Mar 172010
 

I have 3 credit cards and one charge off on my credit and I’m wondering which to pay first to improve my credit score quickly.  I have to buy a new car in the next few months because mine is getting old and costing me more than it’s worth.

 

Card #1 – owe $230 at 9% interest

 

Card #2 – owe $235 at 9% interest

 

Card #3 – owe $561 at 11% interest (this card is closed)

 

Charge off – owe $521 (no interest, obviously).  This shows up under the “accounts” section of my credit report, not under collections.  The description is “charge off/bad debt” and they ARE reporting my current balance and payments

 

 

My current score with Equifax is 679.  I’ve done the FICO Score Simulator with the credit card debt, but I haven’t been able to find any advice/information on what paying off a charge off will eventually do to your score.  I know in the short term it could hurt me, but will I be able to recover in 4 months, which  is when I plan to buy a car.   So right now, I am making payments on all accounts and have been current on all accounts since September 2007.  Should I put more towards the credit cards or the charge off?

 

 THANKS for any knowledge you can impart!

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