Rebuilding Your Credit

[Globalgirl]

I have an account with West Asset Management for $73. I would like to pay that today, but I am not sure if this will lower my credit score? I also need advice on PFD. I have another account with West Asset Management that was paid in 2011. I need to get this removed from my credit reports as soon as possible. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks! 

[MzKoli]

You do a gw if already paid. PDF is before you pay...

[guiness56]

Paying off a collection should never hurt your score.  It does happen sometimes if something is coded wrong.

A PFD is a pay for delete.  You offer to pay if they delete from the CR.  If you PFD and they accept your score should go up, depending what else is on your report.

Since the other is already paid the only thing you can do is GW.

I would start by sending a simple DV letter to them...I found these accounts ____  ____ on my credit report.  Please validate.  There is no time they need to respond, they cannot continue collection activity.

[Globalgirl]

Thanks, guiness56. Sorry about all the questions, but this is all new to me. Do I contact the CA or the CRA regarding the GW? 

[guiness56]

You contact the CA.

[js0319]

You can request a goodwill removal of the paid collection. For the collection that has not been paid, you can request a PFD. If you are not able to get a PFD, it will change the DOLA on the account as it will reflect the status change from unpaid to paid. The change in the DOLA should not affect the score. If you owed on a revolving account and it was affecting your utilization, then paying it off could increase your score because your utilization would drop.