Recent Collections and scoring...

[Anonymous]

I had recently upgraded my AT&T service to uverse and it was explained to me that my last DSL bill would show up on my first uverse bill by the salesperson. Of course, now I come to find out that my last DSL bill was just turned over to collections in the first billing cycle of my upgraded services. After speaking with AT&T they said they would not pull the debt back from collections even though I spend a good 400 bucks a month with them on cable, wireless, ect. and would actually let me cancel all my services over 45 bucks in services which was a miscommunication by them. Sob story... Question is this - I'm currently trying to get my mid score over the 620 threshold to be approved for and FHA loan. When the LO ran my credit this past month before this went to collections, my mid score was at 601 and after getting a 7k CL on a discover card paid, along with a 442 collection deleted after a dispute, I was expecting my score to get it where I needed it to be. How many points can I expect for this 45 dollar collections account to ding my score? Just wondering if I should look for a place to rent...

Long time reader, first time poster. Thanks in advance for any feedback!!!

[fused]

Welcome to the forums!

How old is this collection? What other bad stuff is on your reports? And how old? Do you have high credit card utilization?

[Anonymous]

This collection is current and wasn't even on my CR when I ran it mid March so I'm guessing it'll be on April's report. Here's a full breakdown of where I was at when the report was ran in March 14th:

Credit Cards -  

Discover: In good standing since 04, no lates, balance was near max - 7400 out of 7500 $$, has since been paid down under 10%

HSBC: in good standing since 08, No lates, 500 limit, 0 balance

First Prem: in good standing since 08, 500 limit, no lates, 0 balance

Chase: in good standing since 08, 450 limit, no lates, 0 balance

Old Navy Store: in good standing since 08, no lates, 0 balance

Collections:

CA for old cable bill/2004: $442 / was in dispute and has now been deleted per CA, letter stating this in hand

CA for old energy bill/2005: $88, Paid

CA for old energy bill/2002: $68, Paid

Car note:

9k left, in good standing since 06, no lates

Scores per CR:

EFX - 591 FICO -II

XPN - 618 FICO - II

TUC - 601 FICO Classic 04

My available revolving credit was under 20% and my fiancee had her scores jump on average 80 points just by paying down her credit cards in one month.