Need help raising my score

I am looking to buy a harley in the next 9 months or so. I am saving up to put at least 10-20% down. The lady told me that the lowest FICO score they finance is 580. My score is 553. I know I suck. I do I in the next 9-10 months raise my score by at least 27 points?

Good things on my credit:

Credit card with a 325 limit that I have a good two year no late payment history with

Student loans that I have been paying off for two years and I have never been late on

Bad things on my credit:

Four accounts in collections. I am working to pay them all off. I am currently paying on off as I type this.

Any advice would be appreciated.

You are on the right track. Paying off debts is the only sure shot way to improve your score. Also check the report for wrong information. Disputing the wrong entries and getting them removed from your report may also help you in improving the score.

I have a question I have been told that sometimes paying off old debt can hurt more than help depending on the age of the account is this true?

before you pay off the collections send a PFD thats a pay for deletion letter that way you can pay them to delete from your reports and also if you have a high balance on the card pay it to 1% asap for a quick jump.

I know how to raise your score but I am not sure what information they allow us to put on this form. I helped a lady just recently go from a 595 to a 645 in less than 60 days. It was actually 30 but the bureaus update every 30 so it took 60 days. She needed to buy a home. She did!
Z-Man

Kfstaff, if the debt is almost seven years old I'd have left it untouched since seven (7 1/2 years to be precise) years is the maximum time that a debt can stay on your report. Hence, if a debt is old enough to fall off your CR all by itself you may let it happen.

Any particular reason you want to buy a Harley? I'm not dogging on you. But looking at the credit history you're reporting in your post... Financing a new scoot might not be the smartest thing you could do.

So you'll know, I've been riding for 40+ years. I've owned six HDs in that time, and numerous others. If you want to talk, I'm here.



OK. You said any advice...

The first thing I see is only two years history. Mind if I ask how old you are? Four accounts in collections??? What's up with that? Again, I'm not dogging you. But I would like to see you make the best decision you can. And remember, every dollar you save on the bike can be spent on chrome and gas.

ZMAN.......mmm.......I guess 'Inquiry Minds Want to Know' how you helped this woman. I understand you want to raise your Credit Score, OP..however..remember...............(just thing about it here..) you want to put yourself in MORE debt by doing it. As you pay your debts down, in time, your score will go up. Sounds lke WULF has some good (personal) advice to give you.

Hey, my last Harley cost me less than $2500. Another $3000 in rebuilding and mods, and I had a bike that looked better then new, and would outrun anything in town.

Never finance anything you don't have to. And never finance more of it than you need to. The dealer's markup is one of those things you don't have to.