Welcome to the forums!
I'd suggest reading the following:
Common Abbreviations
Credit Scoring 101 - great for knowing what is in your credit score and to see how your score is impacted.
and What Steps Do I Take - great for learning the repair process.
First, I'd suggest pulling two different sets of reports. Pull your free CRs directly from each CRA via annualcreditreport.com. Those reports have more info that other third-party report, like myFICO, don't offer. Next, pull both of your two FICO reports. There's only a couple of places you can get your FICO score. Aside from getting your score from a lender, one source is myFICO.com for both EQ and TU. You can also get your EQ FICO score from equifax.com. You can also get your TU FICO score from transunioncs.com (note the -cs). Unfortunately as of last February, it is impossible to pull your own EX FICO score. However, if you are a member of a CU in PA called PSECU, then you can get on your monthly statements. Any other score from any other source is not a FICO score.
As you commence repair, it is helpful to track the changes to your reports. I'd suggest subscribing to a CMS like creditchecktotal or NatCity's ID Protect.
When beginning repair, know if you are inside or outside of SOL. If inside SOL, then doing anything, like sending letters, can lead to increased collection activity, including being sued. If you don't have the $$$ to PIF any given debt and if SOL has not expired, then do nothing.
Ask around about the judgment. Some have been able to get theirs vacated and removed.
Chapter 7 BKs remain for 10 yrs, so it should fall off next year.
Know the difference between a CA and a CO. CAs are collection agencies who either bought the debt or were assigned the debt. COs or charge-offs are different from CAs in that the debt is being reported, whether paid or unpaid, by the OC or original creditor. When commencing repair, you always treat OC accounts differently from CA accounts. In your case, if the OC is still reporting a CO, and if you paid it, and if you paid the debt and that debt isn't being reporting by a CA, then send them a GW letter asking them to remove the lates or any baddie reference (like "charge-off" or "settled").
If the CO reported by the OC is unpaid, and a balance is showing, then send the OC a PFD letter if and only if SOL expired or you have the $$$ to PIF. There's a part in the PFD example letters (found stickied somewhere) that makes mention of removing the info off of the 3 CRA. Include also w/ the big three an additional one: chexsystems. Charged-off bank accounts typically report also on Chexsystems. BTW, search for Chexsystems and you can have a free report sent too. Chex is big w/ banks and derog info can hurt in opening new checking or savings accounts.
If the CO is showing as paid and you did NOT pay it, then the OC sold the account to a CA. Once they sell it, the OC has to report $0. If the debt is unpaid with the CA, then hold off doing anything to that baddie if you don't have the $$$ to PIF or if SOL has yet to expire. If you do have the $$$ to PIF or SOL did expire, then tackle the CA first, IMO.
Going after CAs: If the CA is reporting, then send a DV letter, If they verify and you agree, then send a PFD. If they agree, and a payment is made, then the CA will go away. At that point, you can send a GW letter to the associated OC to request deletion or to fix the baddie remarks, lates, etc.
Paying charge-offs or collections will not increase your score. A $0 balance CA is just as bad as a $10,000 CA.
