[[Still A Girly Girl: Credit Where Credit Is Due]]

Jul 17, 2005

Credit Where Credit Is Due

For the last several years I have been under the impression that I have bad credit. I never had money growing up, so when I got my first job out of high school and actually had a bank account holding a 3-digit balance I went nuts. I was one of those people that spent money just because they had it. I still am to a certain extent, but at least now I pay my bills.

I digress.

Nobody ever taught me the importance of money managment and I wrote checks for funds that weren't there. I neglected whatever bills I had (I don't think I ever paid the phone or power bills at the last apartment I lived in, and I was there for 7 months), and lived generally way outside of my means. My dad and step-mom kept telling me that I was going to ruin my credit, but I didn't care; why would I ever need good credit? After the first couple times I tried to apply for credit cards and was turned down, I started to realize where not paying my debts was going to turn around and bite me in the ass.

Over the last couple years I've been trying (emphasis on "trying") to gradually eschew my old habits and get back on track. I had no idea how to go about trying to pay off old accounts, so I figured I'd just keep my mind on the present. I have been paying my phone bill mostly on time, I paid off all my medical bills from last summer, and I stay on top of my internet bill. I'm still not a model financier, but I'm head and shoulders above where I used to be.

A few weeks ago someone mentioned that US citizens are now entitled to one free online credit report per year, and I was curious. This morning I logged in, punched in some pertinent personal information, and held my breath, prepared to see page after page of delinquent accounts. Nothing. No negative reports. No positive reports. A few misspellings, but that's about it. So, what was I so worried about for the last five years?

I'm not sure why there are no accounts on my report, or why they even bother with credit reporting agencies if nobody's going to keep an accurate account of your habits. Are there things that I'm missing, or am I somehow being given a fresh start? Is the whole thing just a farce to try and scare teenagers into responsibility?

**EDIT**
Kevin's site is down for unknown reasons, so my banner image is broken until AtomichHolocaust.com is restored.

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Posted by erynthenerd @ 12:45 PM

3 Comments