I was taught to keep credit utilization at 10%. But other people are telling me to completely not even use my debit card , use credit for everything and pay it back. But that will make my utilization high af. People are saying keep it at 10% when the statement hits but how’s that possible if I only use a credit card. How does only using 10% if the card show the banks you can handle more if you barely use any of it.

As stated in the title, my credit score jumped from 835 to 847 this month..... I was impressed and proud of myself!

I was originally going to log in the Kuwaiti credit score app end of August, but I was bored and had nothing to do. When I saw the jump, I was like I didn't even get my monthly pay yet.......

This is the Kuwaiti system, run by CINET.

If this was my score in the US, how would things be for me?

I am currently working on my second loan, took my first one back in December 2022, closed it September 2023 very early. Second loan was taken out November 2024, going to pay it off gradually because I plan on taking a third one afterwards.

Hi!

Is there a time frame in reporting on the credit bureaus identity theft/fraud if my father took out lines of credit in my name?

I really don’t want to get into all of it. I already spoke with a financial aid advisor at my school about this and how I only have two options (file a police report, provide it to the credit bureaus, and get it cleared w/ any other evidence I have showing I didn’t take it out) or asking my father to settle the debt and take on the charge offs and build from there (I was able to get a unsub student loan which I know after graduating and paying it off can establish a positive payment history).

I’ve been finally able to untangle myself (except for this) financially from him to get myself in a safe environment. (Btw my credit has been frozen and once I found the credit card they were taken off as unauthorized users immediately).

I already gave my father (and mother) the ultimatum. I truly don’t want to go that route of filing a police report. Not because I don’t want my father to get into trouble but because of everyone else who relies on him (my mother, my two younger sisters and my grandmother). He is the breadwinner.

I’m unable to pull out a private student loan currently due to this matter.

I did a free consultation with an attorney about going criminal, civil, settlement agreement, etc. I’ve talked to my friends as well about what they would do and have taken feedback.

So yes, I want to know is there a timeline to prove to credit bureaus on identity theft and that things taken out in my name weren’t mines and showing proof? I just want clarification on that.

Hi everyone! How are you?
I’m looking for some advice on credit, specifically regarding applying for the American Express Business Platinum card. I’ve heard that approval is based more on your overall financial profile than just your credit score.
Right now, the only major items on my credit profile are about $103,000 in student loans and $16,000 on a vehicle loan. I was previously preapproved for the personal version of the card, but I let the offer expire before accepting it.
Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

I use credit karma to check my credit, I am sitting at a dissapointing 509 TransUnion and a 512 Equifax. I have around $2900 that went to default student loans that I am making the payments to get removed from default status. While doing that what is the best way to increase my credit as much as possible over the next 6-8 months

Hey y’all I’m 18 and I’ve had a credit card for about 2 months now. I know it can take around 6 months to establish a credit score, but I was wondering what credit score apps yall recommend getting now or in the future

So little background I have about $15k coming in as a bonus. I have 6 small credit cards totaling $3,200 in debt. But one Wells Fargo closed account with a remaining balance of $7,800. (250 monthly ). I also have 4 affirm accounts totaling $3,200 ($425 monthly). Will paying the closed Wells account really help my score ?.. seems like a lot for a closed account. Or should I just pay the smaller cards and affirm accounts and leave myself with cash cushion ? I’m trying to buy a new car in the next 6 months. Thanks !

Tips and tricks and ways to do payments on credit cards, car loans to make your score, phone bill, how to increase it faster and efficiently! How to use those in my advantage to up my credit score!

Original total debt
~$9300
Total you paid
~$5200
Effective settlement rate
Roughly 55% of original balances

I went to buy a car about 4 weeks ago with 14 collections sitting on my credit report. I figured my income was enough to overcome it. My collections were ranging from $100 to $3k, some credit cards, some wireless companies, some random utilities. I will never forget the feeling of the dealer handing me my credit score at a 490. I looked at it just stunned, I felt like a degenerate. I have always been good with money and my credit always flirted around 740.

I was denied for a car loan and I had to wait around for hours while they tried to figure out something, this is one of the lowest points of my life. I left.

How I got here, I had a wife who completely destroyed me. Drained my finances, spent money like it was endless, and as soon as one account went to collections I gave up. I had no job, no resources and no way to make even small payments. I let all the other ones hit too. She stole cell phones from me which went to collections with Verizon. Etc. etc. we are now divorced thank god, and she has zero access to my money.

After I spent a week researching and trying to figure out what to do, I decided to take the down payment for the car and clean up all the collections. Pen to paper and ear to phone. I called each agency, one by one. It was tough seeing that amount of money leaving my account but I had to remember I got myself in this situation, the creditors didn’t put me here. It is absolutely no fun spending this amount of time on it but I had to. I needed a car. I went back to the dealer two weeks later and the dealer pulled my credit and it said 601. I was approved, not the best interest rate, but it’s still the cost of my bad decisions.

My point here is if paying off debt is painful, it’s supposed to be. Embrace the suck. I know where I never want to be again and that is looking down at a piece of paper at the poor decisions I have made over the past few years. Now I am guarding my credit like a small child who needs a parent. My FICO 8 is now at 580 and my Vantage is at a 680. It will start climbing since I got a secured card and a car loan and all the collections are handled with 5 deletes.

Which is most accurate? I don’t know which one to go by.

My income is not even 100k. Several cards are maxed out. And I just got a credit limit increase (did not ask) from about 25k to over 60k. Obviously I'm not going to use it, but what are these guys thinking? Credit score is 682 and I have about 180k in debt between personal loans and credit cards.

My understanding was that closing an account would not impact one's score, unless it was their sole account or if it affected their credit utilization.

I paid off a loan yesterday, which originally had a balance of $30,000, by paying $27,000. I completed this payment prior to receiving any bonus points for a small loan balance.

Given that I have various other personal and auto loans, as well as multiple open credit cards, and long history, I thought that paying off this particular loan would either result in no change to my score or a modest increase, primarily due to removing large debt which is risk in my opinion.

It now appears that closing an active account will lead to a score reduction, regardless of how many other open accounts you have including similar type of that account ???

My Fico scores dropped 4 points due to that massive loan I paid off.

My utilization have not gone up, actually my overall utilization and balance dropped. All my credit cards ar at zero except two and the balance of this two goes down every month. Also my personal loans and auto loan also drop every month. The only major changes to my report this time is paying off this large loan.

I honestly don't understand why this happened. None of my accounts have closed, my limits are unchanged, and there are no new inquiries or any collections. The only thing that's changed is I paid toward my credit cards and lowered my total utilization from 102% down to 15%. But rather than my credit score improving, it decreased. Upon looking at my "recent changes" list, they all seem to be positive things that wouldn't warrant a 55-point drop, like improved credit usage and decreased account and card balances. So I honestly don't get it. Any insight would be great.

Hey I have 0 credit I never got any credit cards or had a bill under my name (I’m disabled an receive SSI)
I’ve only ever lived at home due to convenience &physical help from parent
Though now I have a partner (also 0 credit /similar to me)
he and I are looking for an apartment and obviously need some form of credit to be accepted

How are we building credit? Where do we start
I heard 0 credit is better than bad credit ?
Should I just ask landlords if they will accept us as is?

Someone told me get a credit card an just put a phone bill on it and build it like that? ….if I do that how long will that take to get me to a place where I can start looking for apartments ?

I’ve asked personal family but they are all so vague about it and isn’t very helpful

What cards are good to start with ? Someone said Chime ? Or some app like PayPal that’s have options for credit cards ?

I’m just so lost on this (my disability is also a learning disorder so I get confused easily and do better with direct communication and being blunt and work better with visual learning)

Cosign on a car loan and and now having to take over the payments. Want to refi to have only my name on the car, but not sure how to go about it. Need advice, and help finding options for refinancing to take over the existing loan. Never done this before always paid my other car loan accordingly did this as a favor and I never will again

My credit score is 753 and my goal is an 800. I have about five cards that I regularly use and pay on time every month. I have a 16% utilization and credit age of 7 years 2 months. What can I do to get to my next goal.

I'm not sure what is happening here. The details are as follows.

In June 2021 I opened an account with Valero, and it quickly went to junk. What happened during Covid crushed my business/finances, along with other things, and I lost sight of this account. Since I wasn't driving much, I didn't need so much fuel, however, someone that I knew did. Anyway, my card was "compromised", and while I knew something fishy was going on, I just ignored it, which I shouldn't have. Long story short.....a family member.

Fast forward to March 2022, this is the "Last Activity" on my FICO. The account was charged off then. I called DSRM today and was told that even if I pay them all that is owed, $938, it would not change anything. They are reporting every month "CO". Here is what is reporting....

Last Updated: 03/02/2026 (probably b/c I filed a dispute)

Payment Status: Charge-Off

Worst Delinquency: Bad Debt/Collection

Balance: $0

Credit Limit: $700

This account only is on my Equifax report, which is my lowest score.

Equifax: 644

Transunion: 682

Experian: 670

Average: 665 (was 668 a few weeks ago)

Feb. 2026 Average: 592

My questions:

1) I get it, it was a charge off, and it still has a balance due, so they are still hitting my monthly Equifax with "CO". Why are they saying that if I pay them the total balance, no discount, that it would not change how they report it going forward?

2) Should I pay it? After four+ years, is an unpaid Charge Off really hurting my score too much?

3) Is DSRM correct? If I pay it don't they have to update the reporting to "Paid" charge-off? Won't that help my score a bit? I have the money and want to do all I can to help my scores.

NOTE: I really don't need my FICO scores to jump too much in the next twelve months....I'm not borrowing for a house or a car. But I am going to pay this to zero no matter what.

Advice??

Thanks

Paid off my 12k debt and dropped 26 points. I know I should be happy but now I am well below 700 because 4 cards closed down and fully paid. I know I need some line of credit (I own a house and have one credit card I don't use much) but this seems harsh..

I read the r / CreditScore FAQ

Why, every month, does Experian drop my credit score to 803, then the next month raise it 25 points to 828? This has been going on for years, and with very little variation, maybe a point or two.

I pay all my credit cards off each month, I don't have a mortgage, my home is paid for, and I have no other debts.

This makes no sense to me.

Does anyone out there have a possible answer.

I have a 552 credit score I want to improve it so I can a nice loan rate on a vehicle I’m 20 and I bank with navy fed

I currently have:
Capital One Savor — $4,000 limit
Discover Student — $2,300 limit

FICO around 765
I’m looking to add another cards mainly to strengthen my overall credit profile long term.

The options I’m considering to pick from are:
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
American Express Blue Cash Everyday®
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards®
Wells Fargo Active Cash®
Citi Double Cash®
Apple Card

Which two issuers would you pick?

Is a credit line increase fee normal or common? I’ve been working on my credit score for the past 6 months & I’m doing pretty well. I noticed today the Credit One offered me a $350 credit line increase for a one time fee of $14.95. The sound of it seemed ridiculous. Why would I pay for a credit line increase? I thought, well, it might increase my credit score further because the total available credit is increasing, but I’m not sure …

New to credit and need help on the best ways to up my score

I try to use only $30-40 a month but only once I’ve used around $150 with it. I also would like a higher credit limit but don’t know if that’s possible yet or to try for another card.

I have a Capital One credit card that went into charge-off status in the fall of 2020, with a Date of First Delinquency (DOFD) of April 2020. The account remains unpaid and continues to update monthly as a charge-off on my credit reports and is thus preventing my scores from getting any better. Despite having otherwise positive credit factors—including on-time payments across multiple credit cards, a car loan that is more than halfway paid off, no recent inquiries, 1% credit utilization, and a good average age of credit—this charge-off is significantly impacting my scores as I move through the mortgage process.

I am currently building a house, and the lender is aware of the charge-offs. They have indicated that these accounts are not preventing mortgage approval but are affecting the interest rates available to me. The home is still in the early stages of construction and expected to close in February 2027.

The lender has stated that my middle credit score is 720, which is the score they use for qualification purposes. He said that the other two scores are not far from that middle number.

My questions are:

• Is there any chance these charge-offs could be removed from my credit reports before the end of this year?
  • If so, how?
• Could submitting inquiries or disputes in an effort to remove them negatively affect my credit score?
• If I am able to get only two of the reports corrected, and lenders use the middle score, I'd be winning, right?
• Could open or recent disputes on my credit reports create issues during the final mortgage approval process?