Rebuilding Credit from a 520 credit score with charge offs

Hello Bo,
 
Thanks for all the great information you provide on your site.  I have 2 questions:
 
1.  My credit score hovers around 520.  I have a few charge-offs and closed accounts at the creditor’s request.  What should I do about these issues knowing I’m trying to restore my credit and raise my score?
 
2.  My husband applied for an auto loan recently and was told he had no score.  I’ve nver heard of this before, so he’ll be contacting the bureaus to inquire about this.  But, in the meantime, should he apply for a small credit card and does this mean his credit file must start from scratch?
 
 
Thanks for any response given,

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try to reopen and re establish these accounts
 
your husband has no credit score because he has no active credit on his credit report in the past two years
 
you should both try to get and establish 3 – 6 lines of credit … credit cards car loans home loans personal loans