this post was submitted on 10 Jun 2025
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I did it but it took a lot of work. Step one is that I filled disputes on anything past due. I knocked several off that my ex had taken out in my name because it literally wasn't me. Step two was a secured credit card. Step three was a "loan" where all I really did was pop money into an account that I got back (minus a small fee) at the end of the loan term. There are a few companies that do this. Then came letters and emails for anyone who showed even one late payment with a sob story about how I was trying to buy a house and only had that one spot on my record and could they please remove it. I got all of them removed eventually, but it did take multiple emails (not just disputes) but all you need is one yes. Once your score improves get a couple of cards that you use and pay off every month. Not too many, just one more than the secured one (which you can eventually flip). Once your credit starts going up, get higher limit cards with good perks and game their system. Then stop getting cards. It'll crawl up.
I was cleaned up in just about 3 years from the high 400s-low 500s up to 800ish depending on the bureau.
Don't take out any consumer loans (affirm, klarna, afterpay) because sometimes they report and they look bad even with a pristine payment history because historically the people getting them weren't reliable enough for a real loan.
Alternatively you could wait 7 years. Most of it just disappears at that point.