I recently paid off and/or settled several credit card accounts that were in collections. There is a $0 balance reflected on my credit report but I am wondering if it's possible to have all of the negative remarks removed to improve my score. I've gone through the credit bureaus and submitted disputes but that hasn't helped. Is there a legal way to remove the negatives? I would like to buy a new house within 1 year.

Sorry to say in short; no.

Use this example for items to dispute on credit report, it may help get some better answers.



[sender]
[address]
[city state zip]
(credit file number, usually an SSN)
(sender's date of birth)
Trans Union Corporation
Consumer Disclosure Center
P. O. Box 390
Springfield, PA 19064-0390
800-916-8800
[date].
Re credit history correction request
Greetings:
Please correct the following items appearing on my credit report:
(disputed item) is not my account.
(disputed item) has been paid in full but the creditor has failed to provide you with this new information.
(disputed item) is not valid because it's not my account. I requested a validation from this alleged creditor, but never receive it. This is a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and reporting this false information is a violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
(disputed item) antedates the report by more than seven years.
(disputed item) is incorrect. The corrected item should be "__________."
Please correct your records and send me a copy of the amended report. If you fail or refuse to make these corrections within a reasonable time, I will promptly file a complaint against your organization with the Federal Trade Commission.
Best regards,
[sender]

If the negative comment is accurate- you *were* late in making payments- then it doesn't matter if you paid it off in full. You *were* late and the creditor feels it is their right and/or obligation to notify other potential creditors.

If the late payments are valid, they are to remain on your report, also if you reached a settlement but paid less than full, this normally will show up as such also.

If any of the info is not correct it can be corrected.

Only time will clear it up, plus adding a lot of good credit items to raise your score