“Dear Steve, How do you get Equifax and other agencies to take accounts over 7 years old off of your account? When does the 7 years start from what date? Angela” The Answer Dear Angela, Thanks for writing in and asking. It is a common question people have and get confused about. Negative items on your credit report should automatically ... Read More »

“Dear Steve, I followed expensive advice from attorney that I could stay and fight a no-reason eviction from an apartment I paid rent on time 2 years. I had grown attached and did a lot of maintenance there and was lead to believe I could stall moving out for months. I filed three months straight, allowing dismissal because I don’t ... Read More »

“Dear Steve, I used to have a Chase Credit Card for $500. I haven’t used it since 2008 and because of some problems and no money at that time couldn’t afford to pay it out ($331). Now I got stuck with this credit card reporting each month on my Credit history as a collection. Also I have a medical Collection ... Read More »

“Dear Steve, I have a medical bill thats on collection that doesn’t belong to me. I tried to dispute but the only one of the credit bureau. Its a medical for a doctor, i never been to. When i call the collection agency, they told me its for a yessenia torres, when she took her daughter to the doctor. I ... Read More »

“Dear Steve, My overall credit goes from fair to good depending on the credit agency, scores 686, 704, 708. For the past 2 years my payment history listed as 99.99% on time. I’ve paid off all of my credit card debt to $0, Only having my student loan & my mortgage outstanding. Only thing I see that is holding my ... Read More »

“Dear Steve, House was paid in full. Took out a HELOC that got under water. Bank has accepted a short offer. Payment on HELOC was never late. Credit score currently very, very high. We took out a HELOC a few years ago that was used toward building costs of the new house we live in now. The original house became ... Read More »

“Dear Steve, If I had the money to settle ,then why would I not just pay the debt? Seems to me it would have a two fold effect 1 would not have to deal with those damn phone calls. 2 would not need to worry about credit score. I don’t worry about anyway, cause I do not plan on buying ... Read More »

“Dear Steve, I have recently cleaned up my credit report as I’m getting ready to buy a house. I was contacted by a third party collection agency to pay an old written-off debt to a bank from 2005. I live in WA state. Isn’t the statute of limitations up on this debt? Do I still have to pay? Do I ... Read More »

“Dear Steve, Chargeoff with closed Lowe’s credit card from 1/2011 they sold to Portfolio Recovery. Showing on Experian as CO from Lowe’s and Collection, paid less than in full from Portfolio. I negotiated payment with Portfolio but did it before knowing to ask for “pay for delete”. Disputed with BBB as junk debt buyer not authorized to list it…denied. I ... Read More »

“Dear Steve, I am looking for a workshop or advisor to help get my finances straight. I have a poor credit history so i need advise in working through that in addition to rebuilding my credit. I have several retirement accounts from different jobs that I am not sure what to so with. Do I roll them all together or ... Read More »

“Dear Steve, I used premier national credit repair and this company did exactly what they promised. My credit score was raised by 124 points and they did get off many negative reports from my credit score. I read through your entire article and you talk about ‘it only takes time’. the company premier national credit repair was able to get ... Read More »

“Dear Steve, My credit score was mid 600’s with no credit history at all, until about a year ago a cable provider claimed I didn’t return an HDMI cable, and it took me two years to finally settle up with a law firm I owed a few thousand dollars to. My credit score dropped 75 points. I paid these off ... Read More »

“Dear Jared, Hi, I have quite a few accounts in collections that are delinquent. I am a young adult and have recently became more concerned with my credit score/history. I have heard many things about a pay-to-delete that can be sent to a creditor. I have some small inquires like $125 cable bill, $225 AT&T, and $147 to a gym. ... Read More »

“Dear Steve, I’m 36 and I got credit cards for the first time at age 27 in 2004. I had pretty low limits, 1,000 or less on the 3. I lost the security of my job and got behind on payments, then eventually stopped paying and everything went to collections in 2007. I’ve managed to pay off all my student ... Read More »

“Dear Steve, Although I have made great strides in the last 4 years, I brought a poor credit history and score to our marriage (married for 5 months). My wife, whose name is on our mortgage as she owned our home prior to our marriage, is happy and proud of the work I’ve done to raise my score from 590 ... Read More »