This month, Working Credit is showcasing Roxanne, an inspiring participant who, through dedication and hard work, has successfully boosted her credit score by an astonishing 120 points in less than a year.

Roxanne first learned about our program through her electric company, Commonwealth Edison Company, better known as ComEd, a Working Credit partner that provides electric service to more than 4 million customers across northern Illinois.

Upon seeing the online invitation to enroll as a Working Credit participant, Roxanne felt an immediate sense of relief. Recalling her initial reaction, she expressed, “I was very interested immediately because I’ve had a struggle with very poor credit. Since I was eighteen, I pretty much signed my life away to student loans, I didn’t realize what it meant at the time”. Roxanne’s experience is not an unusual one. Many people often find themselves burdened with debt after college due to taking on student loans without fully understanding the long-term impact on their finances.

During her first meeting with her Working Credit counselor, Derison, Roxanne received a personalized credit action plan aimed at improving her credit score and financial well-being. One of the most important things she learned from her counselor was how to use active credit to increase her credit score. Roxanne recalls, “I learned that you can get a secured credit card to help you build your credit. I also learned that you can get a credit builder loan through Self, which will also help you build your credit, and the payments are very low.”

During the six months she worked with Derison, Roxanne successfully negotiated a settlement for her student loans, effectively paying off her student debt while saving $67,000! This was another major stepping stone in improving her credit score.

When asked how she liked working with her credit building counselor, Roxanne replied, “Derison is very nice, he explains things in a way that is easy for you to understand. He is always cheering me on!”

Roxanne is eager to achieve her goal of becoming a homeowner in the near future. With the guidance and support of her dedicated counselor, Derison, she is well on her way to realizing her next financial aspiration.

Roxanne, you are truly inspiring! Keep up the great work!