afili8ter

It takes effect the moment it's in collections. But, keep in mind, if you make any payments at all on a debt while it's in collections, you're turning back the clock on your debt and the timer starts over again.

So, depending how far off a debt is to being removed, it may be financially worth it to wait it out.

Go to each of the credit bureaus, and in some 3 in 1 credit scores web sites, you'll have to look for the link inside where it lists your debt that's in collections.

I forget which one I used, because I'm using at least 5 different sources to get my credit report and scores.

Any debt that's in collections, you'll be able to see when it's due to be removed from your credit profile.

I have a small debt (around $471) but it's scheduled to be removed in approximately 2 more years. I live in a 6/6 state. It's been 4 years now since I never paid it off. But I'm going to have them agree to settle it for $120.

In my case, it's better for me to pay the debt off (less than what's owed) rather than wait for 2 years to go by. I'll pay it off before this month is out, then I'll have it removed from my credit report within 45 days.

It's really easy to do.

at least 24 months.

Interest rates can be 25%. Just more than the minimum or simply pay the whole amount off within the 30 days and you don't pay the 25% interest.

If you pay the minimum every month on your bills, then I can see looking for a card with low apr, but if you pay them off fast, it doesn't matter what the apr is.

It's not accurate, but they do have data on you. This site will give you an estimate, or round about, what your credit score is based on TransUnion.

Also, keep in mind that you need to check here when you know a report is being posted to TransUnion. You find out by knowing which is the billing cycle and which day or round about time they actually submit your data to the credit bureaus.

When you know that, you can check your credit report at those dates/times and you'll see your score update.

Well, first you need to know what your scores are. Low doesn't pin-point your score.

Once you know your scores by signing up for a 3 in 1 credit report with scores. Take the number and check on this site to see what you may qualify for. also, go to www.creditcards.com and type in your info at the top left that says "Search cards matched for you", and it'll bring up a list of cards you may qualify for.

You can also build up your credit scores fast with a secured credit card. The more you add to the deposit, the higher you limit will go, which will effectively raise your credit score... as long as you stay around 25% owed on the cards.

I wrote: I just saw a boatload of inquiries on me that was from companies just pre-upping their sales pitch me send me credit.

What I mean is that credit card companies will check your credit report to see if you're going to qualify for their cards. If you do qualify, they'll send you their offers. If you don't qualify, they'll monitor your credit scores so when you do reach their qualification level, they'll send you their offers.

You will needto go to each credit bureau and put a block on inquiries for your account. It's FREE.

If it's lowering your credit score, then it sounds like someone is trying to get credit in your name.

Unless you specifically apply for credit, any inquiries on your credit report doesn't affect your credit scores. I just saw a boatload of inquiries on me that was from companies just pre-upping their sales pitch me send me credit.

Companies will and do check on your credit without you knowing it, but it doesn't affect your scores at all. If it's affecting your scores, then you may be dealing with identity theft. Find out fast, then make a police report, then submit it to the credit bureaus..... but make sure you put the block on your account for all 3 credit bureaus.

I just remembered this:

YOUR TAX DOLLARS BAILED OUT THE BANKS. GET YOUR BAILOUT TOO!

Don't be ashamed to not pay a debt at all if it's very close to being removed from your credit file anyway. I've done over $23,000 worth of debt like that... mostly by knowing what I now know, plus the timing of me checking on my credit file,,,, but it has been done.

If you have a very large debt and it's within a year or so before it'll be gone off of your credit report, then just don't apply for anything in the meantime. After the time has expired, the debt WILL be gone forever.

ONLY YOU CAN TELL IF WAITING OUT THE LIMITATIONS TIME IS RIGHT FOR YOU OR NOT!

The downside to not using your cards is having your account go dormant and eventually damaging your credit score.

But, it's always better to pay more than the minimum on all your cards.

Also, just because you don't want to max out your credit, you can always use each card per month by spending about $10 per card. That will keep the cards active and you'll probably pay about $40 or so per month, depending on how many cards you have, and use.

No... You're just paying someone else to pay bills that you can pay yourself.

Also, I've heard of stories how some of those debt consolidation companies pay your bills late, which will damage your credit scores.

Consolidation companies can only work with the money you already have. There is no magic to what they do. They simply get all of your debt calculated and they tell you what to send/give to them so that they can pay the bills for you.

Don't waste your time. Pay your bills on your own, or simply get your children or spouse to do it for you, because they'll be no worse than a consolidation company.

It depends on long ago it's been on chargeoff. 

Follow this link: http://www.creditkarma.com/question/statute-of-limitations-list-for-all-usa-states

Find your state and you'll know if you need to pay it off or not. If it was charged off within a year, you'll want to pay it off.

To save money in doing so, negotiate an amount to give them so it can be removed from your file faster.

NEVER make payment arrangements when a bill goes to collections and it's on your credit report. You simply want to pay it off in full. If you owe $1,000 any creditor will gladly accept $100 - $150 to settle the whole debt. I've done it a few times.

I also had aa debt removed from my credit report a few days before I was going to send $600 to pay off a $1,466 telecom debt. The Statute of Limitations ran out for them and they couldn't collect the money from me at all, even though I agreed. It's been over 14 months now. Done Deal.

Do all you can to make sure you don't get put in collections because it will damage your credit scores.

Pay down the higher ones first and you can actually lower your interest rates, giving you more money to pay the lower ones off.

The numbers vary from account to account, so it's hard to tell which problem is a definite score changer.

Your score changer might go up or down for you 10 points, but for me it may go either way 40 points.

Get a 3 in 1 credit report. It'll tell you more than what you see right now.

Darn... I just applied for 2 different Chase cards and they're on it's way here.... I'll have to get right on this one. If they aren't reporting me correctly, I'll just cancel them out immediately.

Oh... I forgot to tell you this too..... Many of the Consolidation companies pay your bills late anyway and will screw your credit up even more.

Don't do it. Pay your own bills and keep the fee to continue paying off your bills.

Debt consolidations are just companies that take YOUR own money and pay YOUR debt with it.... yet, they charge you to do it.

I'll be glad to consolidate all your bills for just $25 per month. The point is this.. why pay anyone what you can do yourself AND save money.

Also, when you consolidate your bills, your credit scores will drop because you're pretty much dropping all your credit accounts just to get them paid off through one source.

Debt Consolidation companies aren't rip-offs, they just make money when people are too afraid to pay what they can on their bills. Pay $5 a month... anything. But don't go digging into your pockets just to make the same payments... plus their fees.

Make your score more than average, then you'll probably more marketable.

You raise your credit score by having credit and keeping to the terms of what you agree on.

If your debt was in collections AND have been reported to the credit bureaus AND they're all paid off, the best thing you can do is dispute the report and say they promised to remove the record and maybe one or more of the creditors will do exactly that.

Other than that, if the debts are paid in full and you no longer have those accounts, they'll be there on your credit file for 24 months from the last reported date.

Good = 24 months after account is paid in full

Bad = After the Statute of Limitations for your state says so.

I posted a list earlier today in "Paying Your Bills" that lists all the states in the U.S.A. and their Statute of Limitations timeline.

Bankruptcy = 7 - 10 years.... all states that I know of.

First, you need to get a 3 in 1 credit report. I'll show all scores from all credit bureaus.

Although 746 is 84 points away, it's not a bad score at all.

Your 3 in 1 may show some inaccuate information that you can dispute and hopefully get your score back up.

Here's the deal...

* Your credit and your wife's credit is separate, although you're married.

* Your credit score is affected if you are added as an authorized user of your wife's account or you both have a joint account. If she adds you to her account and she makes her score go down from that account, your score will also go down, but only because of that account. Visa-versa.

* If both of you keep your credit to your selves and don't do any joint accounts or authorized user additions, then each of your credit scores will be as they are.... separate

If you want to get your name off any credit account you're jointly with, then ask the bank manager or whoever to remove you. Tell your wife to remove you. And worse comes to worst, dispute in with the credit bureaus.

If you have more than one card and you're wanting to consolidate them, just remember this, you're going to make your credit score go down because you're pretty much giving up on those other cards.

Debt consolidation is nothing more than some company taking YOUR money and paying your bills for you.... I'm sure they get paid for doing it too.

Can you not pay your own bills with the money you already have? A consolidation company will make it happen for you... using your own money to do it.

Debt consolidation is a waste of time and money you're paying someone just to pay your own bills... which you'll have to have the money in order for it to work anyway.

It's not hard to pay off your bills, even if your income is limited. I do it all the time, and my credit score have been going up since I started being responsible over 14 months now.

If I can do it, you can do it.

No.... you will eventually make your score go down.

Just because you have other cards and don't want to go into debt, it won't hurt you to spend about $10 or so per month on gas or whatever.

If the card you don't use have been your account for at least a year or more, you're hurting your credit score by not using the card. Use it, but use it wisely.

You need to contact the lender/mortgage company to get the amount corrected. Also, dispute it with every credit bureau it's reported in.

Get some credit/cards and pay them on time and pay them off each month.