I know I am probably being stupid, but I can't figure out where to start

[Darph Bobo]

I have been browsing the forums for a couple days, and I am just not sure what letters to send and to who.

Briefly, my credit score is at 619 (per the mortgage guy who couldn't refi me) and I need to clean up some 30 day lates on my CR.

I don't think I need to send a DV, as these are just late pays. I don't have any calling me for collections, so I can't use any of that stuff.

Where in the world do I start? Should I be sending letters to the CRA's or to the actual creditors? Which letters should I be sending?

Finally, I have some paid collections from 4 and 5 years ago. How should I go about getting thos taken off?

Thanks for any advice you can give. Normally I am not quite this dense - apparently I am having a senior moment here...

[shllby1]

I have been browsing the forums for a couple days, and I am just not sure what letters to send and to who.

Briefly, my credit score is at 619 (per the mortgage guy who couldn't refi me) and I need to clean up some 30 day lates on my CR.

I don't think I need to send a DV, as these are just late pays. I don't have any calling me for collections, so I can't use any of that stuff.

Where in the world do I start? Should I be sending letters to the CRA's or to the actual creditors? Which letters should I be sending?

Finally, I have some paid collections from 4 and 5 years ago. How should I go about getting thos taken off?

Thanks for any advice you can give. Normally I am not quite this dense - apparently I am having a senior moment here...

I am still "learning the ropes" myself here in this whole process but what I am doing regarding my lates is writing Goodwill Letters, you can do a search for that and get more info. I am hoping that a sweet sappy letter will help me get some of them removed. One can hope right?

[I hate EXP]

If you have any credit cards pay them off or make sure they are paid off or low , by the 1st of the month . the credit reports are turned in by the 7th and report around the 15- 17th. the lower your utilization the higher your score. Also if you have anyone with good old aged credit you may want to have them add you on as an authorized user. That should provide a quick boost.

[Darph Bobo]

If you have any credit cards pay them off or make sure they are paid off or low , by the 1st of the month . the credit reports are turned in by the 7th and report around the 15- 17th. the lower your utilization the higher your score. Also if you have anyone with good old aged credit you may want to have them add you on as an authorized user. That should provide a quick boost.

Paying off 20k of CC debt in 2 weeks might pose an issue. I actually have credit (no late pays, etc) dating back 20 years. It is mostly these 30 day lates from a couple years ago that are killing me.

Which letter should I be sending and to who?

[newbie7069]

Search for goodwill letters. These would be for the lates.

You would send them to the companies which are reporting the lates.

Also check out the sticky about removing paid collections.

[Darph Bobo]

Question: If you send a goodwill letter and it does not work, are you SOL then? At that point, they have a letter that you sent them admitting you were late on a payment.

[Big Time]

Opinions differ, but quietly disputing some of the lates using online disputes is a good place to start.

The old paid collections will probably be the easiest to get rid of since the CA's probably won't bother with verifying the information when the CRA's contact them. Since they won't get any more money out of it, they really have no interest.

Read these opinions regarding online disputes before you make your decision.

http://www.debt-consolidation-credit-repair-service.com/forums/showthread.php?t=263996