Need Advice, Should I Pay My Medical Bills?

[Silca]

I am new at this and have tried to read as much as I have time for, so forgive me for newbie questions.

 

I have 13 negative accounts on my credit report, these are about $20K in student loans (very old, not paid on for years, should age off next year), and medical bills.

 

The medical bills are all in collections, never paid on, total about $2,500, all happened in 2005 and 2006, one specialist, and a couple hospital visits, due to age off in 2012. I believe all are valid charges.

 

My goal is to raise my FICO score.

 

Will paying these medical bills raise my FICO score or lower it?

 

I understand the dispute process, and I could do some pay for delete, but is it even worth it in my case? Would it raise my score? I can't afford to pay them all off right now.

 

I have heard on here settling for a lower amount will lower my FICO, is this true?

 

Some of these accounts are as low as $35, or as much as $800. Would it help my credit any to pay off a few of the smaller accounts? The percentage of my total debt reduction would be small, but I could quickly eliminate 4 or 5 negative accounts, would that help my FICO?

 

Thanks for any help!

 

(P.S. I have no positive accounts, but I will be getting a secured card here soon)

[hurricanesfans27]

probably lower it.

[punchxcore]

I would definitely do Why Chat's HIPPA process and try to get them deleted. I had 3 medical accounts on EX, 1 on TU, 1 on EQ and I got all of those deleted with the initial dispute letter. So I spent what.. under $10 and got out of having to pay around $900. It was pretty worth it to me. Not to mention, those were newer, in the last year.. so I am sure it will raise my FICO score.

[Silca]

I would definitely do Why Chat's HIPPA process and try to get them deleted. I had 3 medical accounts on EX, 1 on TU, 1 on EQ and I got all of those deleted with the initial dispute letter. So I spent what.. under $10 and got out of having to pay around $900. It was pretty worth it to me. Not to mention, those were newer, in the last year.. so I am sure it will raise my FICO score.

 

That's great that it worked for you, especially on such recent items. Keep us updated if it raises your score. I am worried though about if I dispute, and it doesn't work, I wonder if that would make things worse...