Hi
I just started paying attention to my credit after I bought a new car and was given a whopping 15.99% interest rate from Citi Auto. I found out my ex had used my credit quite a bit, even found out about an apartment he had rented on the side in my name, and even now he has a cell phone with Sprint in my name that I am fighting to get shut off without incurring any financial loss. The only time I knew of that I had used credit was the one time a register at Target popped out a pre-approved card when I used my debit card there, and because of that I had assumed I had good credit.
My question is this-while I am in school, would it help my FICO scores to go ahead and make the monthly payments on my student loans (just got first notice in the mail today) even though it very specifically states on the invoice that payment is not required. I am working hard to dispute things, but this is all for the most part (other than the cell phone) from when we were together and that was in pre-Katrina New Orleans. Most of my papers (and everything else) is in some landfill along with millions of tons of Katrina refuse, so I am having to get police reports and try to track down old landlords, etc in the mess that is post-Katrina New Orleans.
Anyone have any suggestions?? I would like to get my credit looking as good as possible as soon as possible (obviously) so I can refi the car, but I know these things take time and effort so any small boosts in the meantime would be helpful.