Should I Pay the Old Medical Bills

[Anonymous]

Hello I am new here. My current credit score is 591 and I want to improve it.

I want to use my income tax to pay off some debt. However, because the debt is so old I am not sure if I should pay off the debts or keep them active.
Here is close up at my credit report. Please inform me which debt I should settle on first. I am hoping for a 700 in the next 8 months.

Here is my credit report:

POSTIVE STANDING
1. I owe 45K in student loan. I just graduated and I am paying ($280 a month) this monthly with no problems. This is in postive status.

2. I owe 13k for a car loan. I only pay $395/month and I have paid this on time for the past 17 months. This is in positve status. I am considering paying this off in cash by Aug 2008.

3. I have one secure credit card with a credit limit of $500 and a balance of $220. I have $277 avaiable on this credit card. This is in positve status

4. I have another credit card that is in good standing and is paid off from like 4 years ago.


NEGATIVE STANDING
Now the negative stuff. Strickly Hospital bills from being poor in college. I want to use my income tax to settle with the CA for some of it. However, some of the accounts are old (2002, 2005, etc.) , so should I pay them? I never paid any money towards the debts below so no activity is shown on credit report.

1. Date Opened 10/2006: $5,083 past due as of Aug 2007
2. Date Opened 06/2002 : $202 past due as of Dec 2007.
3. Date Opened 12/2006 : $1,500 past due as of Feb 2007.
4. Date Opened 09/2002 : $50 past due as of Oct 2007.
5. Date Opened 04/2005 :$1,016 past due as of Nov 2006.
6. Date Opened 11/2005 : $1,005 past due as of May 2006.

I really appreciated all the help. It really is a learning experience, but atleast I am trying to fix this issue. Thank You

Thank you all

[fishbjc]

Was this because you didn't have insurance?  My boss' wife delivered a baby and found out the didn't quite have medical insurance...she got pregnant a bit too early!  Her doctor settled for 50% and the hospitals did settle for a lesser amount.

I hope someone comes along and gives you some useful advice!  Good Luck on those Scores!

[fishbjc]

I think I'd first work on that 202 & 50.  Can you work with collection....pay this in full and they agree to remove it??? 

[Anonymous]

Yes, this was because of no health insurance. I called the Hospital but they tell me to call the CA.

[SmartCookie]

What is your states collecting SOL?  Are all of these collections with the same CA?

Always best to deal with an OC not a CA.  Begin by calling back the hospital and not hanging up until they tell you if these debts are owned by them and just being collected by the CA, or have been sold to the CA.

[My_dog_FICO]

Be persistent with SmartCookies advice. Chances are you'll end up transfered from the normal billing department to someone who handles accounts that are being worked by a CA.

Send a PM to Lady_Scarlet. She has excellent info on how to handle medical collections.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the help. Let me get answers to your questions today I will reply back.

Thanks again

[Anonymous]

The states collecting SOL is 4 years in Texas. I never made payment on any of the medical bills. The last date of activity for the medical bills range from 2002 to 2006. How does the SOL help me in this case.

I will call the OC if I have time at work today.

Thanks for the help.