No regrets, but slow road to a good FICO....

[Ekop785]

I am glad I filed - no regrets - but 8 months post discharge, FICO only up 100 points. Higher income folks with do better and recover faster. This will be a longer road than I expected, but I still am glad I did it.

[bornfree2]

Only thing I learnt during this journey is the great FICO i enjoyed for years (700+) due to never missing payments on any card meant absolutely nothing when my collapse came. I was had a great reputation, high scores, etc then default, and bam im a lepor.

So once this journey ends I hope to never want or need credit and i give zero flapjacks for the FICO score. Only thing that matters in the end is skills, experience, and family.

[Ekop785]

I hear you, it does feel like that, doesn't it? I disagree about FICO, though - unless you already own a home and/or have family to fall back on, it is extremely important. You can't even rent an apartment without a fairly decent one. Although those with higher incomes will have more leverage.

[justbroke]

You should search for shipo's guide to rebuilding credit. You are likely missing an installment loan (worth 40+ points), and perhaps some other diversity in your credit profile.

https://www.bkforum.com/forum/after-the-discharge/rebuilding-credit/1028588-outline-for-rebuilding-credit

[bornfree2]

I hear you, it does feel like that, doesn't it? I disagree about FICO, though - unless you already own a home and/or have family to fall back on, it is extremely important. You can't even rent an apartment without a fairly decent one. Although those with higher incomes will have more leverage.

True I haven't felt the scarlet letter. Only way is up after rock bottom though.

There are some pretty good books by the NCLC on this topic

Fair Credit Reporting - see chapter 16.6 in TOC

Truth in Lending

Credit discrimination

Some additional hits on google

• https://www.nclc.org/images/pdf/cred...ndrum-2013.pdf
• https://www.nclc.org/for-consumers/t...companies.html
• https://www.nclc.org/images/pdf/olde...dit_wisely.pdf

[Ekop785]

You should search for shipo's guide to rebuilding credit. You are likely missing an installment loan (worth 40+ points), and perhaps some other diversity in your credit profile.

https://www.bkforum.com/forum/after-...uilding-credit

I have those things, albeit very small credit limits due to my income not being very high. I have a secured, two unsecured, and a small installment loan.

One thing I did notice on my report is that two of my accounts still show late in the history (from before the BK, not after). However, some don't. All say zero balance, discharged in BK.

It seems like there should be more consistency in the way accounts are shown.

[justbroke]

You should dispute those old IIB accounts.

Additionally, make sure you are using AZEO method (all zero except one account) and make sure it doesn't report more than 8% balance.

[Ekop785]

Ok, sounds like a plan - I will dispute them. I was not sure since the "lates" are pre-BK; I thought they did not have to remove them (as long as the accounts show zero/discharged).

[justbroke]

All pre-BK items should be marked "included in bankruptcy" (IIB) with a $0 balance. It should show no payment history.