Good credit progress does not always look like a straight line. Sometimes it looks like a few steps forward, one step back… and then a breakthrough that changes everything.
That was Rolando M.’s story.
He came into CredEvolv with one goal: buy a home for his family. And he didn’t find us by accident – his loan officer at PRMG connected him because they saw the potential and wanted to help him build a path forward. What Rolando needed was not more random advice. He needed a clear, realistic plan; the right support; and a way to track momentum month by month.
Rolando’s starting point was a 554 initial score, and his biggest blockers were the two things that can actually move a score fast:
High credit utilization
Late-payment reporting that kept dragging the profile down
And early on, those two factors created real turbulence.
What was Rolando’s starting point?
Rolando was not starting from scratch – but he was starting under pressure.
Initial score: 554
Early bureau scores: TU 597 | EQ 554 | EX 601
Main challenges: utilization as high as 89%, plus late-payment reporting on an auto tradeline.
This is the stage where a lot of people feel stuck. They are trying, but the numbers do not yet reflect the effort.
Why did Rolando’s scores move up and down early on?
In the beginning, Rolando experienced what we call “credit reality.”
A late payment was removed, and then another late payment appeared. Utilization moved in the wrong direction, and the score reacted. That back-and-forth can feel discouraging – but it is also a signal that the score is responding to specific inputs.
Two things hit hardest early on:
Utilization increased (84% → 89%)
A new late payment was reported
The important part: Rolando did not quit.
What plan did Rolando follow to start building real progress?
Rolando’s plan was not complicated. It was focused.
1. Lower utilization first – because it impacts everything
At one point, utilization climbed as high as 89%. Then the work started showing up:
89% → 63%
63% → 42%
42% → 53% (temporary rise)
53% → 0%
Later: 0% → 48% (temporary rise)
Then back down: 48% → 46% → 26% → 4%
This is the difference between guessing and executing. Rolando kept coming back to the highest-impact lever. His utilization dropped to 4%.
2. Address late-payment reporting that was holding the profile back
Over time, multiple late payments were removed from the Chase Auto tradeline, including:
Removal of 30-day and 60-day late payments (various months listed in his plan notes)
3. Clean up collections where appropriate
A collection tied to Portfolio Recovery of $757 was removed from TransUnion and Equifax, which supported another meaningful jump.
When did the real movement begin?
Once utilization started dropping and negative items were being removed, Rolando’s scores began to rise in a way that finally felt consistent.
Here is his score journey from his early baseline to his latest results:
TransUnion: 597 → 707 (+110)
Equifax: 554 → 722 (+168)
Experian: 601 → 691 (+90)
Together, that is real, measurable progress across all three bureaus. And the best headline for home-buying is this: Rolando’s middle score moved from 597 to 707 – a +110 point jump that put him in a much stronger position to move forward confidently.
What happened when setbacks showed up?
Rolando had months where the score dipped:
when utilization rose again
when new inquiries hit
But the difference was this: he did not abandon the plan.
He adjusted, brought utilization back down, kept payment behavior strong, and the scores responded again. That is what sustainable progress looks like.
What was the outcome for Rolando and his family?
Rolando started with a 554 and, after many months of consistent work, reached a 722 – a score that changes what is possible.
Not just on paper. In real life.
He moved into a closing-ready position and toward the home goal he started with.
What does Rolando’s story prove?
It proves that the people who win are not the ones who find a shortcut.
They are the ones who get a plan, follow it, and stay consistent long enough for the profile to change.
That is the CredEvolv difference: clear steps, measurable progress, and support that keeps you moving.
