Desperate - Very old debts still on credit reports

[robinbobbin]

My husband and I both have horrible credit. Except for a few medical bills (one of which is over $8000) all of our bad credit happened several years ago, when we were both out of work. We tried to be proactive and went to a debt consilidation company that turned out to be a scam. We were worse off afterward than we were before. I'm almost positive that most of the items are pushing 10 years old or at least 7. However, everything is still showing up on our credit reports sometimes multiple times from different CA's. Can they legally keep selling these old debts forever and have them continue to show up? We would like to move in the next year or so, but no that we can't qualify for a house at this time. Our scores are both in the 520 to 560 or so range the last time I checked.

On a separate note, I'm not sure what to do about the $8000 emergency room visit that occurred almost a year ago. We can't afford to pay it at once or even very much a month, but we are willing to do payments with the hospital. Would we be able to avoid it being reported, if we pay it in installments?

Any help is greatly appreciated. Also, do you think that we can realistically qualify for a loan in a year or so, if we start workin on our credit now? We have wanted to do this for a while, but didn't know were to start or what to do. It was a bit overwhelming to say the least!

[Trish]

Hi robin. Welcome

Yes, I think it's very possible that you could qualify for a home loan in a year if you start working on your credit now.
One thing good you have going for you..........if most of those TLs are 7 years old, they should be easy to dispute off.
The SOL clock starts on the DOFD (date of first delinquency)......so if you know that date on your accts......and it's been 7 years (or even close) then you should dispute them as obsolete.

You definitely want to opt out and update/delete all of your personal info first. There are a couple of threads explaining how to do this.......if you have any trouble finding them, let me know and I will direct you to them.

For medical......you may want to just call up the healthcare provider and be honest. Let them know you want to try and make payments........they may be willing to work with you and keep it out of collections. If they will do that.....then there shouldn't be any CAs reporting it.

Hope that helps some.