Repair Credit Report Help

Need advice on my credit report and repairing my credit...$7000 in debt due to some bad decisions 2+years ago

I checked my report last year sometime and planned on trying to pay off my credit in the beginning of the year. When I ran it then...I owed some apartments (they were in a bad area...gun shots everywhere...apt got broken into and I left)( I am a single mother...it was the right thing to do) But I suppose it is legitimate. The collection agency would not settle with me at that time. So i run my credit report again this year and another apartment went on there (ok i made some bad decisions but trying to fix them now) I am capable of paying a cash payment but lower than what they are saying because it is absolutely ridiculous. The first is $1800...the next is $4000. I left about a month or 2 early in each lease. Any advise on this issue would be appreciated. The remainder is hospital bills but these are the ones I need to fix....thanks for reading!!

Public Comments

1. I'm only 11 but I think you should make a phone call and pay it in full every month+ pay back a bit of debt every month as well.(Of course, only if you have enough money.)
2. i would call them and give them a offer and see if they will take it , i think they will as old as these depts are, but get in writing first and then send them the money, if they wont do that , then make payment aggrangments with them but also get that in writing
3. Try calling the credit collection agenices and asking for a floor settlement the collection agency will be more willing to work with you because most consumers don't know to use the same terms they use. The blanket settlement is the settlement that they offer you in the calls and letters so get them back by using their own terminaology. And always make sure before you pay anthing you get that settlement letter in writing. Try my husband worked in collections for 5 years it worked for me and I didn't use debt consolidation. Good luck!
4. Sara, Everybody makes "bad" decisions. If you legitimately owe the debt, please pay it back. But don't give money to debt collectors until.... ...until you negotiate a "pay-for-delete." In fact, I'd prefer you pay the Original Creditor, though after 2+ years the debt is probably with some junk-debt buyer who paid pennies for it. If your conscience is not eating you up and the derog listings appear 100% accurate on all reports (that is, amount reported is accurate; date of first delinquency is accurate; account number is accurate, etc), then you can let the Statute of LImitations on (Collections) expire. Depending on the state in which you incurred the debt, the SOL (for collecting) will be 3-5 years. If you choose to pay, negotiate a "floor" payment + a pay-for-delete...in writing...and signed by an authorized agent of the collection agency. Pay using certified funds. Do not use a personal check. What most people do not know is that paying a debt collector does NOT improve your credit score (s). Bad credit history is bad credit history. The only way to improve your FICO when paying is to negotiate a PFD. By the way, on your credit reports (and this goes for everybody reading this Q&A), you probably will have at least one bad credit account RE-AGED by a debt collector. What this means is that the debt collector has intentionally or unintentionally (if you believe in honest mistakes :) changed the Date of First Delinquency to a LATER date. Why? To extend collections, of course. The DOFD begins on the date the Original Creditor expected to receive a payment. The DOFD never changes, regardless of how many times the debt is bought & sold. The SOL (for collections) is state specific. The SOL (for reporting) typically is 7-10 years, depending on the type of debt. Best to you, Mike