I have paid off several past due accounts. Now, I have received a score alert from MY FICO showing a 25 decrease in my score. I do have my dispute letter type & signed and will send it via fax today to Tranunion. However, I have a new account showing a balance of $294.00 from a past due Sprint Bill. Do you think if I offer them $190.00 to settle this account is acceptable.

Thanks,

Clohman:rolleyes:

You might be able to offer them less than that.

In writing (via certified return receipt), try offering less in return for a deletion upon payment. If they respond on letterhead, keep a copy of the check and the letter and send to the credit bureaus that are reporting it.

Back to the original part of the question---even if you paid off the past-due accounts, the issue is that they were PAST-DUE. That is what made your credit score to be low, and just paying them off won't show an immediate improvement. You have to maintain paying on time before the scores improve.