Rebuilding again, Need help making a plan

[Ms_Pooka]

Hello all! I previously joined these forums after I filed bankruptcy in 2012. I was able to build up to a 680 and do well for 2 years....Then I lost my job in 2014 and was out of work for 8 months. So now I am finally ready to deal with it all, and it looks a little bleak. I want to buy a home sometime next year, so my maging number is 640/660 that I need to achieve. Current scores are:

EX 544

EQ 548

TU 577

The dashboard says this is my score 8? Not sure what that means. So here is the Good:

I have a car loan that is in good standing for the last 16 months

I have 2 installment loans (furniture) that are in good standing, but only 5 months old

The Bad:

I have like 12 collections. 6 are credit cards that once i lost my job i could not keep up the payments. the total is about 8500.

the other six are for ATT and medical bills.

I have recieved settlement letters for the credit card bills. My question is where do I start? Settle just to stop them from reporting monthly? I can ask for a PFD for some of the smaller balances, because I can pay those off....Any advice is appreciated. 

[cmony787]

PFD - PFD - PFD!!!

If any collection agency is willing to offer a PFD or you can negotiate for one, that is by far the best way to go.

MEdical Bills - Google HIPPA process

Keep those on time payments going for those installment accounts.

Do you have any credit cards still open and reporting?

[Ms_Pooka]

thanks for the response. is there a thread that has the PFD process outlined? And I dont have an open credit card, but was planning to open a secured CC at my credit union. They don't even chack your credit. I am going to do a 1000 limit

[RonM21]

I agree, PFD is the first option on whatever you can. Then you go from there.

[gdale6]

For unpaid medical debt that is reporting on your CR:

1. Call the OC and see if you qualify for Charity Care
2. If not then ask that they recall the collection in exchange for full payment
3. Send the reporting CA a PFD offer
4. Google the HIPAA Process and contact its creator for help