Any advice?

[Anonymous]

I have finally decided that I have to make some changes. I've got some money coming in within the next month and think I'd like to pay off some of my bills. Ultimately, I'd really like to buy a house and understand that my credit union will often give a mortgage to someone with a low credit score when all collections are paid off. Is paying all of this the way to go?

My FICO is now at a very low 420. Yikes!  Any advice about how to tackle this? Thanks in advance!!

Company	Date opened	Balance	Status
Time Fin	12/2004	$650	Repossession
*Corp Amer	7/2011	$1,524	Bad debt/collection
*Santander	8/2010	$0	Pays account as agreed
*Wfds/Wds	10/2012	$12,773	Pays account as agreed
*Verizon	1/2011	$801	120+ days past due
*Us Dept Ed	5/2011	$8,972	Pays account as agreed
*Us Dept Ed	5/2011	$5,907	Pays account as agreed
*Psnc	9/2010	$51	Bad debt/collection
*Cap One	5/2011	$440	Bad debt/collection
*Cap One	6/2010	$0	Pays account as agreed
*Citibank	8/2006	$0	Bad debt/collection
*Citibank	6/2006	$0	Bad debt/collection
*Us Dept Ed	5/2011	$0	Pays account as agreed
*Ahm	10/2005	$5,299	Bad debt/collection
*Us Dept Ed	2/2005	$0	Pays account as agreed
*Citibank	3/2006	$0	120+ days past due
*Citibank	8/2006	$0	120+ days past due
*Citibank	3/2006	$0	120+ days past due
*Citibank	8/2006	$0	120+ days past due
*Ecmc	Not on Record	$0	120+ days past due
*Ecmc	Not on Record	$0	120+ days past due
*Ecmc	Not on Record	$0	120+ days past due
*Ecmc	Not on Record	$0	120+ days past due
*Amex	9/2007	$0	120+ days past due

[Anonymous]

For the debt that list a balance, what is the DoFD of each?

For the ones that are showing a 0 balance, are they paid?  Is there a CA trying to collect?  What is the DoFD?

[Anonymous]

The easiest way is try focusing on accounts with low balance first. Paid them off. Your score will improved. For account with high balance, try settlement. And GW after.

[Anonymous]

The ones with a $0 balance are either paid or, in the case of ECMC, those are student loans that I consolidated. At any rate, they are paid with the creditor who is listed.

Time Finance DoFD is 3/06

Corp America is 2012

Verizon is 3/12

PSNC is 2011

Capital One is 2011

Ahm (American Honda Motors) is 4/06

[Anonymous]

I am actually hoping to pay off everything, with the exception of American Honda Motors. Will this help my credit score?

[Anonymous]

If the OC is reporting a balance it is added to your overall utilization.  Once paid that will lower.  You may or may not see a raise in score due to collections, late pays, etc.

The only real way to help your score with a 3rd party CA is to have it removed.

You can try GW letters to see if they will remove the 120 lates on the student loans.  I've seen it go both ways.

Anything that is paid off is a good candidate for a GW.