Experian’s “Ask Max” credit advice column http://www.experian.com/ask_max/ Ask Max is the credit reporting industry’s first online consumer credit advice column. en-us Wed, 6 Aug 2008 12:00:00 GMT Copyright 2008, Experian http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 1440 Pay medical debts, credit cards before buying a house http://www.experian.com/ask_max/max080608a.html?rss=1 Wed, 6 Aug 2008 12:00:00 GMT I am trying to buy a home, but my score is low due to some medical bills that I got behind on as well as my two credit cards, which have balances of only $1,000 and $600 but are almost maxed. What would be the fastest way to gain a few points on my credit score; paying down the credit cards or paying off a few of the bills?

]]> Paying a collection account after it is deleted from your credit report http://www.experian.com/ask_max/max080608b.html?rss=1 Wed, 6 Aug 2008 12:00:00 GMT If you owe a debt that's been either "charged off" or "sold" to a collection agency and it has been past seven years so it is no longer listed on your credit report as "bad" credit and you start to repay the collection agency, will it show up on your credit history that you're making payments and stay there for seven years?

]]> Tradelines and your credit report http://www.experian.com/ask_max/max080608c.html?rss=1 Wed, 6 Aug 2008 12:00:00 GMT Is adding tradelines to your credit beneficial? What are the pros and cons of tradelines? Do you have any documentation concerning tradelines?

]]> Cosigning means you share full responsibility for the debt http://www.experian.com/ask_max/max080608d.html?rss=1 Wed, 6 Aug 2008 12:00:00 GMT If you are a cosigner and the principal party is 30 days late with a payment, will that reflect on your credit report? I have been told cosigners are shielded from this type of adverse report.

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