Your credit score affects your ability to borrow money, rent an apartment, and in some cases get a job — but most people were never taught how credit actually works. This free monthly class, taught live online by Philip Seely of PHILANYA, INC., uses the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Credit Checklist and other plain-language tools to help Florida residents understand their credit reports, identify and dispute errors, and build a stronger credit profile over time. Free to attend. No financial or legal advice is given — this is financial literacy education.
Free | Live online | Runs monthly
Register at philanya.com/book-online
Educational Disclaimer: This class is educational and not a substitute for personalized financial or legal advice. PHILANYA, INC. does not provide credit repair services.
Who This Class Is For
This class is for anyone who wants to understand how their credit works — whether they are dealing with a specific credit challenge or simply want to take control of their financial profile.
This class is the right fit if you are:
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A Florida resident who has been denied for a loan, mortgage, or credit card due to credit issues
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Someone who wants to buy a home but needs to work on credit before applying
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Anyone who has never fully understood what is on their credit report
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A first-time homebuyer working toward the credit score needed to qualify for a mortgage
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Someone who has been contacted by a credit repair company and wants to understand what they can do themselves — for free
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Anyone who wants a clearer picture of where their credit stands and what to do next
What You Will Learn
How Credit Scores Work
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The five factors that determine your FICO score:
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Payment history (35%) — the most important factor
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Amounts owed / credit utilization (30%)
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Length of credit history (15%)
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New credit / recent inquiries (10%)
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Credit mix (10%)
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What credit score ranges mean in practical terms
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How long negative items stay on your credit report
Getting Your Free Credit Reports
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How to get your free credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com (the official, federally mandated source)
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How often you can access your reports for free
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What the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) are and why your report may differ across them
Reading and Understanding Your Credit Report
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How to read a credit report: what each section means
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Identifying open accounts, closed accounts, collections, and public records
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Understanding what "derogatory marks" are and how they affect your score
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Using the CFPB Credit Checklist to systematically review your report for errors and negative items
Disputing Errors on Your Credit Report
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What kinds of errors are most common on credit reports
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How the dispute process works: step by step
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How to file a dispute with a credit bureau directly — at no cost
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What to expect after you file a dispute: timeline and outcomes
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CFPB resources available to you as a consumer
Building a Stronger Credit Profile Over Time
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What actually moves your score — and what does not
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How to reduce credit utilization without closing accounts
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The impact of paying down balances versus opening new credit
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How long it takes for credit score improvements to show up
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What to avoid: credit repair myths and tactics that can backfire
Common Credit Myths Debunked
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"Checking my own credit hurts my score" — false
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"Closing old accounts improves my score" — usually false
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"Paying off a collection removes it from my report" — not automatically
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"A credit repair company can do things I cannot do myself" — not legally
Resources
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CFPB Credit Checklist (free, official government resource)
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AnnualCreditReport.com
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CFPB consumer complaint portal
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Florida consumer financial resources
Q&A with Philip Seely
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Bring your questions. Every session ends with open Q&A.
Your Instructor
Philip Seely is the President and Broker Owner of PHILANYA, INC., a 100% Veteran-Owned independent mortgage brokerage in Saint Augustine, Florida. He has been a loan officer and licensed mortgage broker since 1993 — more than 30 years helping Florida families buy homes, refinance, and navigate the mortgage process. He served in the United States Army and has spent his career making financial decisions clearer and less intimidating for the people he works with.
Philip teaches this class personally. He does not use slides full of jargon. He explains the mortgage process the way he would explain it to a family member — directly, clearly, and with the full picture.
Format and Delivery
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Live online monthly sessions — taught by Philip Seely via video conference
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Interactive with Q&A at the end of every session
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Free to attend, no obligation to work with PHILANYA afterward
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No financial or legal advice given — this is financial literacy education
Frequently Asked Questions — Fix My Credit Class
Q: Is this class really free? Yes. The Fix My Credit Class is completely free to attend. There is no registration fee, no hidden charge, and no obligation to work with PHILANYA or apply for any financial product after attending.
Q: Who is this class for? This class is for anyone who wants to understand how their credit works — especially Florida residents who have been denied for a mortgage or loan due to credit issues, people working toward buying a home, and anyone who has never fully understood what is on their credit report.
Q: What tools and resources does the class use? The class is built around the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Credit Checklist, a free government resource. Philip also references AnnualCreditReport.com and CFPB consumer tools throughout the session.
Q: Is this credit repair or financial education? This is financial literacy education, not credit repair. PHILANYA does not provide credit repair services. Philip explains how the credit system works and what you can do yourself — for free — using official CFPB tools and the dispute process. He does not offer to fix your credit on your behalf.
Q: Do I need to bring my credit report? It is helpful but not required. If you have access to your current credit report, bring it to follow along. If you do not, Philip will show you how to get it for free from AnnualCreditReport.com during the class.
Q: How do I register? Register at philanya.com/book-online. After booking, the PHILANYA team will send your meeting link and session details.
Educational Disclaimer: This class is educational and not a substitute for personalized financial or legal advice. PHILANYA, INC. does not provide credit repair services.