I got 2 credit cards when I was 18. I had them both for about a year and was very good with payments, never one late, then I had some tough times at my job and missed some payments and then all the fees just racked up, and I couldnt pay it anymore so I just stopped paying the cards.

I owe them a combined 1,700 dollars. My credit limit isnt that much, most of what I owe now is fees,etc. One is a charge off with the credit limit of 400 bucks, but I owe them 1k because of the fees. Another is a 200 dollar credit limit which I owe 700, because of fees. I have a very good job now and looking to get a car and want to pay off my debts and help improve my credit score. Whats the best way to handle these fees? specially since the big bill is a charge off.

Also I have a medical bill for 300 dollars for some xrays I had done when I broke my hand, and also a 500 dollar phone bill I couldnt pay cause my sister had so much in roaming charges.
Whats my best way to improve my credit?
I stopped making payments a little over a year ago. My Chase card is the one with the 700 dollar balance of what I owe, but only has a 200 dollar credit limit. That account is not a charge off, so if I pay that off, I can get a new card and start using that to make purchases and rebuild credit. Like I said I have a very good job now, and will have no problem paying off the debts I have now, just trying to go about the best way to fix my mistakes. Is there a way when I settle these that they might take it off my report? Or is that just gonna be me wasting my breath.

I just checked my credit report the other day and it listed my 300 hospital bill in like the collections part, so it was on my report.
I stopped making payments a little over a year ago. My Chase card is the one with the 700 dollar balance of what I owe, but only has a 200 dollar credit limit. That account is not a charge off, so if I pay that off, I can get a new card and start using that to make purchases and rebuild credit. Like I said I have a very good job now, and will have no problem paying off the debts I have now, just trying to go about the best way to fix my mistakes. Is there a way when I settle these that they might take it off my report? Or is that just gonna be me wasting my breath.

I just checked my credit report the other day and it listed my 300 hospital bill in like the collections part, so it was on my report.

You CAN negotiate with you creditors to make a payment plan, but make sure you get any agreement IN WRITING. What the collection agency rep says on the phone has NO legal merit.

You should be aware that once the creditor reports the account in default to the credit reporting agencies, it stays that way for 7 yrs, after the last ACTIVITY on the account, so you may reset the clock so to speak.

In general, defaulted credit card debt is considered low priority, especially with the petty balances you have - it's going to cost them more to sue you than they are going to collect.

You should pay the hospital and cell phone bills first, so you can get services if you need them.

Call creditors. Work a payment plan, and stick to it. Try making small payments, if they agree, ask them to lower amount owed, if you make larger payments.

Get your credit report, has it been over 7 years since any contact from them, if so, have it removed from your credit report.

It takes time to build credit, and longer to repair credit.
Many unknown factors to give you a decent answer, but try communicating with the ones you owe, and pay them as you agree.

In the future, any credit someone does give you, will be at a high interest rate, if you borrow the money, pay the high rate. (I call it, paying your dues), but paying on time, over time, your credit will return.

In this day and age, credit is a necessary evil

Call them up and negotiate; don't give them your phone #. Don't tell them you can pay on it; say you can borrow some money to pay it but not all of it. Most collection agencies will settle; anywhere from50-80% on the dollar. If you don't want to do that, they may reduce some of the interest that has accrued. When setting up any type of arrangements; get everthing in writing. When corresponding with them via mail; make sure to send it certified w/return signature requested.

As far as the credit card you want to use; say good-bye to it. Even if you pay it off, there's no guarantee and they probably won't re-open it for your use. Just pay it off ASAP along with the other debt. However, on a freak chance they are willing to give you your credit line back, get everything in writing and double check the new contract. They may-be offering you a secured account (where you have to make a deposit 1st) and or giving you a rediclous interest rate.

BK is not a reasonable option; you have too little debt; it wouldn't be worth it. Although BK is not the end of the world, it is only for last resort.
If you choose not to pay at all because your credit is already affected; consequences; wage garnishment, liens, judgements, etc.
And, even if it falls off your credit in 7 years, that doesn't mean the collection agencies who bought the charge offs will stop trying to collect.

1st: Pay debts off. Then:

save money in a savings account
get a small jewelry account and pay in 4-6 installments.
when you get new credit(other than jewelry account), don't abuse it. pay it off asap and keep balance under half of your credit limit
don't get too much credit; don't over-extended yourself.

It worked for me.

ok. first off if you want to buy a car, I disagree with the girl that said don't lease. I have leased every car I have had excluding my first. I am an accountant and the lease is tax deductible if you can justify a business. All depends on your specific situation. On to the credit. If you have the money to pay these people you owe, I would approach this on a one by one basis, meaning the higher one you owe that didn't charge back yet, I would offer to pay that one off in full to keep the account open, so you can try and rebuild your credit.

The others that charged off, you have more leverage with those. If you simply pay them off or request a payment plan, it will still look bad on your credit. Negotiate also the terms of the listing they will show on your credit report. You want paid, paid as agreed, or paid in full. No lates, settled , etc.

As far as the medical bills, you could dispute those with the collection agency that put them there. No doctor or hospital will put anything on your credit report, so I would contact them and do the same. The phone bill as well. If any of this was above your head, please visit the links below for more information