Proper sets to take to get unwanted item off credit report. I am ready to pay off any negtive items?

Answer 1

When you pay a negative, it "will not" report for 7 years from "when you pay it off" as another poster stated. That would be re-aging and illegal.

Without knowing what you are dealing with - credit card, bank loan, judgment, tax lien, etc. or with who - original creditor or collection agency, how old the negative is and if you are out of the collecting SOL for your state, etc., etc., it makes it a little hard to explain what you need to do.

If you pay a negative without requesting deletion it will show as paid or settled, which is still a negative, you need to request total deletion upon payment

You should check the collecting SOL for your state to find out if you are still within it or not.

If it is a generaly type of account, credit card, bank loan, etc and you are dealing with a collection agency, you should start out with a debt validation letter. Don't sign the letter, print your initials or just type your name. Everything that you send to them should be sent certified mail return receipt.

Requesting validation will make them prove to you that they have not illegally inflated the amount, that they are licensed and/or bonded in your state if your state requires it, that the collecting SOL has not expired, that they actually have a legal right to collect on the debt, etc., etc.

If they are reporting on your credit reports, look for any inaccuracies (there usually are) and when you get the green card back from your validation letter, file disputes with the CRA's for one or more of the violations.

Once the collector provides proper validation and you want to pay, regardless if you are within SOL or not, you should send them a pay for delete letter. Request to pay a portion of the debt as "payment in full" and also request that they delete from your reports upon payment.

If they agree in writing, send them the payment by money order or cashiers check - never pay by personal check.

If you are past the collecting SOL, you can probably request to pay a much reduced amount since the only way they would ever get paid is if you offer to pay.
If you are past the collecting SOL, you have a legal right to not pay and to send them a SOL letter.

You might click on my profile and do some reading in the links I've listed - to the FDCPA, FCRA, there is a link to find the collecting SOL for your state and you might also do some reading in the last link listed.

Answer 2

You really can't yourself take things Bad off your credit report. You have to have a track record. Some I've been told such as discover card-sears will especially keep bad pay on your report. The best is to always watch your budget. Pay your bills on time and the amount agreed to and eventually you'll make headwaves to get your score up for making bigger purchases.

Answer 3

You don't 'get them off your record' if they are accurate. When you pay off 'negative items', your credit file will reflect the fact that they are paid, but will also show that they were not paid in a timely fashion.

Generally, it takes seven years from when you pay them off before they will slip off your credit report.