Collections Problems

[SchoollyD]

I'd like to introduce myself. I'm 23, college student, also working full-time. Over the past year-and-a-half I've begun a journey towards financial self-sufficiency and organization. When I started, I had little credit history---one small item, from a library fine, gave me a score of 480. There were some other collections issues (medical bills) that kept it bogged down. But I utilized pay-for-delete letters and, in paying everything off in full, was able to improve my credit. I also have one credit card open that I paid off every month, as well as some federal student loan accounts that are in good standing. 

I am sitting in a much better position today; my Experian score is 686, my Equifax score is 718, and my Transunion score is 636 (there is another medical bill sent to collections that I want to do pay-for-delete for.) I know I have to get it together as far as these collections issues. I'm new to this game, and it's going to take a lot of discipline to keep up with paying off credit cards, loans, and the like. Although I've scanned the forums pretty thoroughly, I had a few introductory questions:

1) Is there any way to neutralize a collections debt---to get rid of it completely without paying, or by paying less (not pay-for-delete, however)? It seems I've read some cases about hospitals (my current collection's bill is from a hospital) overcharging patients, or not being legally allowed to charge someone admitted overnight, etc. I just want to be clear on this and if anything can be done about such a huge bill.

2) I have two other items that are in collections---one is an ambulance service and one is a fee owed to a university I attended years ago (just a couple hundred dollars---my father claimed he paid it back then, but actually didn't). They are not on my credit report---yet, at least. What do I do about them to keep them off?

3) What kind of credit card should I get? Is it okay to get multiple ones? Will I likely be limited to gettinng only a secure card or a store card?

4) How does my work history relate to credit? Does the amount of credit I am allotted depend on me working full-time, what my wages are, etc?

[EmmyWannabeOrman]

I strongly suggest Capital One secured card, with the collection I suggest you read the hundreds of threads here as I'm doing lol. Just be consistent and patient. Good luck

[RobertEG]

You can always challenge a debt that is either asserted to not be legit, or whose collection is being attempted for an amount greater than what you consider to be the debt.

You can, if requested within 30 days of dunning notice from a debt collector, request debt validation, the name of the OC, and an itemization of the debt.

That will bar further collection activities until they have provided the reqeusted validation.

However, the DV process does not include a requirement that they document or prove the debt, so you get their statement that they have investigated, and state that they have basis for their determination.

To challege the debt on the merits by requiring them to provide documentation and prove the legtitmacy of the debt involves bringing civil action, and getting the issue before a judge.