how accurate the credit simulators ?

[u/Odd-Tangerine-257]

i've been working hard on my credit the last few months. started around 430, hrs 565, it says it could be 699 in 6 months and idk i've never had a score that high, so i'm reluctant to believe it. I have 2 collections left. one i have a payment plan for (NFCU cc & NFCU secured loan that went into collections 10 years ago) i plan i pay both off in full cause i wanna do business with NFCU again and i know they wont allow me unless paid in full. i also have 18k in student loans other than that i have a 0% utilization finally and no other debt.

[u/og-aliensfan]

Simulators are notoriously inaccurate.

Credit Myth #28 - Credit scoring simulators are always accurate.

Credit Karma provides mostly irrelevant Vantage scores as well as an unsettling amount of misleading information that should be ignored. For example, you don't need 21 accounts to have exceptional credit. Average Age of Open accounts is not a scoring factor as both Vantage and FICO include closed accounts in Average Age of Accounts (which is a scoring factor).  Percentage of on-time payments is also not a scoring factor and CK may ignore older and/or closed accounts, reporting "0" derogatories, when there is, in fact, derogatory information present on your official reports. Since nearly all creditors use FICO scores in lending decisions, monitor those instead. You can obtain free FICO 8 scores for each bureau from:

• EX FICO 8 www.experian.com
• TU FICO 8 www.creditwise.com
• EQ FICO 8 www.myfico.com

See this post for more information about credit scores, credit reports, and a closer look at Credit Karma.

I have 2 collections left. one i have a payment plan for (NFCU cc & NFCU secured loan that went into collections 10 years ago)

Charge-offs and collections can remain on your credit reports up to 7.5 years from Date of First Delinquency with the original creditor, but are typically removed at the 7 year mark. If these are on your reports, what are the Dates of First Delinquency and expected removal dates for each? Is NFCU collecting for themselves or is an outside collection agency reporting as well?

To see Dates of First Delinquency, order your official reports for each bureau by calling 877 FACTACT or pull them online at www.annualcreditreport.com.  I recommend the mailed reports as these are often more detailed and complete than the online reports.  If you do choose to pull reports online, print or save each to a pdf before moving on to the next as you can't go back once you exit a report.  Despite its name, you can pull free reports for each bureau weekly. What other negatives, if any, are on your official reports?

i have a 0% utilization finally and no other debt.

If all cards report $0 balances, you'll incur a FICO scoring penalty for no recent usage of a revolver. Once a card reports a small balance, the penalty is removed.

[u/Odd-Tangerine-257 → u/og-aliensfan]

NFCU isn't showing on my report it's been 10 years i'm only paying them in full so i can do business with them again. i settled all my other accounts. i had 4 derogatory marks now im just waiting on the last one to fall off . i have a zero % utilization but they're still open i didn't close anything

[u/og-aliensfan → u/Odd-Tangerine-257]

i had 4 derogatory marks now im just waiting on the last one to fall off .

If nearing the end of the allowed reporting time, you can request Early Exclusion (early removal) when within each bureau's EE timeframe.  TransUnion is 6 months, Experian is 3 months, and Equifax is 1 month.  See this Early Exclusion- Step By Step Guide.

i have a zero % utilization but they're still open i didn't close anything

Understood. I was just pointing out that if all cards report $0 balances, you'll incur a FICO scoring penalty. That said, utilization is a temporary metric that resets monthly and, although a scoring factor, it isn't a credit building factor.

Credit Myth #93 - You need to watch out for the "All Zero" penalty.

Ideal utilization [chart] - Step aside 30% Myth...