 or whatever I don't care.

Also what gets lost here is that the $2 trick is most effective on the FICO models used for mortgages.  If I was mortgage shopping/applying, you'd be darned sure I'd be using the $2 trick even if it wasn't necessary.

my trans and equifax are good,  its just experian which is low- which makes sense because I had 1 big bill on an amex card- and amex pulls from experian, so I assume they report there,  what would be the best way to get my experian score up then? I am in IL and it seems chase does report to experian sometimes (from doc) thoughts here?

Offline davidrotts63

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Re: credit score
« Reply #4016 on: June 24, 2018, 02:29:27 AM »
No. No. No.
Every bank reports to all 3 credit bureaus.
Where they pull from is a different story.
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Offline mord1

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Re: credit score
« Reply #4017 on: June 24, 2018, 03:23:10 PM »
No. No. No.
Every bank reports to all 3 credit bureaus.
Where they pull from is a different story.
hmm,  ok, i have a bofa card that closes on the 27th, I will get everything else to 0 and have $3 on it. I guess I could let the next card also close with $3 on it, the following week, that should also give a boost, right?

Offline noturbizniss

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Re: credit score
« Reply #4018 on: June 24, 2018, 05:40:07 PM »
hmm,  ok, i have a bofa card that closes on the 27th, I will get everything else to 0 and have $3 on it. I guess I could let the next card also close with $3 on it, the following week, that should also give a boost, right?
No. Benefit is with only one closing.
The trick is to have the lowest reportable balance on 1 card. $2 is selected since most banks report $1 as zero.
Having 2 cards close with min reportable will decrease the score.
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Re: credit score
« Reply #4019 on: June 24, 2018, 11:51:41 PM »
Is there a way to drastically boost my credit score if i have high balances on the cards (not being paid late though when they cycle it's high balances)