Help! Trying to rebuild credit to buy a house!

[Anonymous]

I am very new to this whole credit rebuilding. I have six negative accounts on my credit report, but I am not sure what the best way to approach the situation is. I was told by a mortgage specialist that I really only need to increase my score by about 20 points. I would appreciate any advice I can get, as far as how to approach paying off some old collections, where to start, etc. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

It would help if you provided more detail about the negatives.

If they are unpaid, PFD is your best option.

If they are paid, GW letters are your only option.

[Anonymous]

The six negative accounts are all unpaid, all but one have been sold to collections agencies. The only one that has not been sold is only currently showing up on two of my reports for some reason, so I was not sure how to approach that one. They are all from about 2007 - 2009 ranging in amount from $500 - $199. The mortgage specialist told me not to worry about the one that was a medical account because they do not weigh as heavy on my report. I am planning on sending out the pay for delete letters tomorrow, however we are looking to purchase this home in June, so I need to up my score as quickly as possible. Thanks in advance for any help I can get!

[Guava]

You definitely should send a Pay-for-Deletion letter to the owner of your debt BEFORE paying it. 

There are a samples here on the forum, you can look at those to have some idea: PFD Example Letter and here's a straight forward one: Settlement letter. The best letter is the one written with genuity and pertaining to your personal experience/feeling!

Hope it helps