Negative accounts generally remain for 7 years from DOFD, paid or unpaid. (Unless you live in NY).
Paying them won't remove them and the negative payment history will remain.
Hate to tell you this, but if those accounts you disputed haven't updated in awhile, when the dispute is finished, you'll likely experience a decrease in score. What is it exactly you are disputing about them? The payment history-- is it accurate?
First step, if you haven't already, is getting your free annual reports. See link below.
Then read all the stickies at the top of the board and the links below. Very helpful information contained within.
Tell us a little more about what you have appearing.
Any public records?
Negative accounts reporting by the OC, CA, both?
For non medical accounts reported by the OC that are PIF, you would want to send a GW letter asking them to remove.
For non medical accounts reported by the OC, you want to be a little more careful GW'ing them. As there are parts of them that positively help your score.
Any open accounts? Is that $2000 visa an open, good standing account?
