Cancel them now...rather be free of temptation. Credit score
Posted By: will barely go down at all.....nm on 2008-06-04
In Reply to: If you are no longer using credit cards...... - sm
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good info but what does it do to your credit score?
I basically did what you are doing but on my own. I owe a lot. My credit card companies wouldn't work with me as far as lowering my previous rates so I investigated and found a site that lists all the current 'deals' with other cards and did balance transfers. Let me tell you for one I got 0% for a while and then 3.9 for the life of the balance! I still can't believe it. Another was 0% for like 18 months and then 8.9 for the life of the balance. So I'm proof it can be done! You do need near perfect credit though to get these really good deals but it's worth the little bit of work involved for those who do pay on time and are just tired of paying those high interest rates :)
Credit Score will hardly be touched by closing them
xx
The more available credit, the better the FICO score is what Suze says.
dd
Cancel the ID theft protection on your credit cards.
If you didn’t pay for it, you’re not liable for it.
Free credit reports
A lot of people don't know this, but you can get FREE annual printed copies of your credit reports online in seconds from the 3 major credit companies.
There are a lot of online companies out there saying you can only get this information if you pay for it and try to get you to sign up for some type of credit services. Not true.
''This central site allows you to request a free credit file disclosure, commonly called a credit report, once every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion''.
www.annualcreditreport.com
is the official site to help consumers to obtain their free credit report.
Hope this helps others : )
I LOVE THE FREE CREDIT GUY!!
and the songs are so catchy. bite your tongue, woman!!
free credit checks.
Is there a way to obtain your credit report for free? I have never checked it. I have always been afraid to, but now I would like to check it now matter how bad and figure on a way to make it better. I have looked on line and found several sites offering "free" credit checks, but then pay a monthly fee for something. I don't want any monthly fees as that is my problem now. I have too many straws in my bank account. I was wondering if my bank would do it or maybe an 800. If I ask, would I get laughed out of the building imaging something for free? TIA.
free credit report.com commercial....it
xx
Just got my yearly free credit report this week and -
Every one of my closed accounts from the last couple of years is listed under my positive credit file as having been paid on time/never late/closed by subscriber.
It does still count as good credit.
There is a free version of Efax that does not require a credit card. sm
Are you needing to fax out, in, or both? You didn't clearly state, but said you needed a number. I receive faxes for free through efax, but haven't sent any that way. Never have I given them credit card info. Check out myfax.com.
Why does closing a credit card account negatively affect your credit report
Especially when I never use it anyway, and really never wanted it?
With all the bank rearranging going on in the past few months, one of my accounts was tranferred to Bank of America. I was sent new cards and a new agreement, new interest rate etc...
So I called them up and cancelled but before they did, I had to listen to a spiel about how this would negatively affect my credit report.
Huh?? Why is that?
Who do you think will win and what will the score be
I did and his feedback score was around 98-99%.
nm
Elevated ALP score
Has anyone ever been told they have a high ALP score? My was a little elevated to 130 and told that I will need additional blood work and ultrasound of my liver.
I am a little stressed out - any comments will be appreciated - thanks
I only got 5. Pitiful score but fun to do!
thank you!
don't cancel
oh, you'd get your truly emergency treatment, but maybe less than the best. If you do have a hospitalization w/o ins, it can ruin you financially. Look for a lesser policy, higher deductible, different company; talk to your rep. but i sure don't advise canceling.
I also say do not cancel...
Part of it is because of what you mention, emergencies etc. but also bear in mind that if you cancel and then have medical issues or new diagnoses and you have more than a 63-day lapse of coverage, the new insurance will make you have a waiting period (usually 12 months) before they will cover this new issue. If you think about the reasoning on their part... someone has never had insurance but just found out they have cancer and then they run and grab a policy, that insurance is walking into a potential million dollar claim situation on someone who has never paid out any premiums. See what I mean? Thus is the reason for a waiting period before it is covered. I had a friend who had lost her insurance when she quit a job, and I tried to tell her to at least get a high-deductible policy so she has some coverage but she did not want the added expense. Well, guess what, she found out she had diabetes and when she ran out to sign up for insurance, not only were her rates sky high because of her diagnosis but she had a 12-month waiting period before they would cover anything for that diagnosis..insulin, doctor visits etc.. So, to make a long story short..NEVER go without insurance. Very bad idea. JMO
Closing an account affects your score because
if you carry balances on other cards, by closing an account you instantly increase the percentage of available credit that you are using. An assessement of the percentage of use is a significant element in your credit score.
If you have other cards with high limits and low or no balances, closing an account will have only a small, probably temporary, effect, unless you are closing the account with the longest history. As another poster mentioned, length of credit history is another significant element of your credit score.
If you have high balances on other cards, leaving open an unused account will make those balances a lower percentage of your available credit, which can boost your credit score. However, in that case, paying down the balances will have a much larger positive effect on your score.
my own gut feeling is to cancel sm
there's just so much identity theft out there that it's scary to have too much info out there. i think that is really good advice to save and buy with cash. i do think it's good to have a credit card for an emergency like the other poster said.
thanks for your input 
You can do that, sure and then have your insurance cancel
You are supposed to disclose any prior diagnoses.
Would you cancel health ins....sm
if you couldn't really afford it? Or would you scrape by to pay for it? I have contemplated canceling to get ahead on my bills for a while. What if I or my husband or son gets really sick, say our gallbladder or appendix? What would they do? Let us suffer? Will they treat you and let you make payments? I am afraid to let it go because I am scared we may really need it. I don't know what to do.
Don't cancel. When you pick it up again
if there are any "pre-existing conditions" then they can be excluded. I wnet for a little bit before getting insurance as I could not afford Cobra before my new job's insurance clicked in and then my daughter who had had an ovarian cyst 5 years ago was excluded for that and, of course, she had to go to the ER for another one 1 month before the new kicked in and we had a $4000 ER bill. DO NOT CANCEL>
You're free to pray, but not free to discriminate
It's as simple as that.
Just go into one of their stores, cancel and walk out...
why let ANYONE intimidate you?
Do not cancel your health insurance. You never know when you will need it. sm
I had no health insurance for 3 years and that is the ONLY reason I went back in-house. I figured I had pushed the envelope far enough and was due for major problems.
Most hospitals have payment plans and will work with you. The hospital I work for has a Care Management department that will come to the hospital to work with you on payment plans or help you find whatever help may be out there and that you can access.
If you keep anything, keep your insurance. Go for high deductible. Find a clinic that has a sliding scale, but keep it if you can.
How to cancel cell phone service
Hope somebody can help with this. I want to cancel cell phone service (contract expired, and I simply don't use it enough). Have AT&T/Cingular and was trying to find a way to cancel on line. Does anybody know the magic trick? Of course I realize they are going to make it as difficult as possible. Just want to avoid having to talk to a customer service person, as I know I'll have to deal with the sales pitch. Thanks!
credit
My girlfriend did use the service. It worked great for them. It also put all their payments in one. The only thing is you need to watch what "items" you put under the service because it will keep you from purchasing items for so many years.
credit
I have used Consumer's Credit Counseling Services locally. They were wonderful to me. Put me on a generous budget, put all my bills under one payment (had to cut up all credit cards - which was a blessing and freedom after I got used to it), cut the credit card interests way-way-down or to none, and finally got everything paid. At first there was no charge from them, but later I paid $5 a visit, but I imagine they have surely put a low charge now. They were pretty strict with me (which I needed), but it worked. They were always accessible to talk with, which I really liked too. Also it was nice to refer callers to them, saying, "I am a client of CCCS and they are helping me" and not have to deal with the callers any more. In fact, after they were notified of intent to pay by CCCS they never called again.
Good luck. It meant freedom to me.
credit
I did hear that credit counseling is reported to the credit bureaus, but so are late payments, over-limits, missed payments, etc., etc. so ultimately I don't imagine it could ding your credit score any worse.
credit
I don't know the answer to that. We have only bought cars and a house on credit since then. Be sure to talk to the credit counselor before signing up and find out. They will know.
Credit card (SM)
There was information about credit cards and interest rates going around late last year/early this year. Basically, from what I understand with the new bankruptcy law this was attached to it. The credit card companies can and will charge you and me whatever interest rate they want to, and the only thing we can do is cancel the card and pay off the balance. There were these little inserts with your statements that many of us just throw away and never think about it. But I did read the ones that were sent with several of my statements, and I kindly told them to keep my rate where it was and I canceled the card. Sad but true. 
NO more credit cards
I had a credit card with a high balance. I got a second mortage to pay it off. I called the credit card and got the payoff balance and my bank sent a check to them. I kept watching on line to make sure they got it and when they did I noticed that there was a $95 credit. So, I called and said how do I get my money back. They sent me a check and when I got it, I called and closed the account. This was about two weeks ago. Today I get a statement from them with a balance due of $45! Huh??? I called and they keep telling me it is a finance charge. I got pretty steamed and finally ended up saying that I would pay it, but no more. Well, I wrote out the check and put in in the mailbox, but I'm still stewing about this. If I still owed them money, why did they send me a credit?? What is the finance charge on if I had a credit balance? I suppose I will just pay it because they will only keep tacking on even more charges, but it is really bugging me. Has anyone else had any experience with this??
I will say one thing - NO MORE CREDIT CARDS EVER EVER EVER. REALLY. I mean it this time.
About my credit card
I owed close to $10,000.00 about 2 months ago on my credit card and called to make sure I sent the right amount as paying it off. After I paid in full, they also sent a "finance charge" for around 35 to 40 dollars. I paid that but have discontinued using that card. I have another card, used during Christmas, interest about half of the other one and getting that paid off before long also, just sent $500.00 towards that yesterday. I on the first had asked for payoff amount but the finance not there when I asked.
Our credit was very shakey (sm)
when we bought our house 6 years ago and we have now (both husband and I) been ICs in this biz for 11 years. As an IC you are supposed to work for different companies according to the IRS so you could really jam yourself up if you got a letter like that from your current company. Personally - I would refuse and find another mortgage company. I had a very young and inexperienced mortgage person when we refinanced our house through a credit union - it was literally a nightmare - I don't have the time anymore! If you have good credit move on and find someone who appreciates your business
ruined credit????
Went to work for a company about five years ago. The pay was EXCELLENT, however, they paid me "when they got around to it." Now my credit is so terrible I can hardly qualify for a home loan!!! Has anyone else experienced this problem???? Still suffering after having quit four years ago!!!!!
Sorry to say, but you have proven yourself a bad credit
x
Not the only way, my credit just restored on its own
after years of not having as posted below, went and had a clean slate just as if no credit at all in my life, went from bankruptcy to nothing bad about me, nothing! I did learn how to be responsible after that time though, now have excellent credit rating.
Credit for your daughter
As DW stated, federal loans are given to students - have her go to financial aid office/web site of school and see what she needs to do to apply for them.
Does your daughter have a credit card? Yeah, I know, scary thought, but the sooner they can establish good credit, the better off you all are. My son has a card for college students from Citi Bank. He's had it since senior year of high school and I tell him to use it for EVERYTHING. Gas, pizza, books at school, etc. He keeps track (amazingly) and pays the card off every month so he never gets charged interest. His bill is usually for under $50.
He's been having problems with his cell phone, it's already been fixed once, yet the same problem keeps happening. The contract for the phone was up last week which means he could get a new phone for next to nothing provided he renew for another two years. I told him I'd buy him he new phone for a Christmas present. I've been paying his cell bill of $45/month for years. He wanted text messaging added to his plan. I told him I will only pay the $45, he can pay the difference if he wants to text his friends because NWIHAIPFI so he can ask his BFF what time they can meet for lunch when he could just call the dude and leave a message if he isn't there! Well, a two-year commitment with the phone company would bring us to 6 months AFTER he graduates from college and he could be in Madagascar by then for all I know with the cell bill still coming to me. I asked the cell phone company if the contract can go in my son's name. They told me no, because his credit rating as a student wouldn't qualify him. I asked them to check anyway. They did, the woman was shocked, he was approved, and now he has a new contract with text messaging for $10 more and the bill goes to him! I'll deposit $45 in his checking acct every month and he can write the check.
This is partial payback for the night I had to spend in a battleship with 400+ other Cub Scouts and their fathers when my son was little. Hot dogs and beans was the dinner. Need I say more? Bunks stacked 5 high with me on the top bunk and hot air rises. He will owe me for that for many years to come.
I think its credit cards...
The newspaper had an article the day after Christmas how people are defaulting on their credit cards all over the place. This added to the mortgage companies having problems with people unable to pay their balloon payments and the bad housing market, price of gas is sure to lead (the article said) to a recession.
When I was shopping I saw all the people with tons of things in their carts, DVD players, computers, etc. on Christmas eve. This was regular people at Walmart. I saw a lot of credit cards flashed around. Paying minimum payment will cause Christmas to cost tons more and they will be paying beyond the item's life which they purchased.
We went through this. We tried to sell our house, rented to own another and went broke in 3 months. After we had 2 house, fell back on credit cards the interest piled up and it was terrible! We moved back and are on a budget. So, I shopped without credit this year, and you know what? I had more fun. And I have 3 kids. Their things were simpler than the fancy things they got last year. The most expensive things we got were bikes because they are growing and we got those on sale. The rest were creative items. I am not saying that what we did is so great. What I am saying is that peeople are not looking at the big picture these days and if they do not use cash (as we had not in the past), they may not be able to pay their debt if hard times fall. In the meantime, grandpa sent my son 100 bucks, which I let him spend on a train set (I should not have let him do that he is 7) and he cried that his money was all gone and he did not want the train set anymore. I bet if I had him save some of it and had him buy simpler things, well I bet he would not have been crying. At least at age 7 he is learning that money is not easy to come by. And he is learning the hard way because I will not give him more money to replace what he spent. Sorry such a long message. It is just that we did not even afford an XBox, and I wanted a Wii myself, but we avoided all of that because in the end we learned that Christmas is not about credit cards, the junk it buys. I think the end of the cartoon the Grinch where the Who people did not even care about the presents was correct. Maybe we'd be happy with less things and more love. I don't know. This was not meant to be a sermon forgive me. We all have to learn what Christmas means to us and I say let people do what they want, consequences are always result of actions anyway. Just IMO. Happy New Year everyone!
Can't take credit for the idea.
When I was in my late teens I nannied for a very wealthy family who bought a truck load of stuff from a children's hospital as well as made a huge donation and I spent WEEKS handwriting "A donation has been made in your name" to this hospital and then including a sweatshirt, t-shirt, mug or whatever else they bought.
credit counseling
I did use one, but in retrosepct I don't think I would do it again. It ends up lowering your payments or your interest a little, but they also charge you a monthly fee - mine was 35.00. All they basically do is pay your bills for you with what you send them. It takes a good 2-3 months to get set up and working and by that time your bills are even more overdue. I think your best solution is to talk to all your creditors and be disclipined about paying to the exclusion of having a life until you are caught up. I finally got out of the hole, but it was hard and seemed like it would never happen. Good luck to you. You can do it.
which could damage your credit
x
they can be put on your credit report...
I know for sure b/c I have one on mine. :(
credit card
I've not had personal experience, but I know to be wary of some of those companies that advertise. I saw a financial advisor on the Today Show and she said to make sure you go with Consumer Credit Counseling; maybe there's a link on the Today Show website. Good luck!
credit debt
Wow thanks for all the good tips.
As this got off the subject and onto other things, I just wanted to say I have heard Al-Anon is excellent for people dealing with alcoholism in a spouse or other loved one. It might be a great place for support for you and your kids. Just a thought.
Pay off our credit card
And with the little we'd have left just put it in the bank
Credit Check
For several years now almost all employers have been running background and credit checks on all employees before they are hired. It has nothing to do with "your son". It is now common practice. Most likely if he is behind on his child support as soon as he gets a job they will attach his wages for payment. Alot of employers do not want to deal with the paperwork involved with that kind of stuff. The stigma of not paying your bills may soon change with the state of the economy and employers may start taking a different look at it. Did your son go to court and file to get his child support adjusted given his unemployment status? That would have helped him at least not be so far behind and may keep him from wage attachment when he does get a job.
At any rate don't get so upset, it is common practice for employers to do credit and background checks on every employee now (in fact your son probably signed the paperwork authorizing them to do so) and they use the results to make their hiring decisions.
credit card debt
Not sure what will happen, but I do wish you luck. Credit card debt is an unsecured type of debt. I don't know what more they can do to you other than a judgement. Not sure you can put that under a bankruptcy either once the judgement has been placed. I know a lawyer that handles a lot of bankruptcies -- did some work for him. He always asked his clients if late payments had gone to judgements. If they had not gone that far he was pleased about it. I guess it made things easier legally. Not really sure.
Your credit is ruined because you didnt do anything about it
x
Homeless has nothing to do with poor credit.
nm
You let credit get bad before house sale.
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