Advice on improving credit scores, Please!

I was wondering if anyone would like to offer advice on me raising my credit scores.  Currently, EQ/561 and TU/598.  Would like to raise them each 100 points by 12/31/10. 

 

 My reports look like this:

$9,579 in combined credit card debt vs. $6,192  total combined credit limit.  (I have a couple cards that are closed but still have balances)

On the credit cards …I have 7 late payments (30 days late) appearing on two HSBC accounts…with the most recent one being in Nov 2007.

 

 I have $24,000 student loan and $6,000 car note and $83,000 mortgage. (Never been late on any of these)

 

 Also have three items in collection, one is medical debt with $60 balance that just appeared this month. (This kind of stinks because I made payment arrangements with the original creditor for $20 a month and they still sent it to collections) I am thinking just try and send the whole $60 and ask for them to pull it out of collections (does this work and is there a correct way of going about this process)

 

  The other two collections are to the same collection agency and original creditor.  They are disputed charges…..and was wondering if a PFD might be the best option..I will pay the charges if I can get them removed.  The total of the two is $468 and the date of last activity was Feb 1, 2004.

 

The last two “baddies” on my report are a paid charge-off to First Premier Bank with the date of last activity being Sept 2004.  Merrick Bank bad debt/charge off….$485 balance with date of last activity being Sept 2004 as well. 

 

So would anyone like to take a “stab”at my credit mess and offer  advice to help me on my way to improving my credit scores.  Thanks in advance!!!