I would like to settle a few closed credit accounts that have been charged off and bought out by debt collectors. The collection agency is offering me a discounted rate to pay off this account. If I choose this option, will my credit report eventually show this account closed and paid off, as stated by the agency?
Think very carefully before you do this. Depending on your state, debts are only legally collectible for a certain period of time. In addition, they can only be reported for a certain period of time. Depending on when the last activity was on your account, you may have passed this time threshold, or are approaching it, but paying a lesser amount will re-start the reporting time clock. Do some research and find out what the statute of limitations are in your state. You may have to live with a crappy credit report for just a little while longer until such time when the negative stuff begins to fall off.
I’m not saying that’s the moral or ethical thing to do, but we’re not here to judge anyone’s moral compass (or lach thereof). Here is a good site to get free credit report
http://best-free-credit-report-usa.blogspot.com/