Earlier in the year the Oprah show had a series for eight or so weeks called America's Debt Diet. There were financial experts working with three or four families on paying down their debt.
http://www2.oprah.com/money/debtdiet/money_debtdiet_main.jhtml
Over the years I have tuned into the Suze Orman show weekends on CNBC. Around this same time Suze Orman's FICO kit and other products were being demonstrated and sold on QVC.
I made the purchase of the software and received it in April 2006. Using the Suze Orman's FICO Kit was really easy to do. I inserted the CD and was instantly brought to a page to click enter and input some personal data to get a report of my choice from one of the three reporting agencies and my FICO score was on the screen in a matter of minutes.
Although my score is low, 610, I was expecting it to be a lot lower. All the information transmitted and input was through myfico.com. I was able to view my report and click on what information was incorrect.
Next a letter was prompted through my entries to contact myfico.com on adding my new phone number, employer and a question about a creditor on my account that did not seem to have Bankruptcy information attached to it. This left an open amount on my credit file when there should be zero creditors.
The page with all the data for the letter is listed and a print sign to click for the letter to be in your hands. I do not have a printer and did note that this will be available for me when I do get one and I cut and pasted it into a word document for easy access.
Each Suze Orman's FICO Kit comes with a fifteen digit number and letter configuration that is your activation code. I activated my account and obtained one credit report with one FICO score. I have until 8-1-07 to obtain the other two reports and scores with this kit.
I also had the option to view another report and get a score. There was a toll-free number for both Equifax and myfico.com.
The Suze Orman's FICO Kit has personal coaching to guide you into how to get out of debt and to help determine how much you can afford for a house. This is a 12-month period of coaching from the date of activation. Users will learn how to improve their FICO scores with tips to peruse and then a simulator to see how much your score will improve if you do a number of steps. It looked like mine could go up 30-40 points if I obtain a credit card with a minimum of $500.
The three scores and reports can all be done on yourself or you can have another person in your household access their data through the kit. This is a good deal for a couple going through America's Debt Diet to view their report and learn their score at the beginning of their debt down plan and once again in a few months to see what they have achieved.
You can purchase the Suze Orman FICO Kit at www.suzeorman.com or visit www.qvc.com. This might seem a bit pricey, but this is half the cost for obtaining just your FICO score with a reporting agency.
This is an excerpt from my review, which can be read in its entirety here
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Comments: 6
One of the most untapped resources in the business world is the local bank manager and their staff. I made an acquaintance at my local branch and after establishing an account found he was very willing to help me get credit scores or anything else I wanted, quickly and without fee.
Now, many years later, the bank is still just as helpful in credit matters.
AnnualCreditReport.com is the free website set up for obtaining your credit report, once every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
There are also websites available, such as HSH Associates: http://www.hsh.com/credscorecalc.html which offer credit score calculators to help you estimate your score. The advice above is priceless too- your bank or any loan officer you may know might be willing to help you obtain your credit score for free, and may also have suggestions on how you can shape your finances up and raise your credit score, if needed.