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Contact each credit reporting agency and start the process of getting it removed.

This was just Recently added. There's a quick search box on the Q&A main page as well as a menu item "Search" up in the second nav bar.

You can't fix this:

http://blog.creditkarma.com/credit-scores/what-is-a-thin-file/

But it's not "broken" in the first place. You just need to build some credit.

He, being your husband, probably shows up on your credit report making that information show up there too.

If you're still locked out, contact support and they can help you get access.

No, there isn't. Any amount you owe that goes into collections is in collections.

If you can no longer pay the bill at the store it's because they've sold your debt to a collector. As far as they are likely concerned, your account is paid (by the collector) and now the collector will be on your case for the money.

Contact the cell phone company to find out if they have sent you to collections and if so, get their information so you can settle the debt.

Yup, just utilize the card on a regular basis and pay it off each month. If you've been living off your income and using a debit card to make purchases, you can just swap out the debit card with the CC and your credit rating will start to rise.

Just make sure you pay it off regularly!

They've given me a great rate, been with them for a while after Farmers, and I've been quite happy with them. Online payment, and online "print our yourself" forms so you're never, ever stuck driving around without current documentation. Very happy with them.

Always pay it off with each bill. Collecting interest can kill your pocketbook.

As he said, just keep doing what you're doing.

Having debt on your credit report is not a negative impact as long as you are meeting your payments.

Start building your credit -- right now you don't have enough of a history to get a score.

Secured credit cards are a great place to start.

http://www.creditkarma.com/article/secured_credit_cards_to_rebuild_credit

Apply for and get secured credit cards. These are guaranteed and report the same as normal cards.

http://www.creditkarma.com/article/secured_credit_cards_to_rebuild_credit

This is a new response on the updated question.

If you currently have a good credit score, several credit card accounts all with a long history and high available credit, this will have minimal impact on your credit score. If you have anything other than the above, the impact of closing one of your credit card accounts will most probably lower your credit score from 5-30 points.

Closing your credit card account can impact your credit in three ways.

1. You will have lower available credit.
2. You may have a shorter credit history if the closed account happens to be an older account.
3. Your credit card utilization may increase.

Each of the three can have an impact on your credit score. You can use the simulator here at CK to better understand how these factors will affect your credit score.

This is a very common question and creates confusion for a lot of people. There are two types of inquires used by the credit bureaus which are often misunderstood.

Hard Inquiry:
Hard inquiries are created when a consumer applies for credit (auto loans, credit cards, mortgages, student loans, etc). Hard inquires will lower your credit score because lenders will view them as a sign of someone in need of credit and therefore a greater risk. Multiple hard inquires over a short period of time can be bad for one's credit score. However, hard inquires are not inherently bad. Consumers should be aware of them and limit the number of hard inquires by only applying for appropriate and useful loan products.

Soft Inquiry:
Soft inquires are the other type of inquires used by the credit bureaus. Soft inquires are used when the consumer requests the credit score on their own behalf. Credit Karma uses soft inquires whenever a user checks their credit score. Since these credit scores are not used in the application for credit, there is NO negative impact on the users credit score from checking their credit score on Credit Karma.

Bank accounts normally go through the ChexSystems and not via the credit bureaus. The only way the closure could affect your credit score is if you have overdraft protection or a line of credit associated with your bank account. If you do, then this would be treated like the closing of an old credit account and most likely reduce your credit score.

As background, the ChexSystems was created by US banks and credit unions to aid themselves in identifying account applicants who have a history abusing checking accounts. You can be reported to ChexSystems for the following reasons:

* The bank was unable to collect for an overdraft, ATM transaction, or automatic payment which they honored on insufficient funds
* Multiple overdrafts
* Savings account, debit card or ATM abuse
* Providing false information in opening account or Fraud

If you are reported to ChexSytems you can expect that infraction to remain on your file for 5 years. In many cases, banks may not allow you to open a checking account if you have one more reports in ChexSystems, so like poor credit don't fall into this trap.

A credit card issuer will write-off, also known as charge-off, an outstanding debt on your credit card when you have made less-than-minimum or no payments for more than 180 days past due. This means the issuer declares it a loss for the company and will effectively close your account, but you are still responsible for paying off your debt completely or else the issuer will likely send a debt collection agency after you.

Write-offs will remain as a negative entry on your credit report for seven years starting from the 180-day period you were written-off by the issuer after your last on-time payment, and will negatively impact your credit score and thus your ability to get approved for a loan.

You may not have noticed a charged-off account because your credit report won't always explicitly list it; typically credit reports list the details of accounts through a numbered or shorthand code. For example, on a TransUnion report, the column titled "Type of Account & MOP" means MOP=Method of Payment, and any entries listed as "09" means "Bad Debt; Charged-off Account". Look through your credit report thoroughly and read the details on your credit card accounts, and notify the issuer if you have been written off and think there has been a mistake.

When you apply for a car loan, the lender will do a hard inquiry on your credit report, meaning they pull your credit report to check your history and credit score to determine approval for your loan application. Hard inquiries show up on your credit report for two years.

Credit inquiries are one of the five key components that affect your credit score and every hard inquiry will slightly lower your credit score. A lender may perceive a consumer who has had too many credit inquiries as desperate for credit or as a potential credit risk. So be mindful of how many different lenders you go to apply for an auto loan because it can add up to bigger drop on your credit score than expected. Check out the graph of the distribution of credit score to number of credit inquiries from the Credit Karma community for a sense of how many hard inquiries can impact your credit score.

You can check how many inquiries you have at CK, just visit:

https://www.creditkarma.com/report/inquiries

By the way, checking your credit score through Credit Karma is a soft inquiry, not a hard inquiry, and will not lower your credit score.

Opening a new credit card will temporarily lower your credit score due to the hard inquiry associated with the credit application. Depending on what your existing score is it may be as little as 3 points or as much at 25 points.

If you are challenging items erroneously listed on your credit report, make sure to dispute the items in question to all three credit bureaus. Clearing up mistakes on credit reports typically boosts credit scores anywhere from 5 to 50 points, though there is no sure formula of knowing how much your credit score will improve.

Credit scores are calculated based on a complex algorithm, but we do know how certain derogatory marks can damage your credit and the Credit Simulator here at CK can give you a good idea of how your credit score can change over time if you take certain financial actions.

Here are a few helpful links and articles:

http://www.creditkarma.com/question/credit_report_has_wrong_data
http://blog.creditkarma.com/credit/2010-credit-score/
https://www.creditkarma.com/simulator

Without knowing the specifics of your credit report, it is difficult to know the exact cause. Here are a list of things that can affect your credit that are not based on new inquires or a new accounts.

1. Changes in debt.
Are you carrying more debt that before? Think about credit card balances, home equity lines of credit, or even mortgages that may have chanced recently.

2. Changes in available credit.
These days most banks are lowering credit limits. Is it possible that you missed one of the notices in the mail? Credit cards and home equity lines of credit are top candidates for reductions in available limit. This will often trigger increases in your credit card utilization which could lower your score.

3. Closure of old or inactive accounts.
Some credit cards companies are simply closing inactive accounts. To avoid this happening to you, use your cards every couple of months on necessities to discourage overspending.

Those are some speculative reasons. Lastly, remember not to worry about a perfect credit score. If you are in the high 700s, a drop of 14 points won't hurt your ability to get the best pricing possible.

According to Independent Mortgage, you can refinance your home if you have enough equity in the home. They suggest a LTV (loan to value) of 80% or less. In addition, your DTI (debt to income) should be 35% or less.

Finally, they want to point out that this loan may be expensive. You won't be getting the very best rates and there may be considerable closing fees but it is possible to refinance with that credit score.

CK lists rates, check them out: http://www.creditkarma.com/rates/mortgage

The Public Savings Bank Secured Visa Card (http://www.creditkarma.com/creditcard/publicsbsc01) is a great first step to rebuilding your credit and also guarantees approval because there is no credit score or income requirement. Like most secured cards, the Public Savings Card requires an upfront security deposit of a minimum $200 and up to $1,500, which also determines your credit limit.

Some tips on using secured cards: http://www.creditkarma.com/article/secured_credit_cards_to_rebuild_credit

Secured cards reports to all 3 major credit bureaus just like unsecured credit cards, but should you ever default on a payment, the minimum will be deducted from your security deposit so you can continue to build a positive credit history.

What sets this card apart from other secured cards is that it has no annual fee and just requires a one-time activation fee of $79, while almost all unsecured cards have a recurring annual fee. Also, penalty for a late payment or for going over your credit limit is not as steep as other secured cards, and the 11.24% APR is a low interest rate relative to what is generally offered to poor credit borrowers.

Another big bonus of choosing this card is its introductory offer of 0% interest on purchases for the first 6 months, which is unique to the unsecured credit card market; just make sure you pay off all the purchases charged interest-free for the first six months, or else you'll end up paying interest on your remaining balance once the offer period ends. With this card, you'll be on your way to raising your credit score high enough to apply for an unsecured credit card with confidence.