<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=7YQSqjSh" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.bankrate.com:80/finance/debt/paid-charge-offs-better-for-your-credit.aspx","20100311031008","https://web.archive.org/","web","https://web-static.archive.org/_static/", "1268277008"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=p7PEIJWi" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <title id="ctl00_head_title">Paid charge-offs better for your credit</title> <meta name="Feature" content="Web Document"/><meta name="Keywords" content="Charge offs credit score"/><meta name="Description" content="Unsure if paid charge offs look better to lenders and employers? Let Bankrate.com give you the answers you need about paid charge offs."/><meta name="Robots" content="index,follow"/><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"/> <meta name="livedate" content="20100308"/> <script language="Javascript" src="/web/20100311031008js_/http://www.bankrate.com/system/util/CombineResource.ashx?n=bankratejs&v=2" type="text/javascript"></script> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20100311031008cs_/http://www.bankrate.com/system/util/CombineResource.ashx?n=bankratecss&v=1"/> <link title="Today's stories -- The entire lineup of Bankrate stories for the day" href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/syndication/bankrate_todaysstories.xml" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"></link> <link title="Top stories: Each day, Bankrate designates one " top story." these are the five most recent." href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/syndication/bankrate_topstory.xml" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"></link> <link title="Mortgage Matters -- A blog from senior writer Holden Lewis on the latest news and trends in mortgages" href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/syndication/bankrate_mtgblog.xml" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"></link> <link title="Fed Outlook -- Senior financial analyst Greg McBride's blog keeps you up to date on the Federal Reserve Board" href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/syndication/bankrate_fedblog.xml" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"></link> <link title="Advice -- Get personal finance advice from Bankrate.com experts" href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/syndication/bankrate_advice.xml" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"></link> <link title="Auto -- Indispensable advice for car shoppers" href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/syndication/bankrate_auto.xml" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"></link> <link title="Frugal U -- Strategies for squeezing your budget" href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/syndication/bankrate_frugalu.xml" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"></link> <link title="Home equity -- How to smartly tap your home's equity" href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/syndication/bankrate_loan.xml" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"></link> <link title="Insurance -- Get the most bang for your insurance buck" href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/syndication/bankrate_insurance.xml" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"></link> <link title="Investing -- Put your money to work" href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/syndication/bankrate_investing.xml" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"></link> <link title="Mortgages -- Analysis and mortgage-hunting tips" href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/syndication/bankrate_mortgages.xml" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"></link> <link title="Plastic Rap -- A blog by Bankrate managing editor Ellen Cannon about credit cards, debit cards, credit card practices and advice for cardholders." href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/syndication/bankrate_plastic_rap_2.xml" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"></link> <link title="Retirement - News, advice and financial tools for every life stage." href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/syndication/bankrate_retirement.xml" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"></link> <link title="Savings -- Who doesn't want more?" href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/syndication/bankrate_savings.xml" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"></link> <link title="Taxes -- Stay on track year-round to keep them low" href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/syndication/bankrate_taxes.xml" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"></link> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript">PageManager.PageMetaData = new PMOCollection(); PageManager.PageMetaData.Add('PageType','story'); PageManager.PageMetaData.Add('SubCategories','adviser:debt adviser,credit reports and credit score'); PageManager.PageMetaData.Add('Robots','index,follow'); PageManager.PageMetaData.Add('Keywords','Charge offs credit score'); PageManager.PageMetaData.Add('StoryVersion','11'); PageManager.PageMetaData.Add('AdArea','debt'); PageManager.PageMetaData.Add('Author','Steve Bucci'); PageManager.PageMetaData.Add('Category','debt'); PageManager.PageMetaData.Add('Title','Paid charge-offs better for your credit'); PageManager.PageMetaData.Add('Categories','adviser,hot sheet,most popular,top story'); PageManager.PageMetaData.Add('livedate','20100308'); PageManager.PageMetaData.Add('AdKeyword','Creditreports,Creditscore'); PageManager.PageMetaData.Add('PageNumber','1'); PageManager.PageMetaData.Add('TopicsAZ','Debt,debt management'); PageManager.PageMetaData.Add('Description','Unsure if paid charge offs look better to lenders and employers? Let Bankrate.com give you the answers you need about paid charge offs.'); PageManager.PageMetaData.Add('PageVersion','1'); PageManager.PageMetaData.Add('PageID','tcm:8-142512-64'); PageManager.PageMetaData.Add('Site','br3'); PageManager.PageMetaData.Add('Location','DebtManagement'); </script> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> if (PageManager) { if (PageManager.PageMetaData) { if(!PageManager.PageMetaData.ContainsKey('Site')){PageManager.PageMetaData.Add('Site','br3');} } } </script>   <script language="javascript" type="text/javascript"> </script>   <script type="text/javascript"> //********** PLEASE READ ****************// //var opPageIdentifier = 'PAGEIDENTIFIER'; // THE ABOVE VARIABLE SHOULD BE SET BY THE CLIENT IF THE TEST PAGE CANNOT BE IDENTIFIED IN ANY OTHER WAY, THE VALUE OF THIS VARIABLE SHOULD BE UNIQUE AND SHOULD NOT // BE REPEATED ON ANY OTHER TEST PAGE //********** PLEASE READ ****************// var opProto = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/https://by.essl." : "https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://es."); var opLiveURL = opProto + 'optimost.com/es/621/c/2/u/live.js'; var opQaURL = opProto + 'optimost.com/es/621/c/2/u/staging.js'; var opContentURL = opLiveURL; var opThisURL = document.location.toString(); opThisURL = opThisURL.split('?')[0]; if (opThisURL) { if (typeof(optimost)=='object') { if (optimost.Q['opqa'] && optimost.Q['opqa']=='opqa') opContentURL = opQaURL; } } document.write('<' + 'script type="text/javascript" src="' + opContentURL + '"></' + 'script>\n'); </script>   </head> <body> <form name="aspnetForm" method="post" action="paid-charge-offs-better-for-your-credit.aspx" id="aspnetForm"> <div> <input type="hidden" name="__EVENTTARGET" id="__EVENTTARGET" value=""/> <input type="hidden" name="__EVENTARGUMENT" id="__EVENTARGUMENT" value=""/> <input type="hidden" name="__VIEWSTATE" id="__VIEWSTATE" value="/wEPDwUKMTc3MjA0MTEwMw9kFgJmD2QWAmYPZBYCAgEPFgIeCWlubmVyaHRtbAUnUGFpZCBjaGFyZ2Utb2ZmcyBiZXR0ZXIgZm9yIHlvdXIgY3JlZGl0ZGQ="/> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var theForm = document.forms['aspnetForm']; if (!theForm) { theForm = document.aspnetForm; } function __doPostBack(eventTarget, eventArgument) { if (!theForm.onsubmit || (theForm.onsubmit() != false)) { theForm.__EVENTTARGET.value = eventTarget; theForm.__EVENTARGUMENT.value = eventArgument; theForm.submit(); } } //]]> </script> <script type="text/javascript" language="Javascript">try{PageManager.onPreLoadAds();AdManager.LoadAdPixel(); AdManager.Ads=new Array(new AdManager.Ad('ctl00_top_ctl00_ctl00','aamsz=banner/position=top',false),new AdManager.Ad('ctl00_rightrail_ctl01_ctl00','aamsz=300x600',false),new AdManager.Ad('ctl00_well_ctl01','aamsz=180x150',false),new AdManager.Ad('ctl00_bottom_ctl00_ctl00','aamsz=728x90/position=bottom',false),new AdManager.Ad('ctl00_rightrail_ctl07_ctl00','aamsz=300x100/position=2',false),new AdManager.Ad('ctl00_rightrail_ctl04_ctl00','aamsz=300x100',false),new AdManager.Ad('ctl00_Header1_BarBServerAd','aamsz=bar',false));}catch(e){}</script> <div class="page"> <div id="header-nav"> <div class="left width400"> <div class="seo left"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/calculators/index-of-debt-management-calculators.aspx">Debt management calculators</a><span> | </span><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/finance/debt/top-10-causes-of-debt-1.aspx">Debt consolidation</a></div>  </div> <div class="height60 width200 left absolute mar15 marTL" style="top:0px;left:0px;"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/" id="ctl00_Header1_BankrateLogoLink"><img alt="" height="60" border="0" width="230" src="/web/20100311031008im_/http://www.bankrate.com/Images/spacer.gif"/></a> </div> <span id="cbispan"> <div id="cobHead"> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> try { PageManager.onPreLoadCobrand(); PageManager.onLoadCobrand(); CobrandModel.LoadDivHeader(); } catch (e) { }</script> </div> <iframe id="cbiframe" style="visibility:hidden;" noresize="noresize" frameborder="0" border="0" cellspacing="0" scrolling="no" width="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" height="0"><html><head></head><body> </body></html> </iframe> </span> <div class="right fcBlue fB fs11 mar15 marRight"> <iframe id="ctl00_Header1_BarBServerAd" width="1" height="1" border="0" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true" style="overflow: visible;"></iframe> </div> <div style="float:left;"> <div class="height58"><div class="right fs11" style="margin: 20px 10px 0px 0px; position:absolute; right:0px; top:20px;"><b>Quick links: </b><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/rates/safe-sound/bank-ratings-search.aspx">Bank ratings</a><span> | </span><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/graph/ ">Graph rates</a><span> | </span><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/cd-investments/cd-investment-results.aspx">100 High Yield CDs</a></div></div> </div> <div id="nav" style="clear:both;"> <div style="width: 50%;" id="search"> <div style="background: transparent url(/web/20100311031008im_/http://www.bankrate.com/Images/nav_curve.jpg) repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="curve"></div> <div style="width: 290px; float: right; position: relative;"> <div style="float: left;"> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/glossary/" id="ctl00_Header1_GlossaryLink">Glossary</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="searchInput"><input type="text" id="siteSearchInput" style="width: 140px;" onkeypress="return checkForEnter(event);"/></div> <div class="searchButton"> <div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; float: left; position: absolute; left: 216px; top: 11px;" class="fscontainernav arial fs11"> <div class="bl"> <div class="br"> <div class="tl"> <div class="tr"> <div>Search</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="clear"></div> <div id="tier1"><div class="cobrand-logo"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor"><img src="/web/20100311031008im_/http://www.bankrate.com/images/bankrate-cobrand-logo.jpg"/></a></div><ul><li id="navItem8-48370" class="tier1NavItem1"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor848370">Home</a></li><li id="navItem8-48372" class="tier1NavItem2"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/news-advice.aspx" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor848372">News & Advice</a></li><li id="navItem8-48369" class="tier1NavItem3"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/compare-rates.aspx" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor848369">Compare Rates</a></li><li id="navItem8-48371" class="tier1NavItem4"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/life-money.aspx" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor848371">Life & Money</a></li><li id="navItem8-48368" class="tier1NavItem5"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/calculators.aspx" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor848368">Calculators</a></li></ul></div><div id="tier2"><div id="navItem8-48373" class="tier2NavItem1"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/mortgage.aspx" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor848373">Mortgage</a></div><div id="navItem8-138335" class="tier2NavItem2"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/refinance.aspx" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor8138335">Refinance</a></div><div id="navItem8-48374" class="tier2NavItem3"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/home-equity.aspx" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor848374">Home<br/>Equity</a></div><div id="navItem8-48375" class="tier2NavItem4"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/cd.aspx" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor848375">CDs & <br/>Investments</a></div><div id="navItem8-48377" class="tier2NavItem5"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/checking.aspx" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor848377">Checking & <br/>Savings</a></div><div id="navItem8-48379" class="tier2NavItem6"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/auto.aspx" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor848379">Auto</a></div><div id="navItem8-48378" class="tier2NavItem7"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards.aspx" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor848378">Credit<br/>Cards</a></div><div id="navItem8-48376" class="tier2NavItem8"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/debt-management.aspx" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor848376">Debt<br/>Management</a></div><div id="navItem8-48380" class="tier2NavItem9"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/insurance.aspx" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor848380">Insurance</a></div><div id="navItem8-48381" class="tier2NavItem10"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/student-loans.aspx" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor848381">College<br/>Finance</a></div><div id="navItem8-48383" class="tier2NavItem11"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/individual-retirement-accounts.aspx" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor848383">Retirement</a></div><div id="navItem8-48382" class="tier2NavItem12"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/taxes.aspx" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor848382">Taxes</a></div><div class="tier2NavItem13"><ul id="viewmore"><li class="top"><a href="javascript:void(0);" id="navItem8-118799" class="top_link"><span>Find rates<img src="/web/20100311031008im_/http://www.bankrate.com/images/arrow_down.gif" border="0" vspace="0" style="margin-left: 8px;"/></span></a><ul class="sub"><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/mortgages/" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor8121130">Mortgage</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/home-equity/" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor8121135">Home Equity</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/cd-investments/" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor8121136">100 Highest CD yields</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/savings/" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor8121137">100 Highest MMAs</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/credit-cards/credit-card-results.aspx" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor8121138">Credit Cards</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/auto/" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor8121139">Auto</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/checking-account/" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor8121140">Checking</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/insurance/insurance-rate-quote.aspx" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor8121198">Insurance</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/college-finance/" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor8121141">College Finance</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/personal-loans/" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor8118801">Personal Loans</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/credit-union/" id="ctl00_Header1_Nav1_navAnchor8118800">Credit Unions</a></li></ul></li></ul></div></div> <script language="javascript"> var pageID='8-48376'.replace('tcm:',''); var obj=document.getElementById('navItem'+pageID); if (obj != null) { if (obj.className.length != 0) { obj.className=obj.className+" on"; } else { obj.className="on"; } } </script> </div> </div> <div id="PostHeader"> <div class="topbanner"><span class="advertisement">advertisement</span><br/><iframe id="ctl00_top_ctl00_ctl00" width="1" height="90" border="0" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true" style="overflow: visible;"></iframe></div></div> <div class="pageHolder"> <div class="well"> <div class="storypage"> <div class="bgWhite pad20 padNoBottom"> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"></script> <div class="right fs9 arial"> <a class="mar8 marRight" onclick="PrintEmail1PrintPage();">Print</a><a class="mar8 marLeft" onclick="PrintEmail1EmailPage();">E-mail</a> </div> <div class="section-title mar15 marBottom">debt</div> <h1><span id="_SE_FLD" _se_fld="tcm:Content/custom:Content/custom:Headline">Paid charge-offs better for your credit </span></h1> <div class="byline mar5 marTop">By <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/mailto:editors@bankrate.com">Steve Bucci</a> • Bankrate.com</div> <div class="clear"><span></span></div>  <p><span id="_SE_FLD" _se_fld="tcm:Content/custom:Content/custom:Page[1]/custom:Paragraph[1]/custom:Text"><p><img class="imgLeft" style="WIDTH: 66px; HEIGHT: 76px" height="76" alt="Steve Bucci" src="/web/20100311031008im_/http://www.bankrate.com/Images/steve-bucci.jpg" width="66" title="Steve Bucci"/><img class="imgLeft5" style="WIDTH: 30px; HEIGHT: 30px" height="30" alt="q_v2.gif" src="/web/20100311031008im_/http://www.bankrate.com/Images/q_v2.gif" width="30" title="q_v2.gif"/><span class="fcDarkBlue fB">Dear Debt Adviser,</span><br/> Hello, I have a few <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/DrDon/20060908a1.asp?prodtype=pfin">charge-offs</a> on my credit report. They have been paid in full for almost a year now. Can (the credit bureaus) keep them on my credit report or are they supposed to change it? Also, what can I do to fix this to get my <a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/how-do-i-improve-my-credit-score.aspx">credit score</a> up? Thank you. <br/><em>-- Rachel</em></p><p><span class="fcDarkBlue fB"><img class="imgLeft5" style="WIDTH: 30px; HEIGHT: 30px" height="30" alt="a_v2.gif" src="/web/20100311031008im_/http://www.bankrate.com/Images/a_v2.gif" width="30" title="a_v2.gif"/>Dear Rachel,</span><br/> I'm glad that you wrote to me. I receive a lot of mail about the pluses and minuses of paying charge-offs and their impact on a person's credit. First, congratulations on paying off your debt. It is never easy to <a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/calculators/managing-debt/debt-pay-down-calculator.aspx">pay off a debt</a>, especially one that was old enough to reach the charge-off stage. For my readers who don't know the industry jargon, a charge-off is a debt that is usually overdue by 120 to 180 days. Once a bill has gone unpaid for that long, the accountants require that the company no longer count the money you owe as an asset. They write off the debt so it's no longer on their balance sheet. The bill is still owed and <a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/finance/debt/4-options-for-bills-in-collections.aspx">collections</a> continue, but the debt is now referred to as "charged off."</p><p>Now to your question regarding your charge-offs and your credit report. You paid them in full, so that should be noted for those accounts on your credit report. Get a <a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-debt/how-to-get-your-free-credit-report.aspx">free copy</a> of your credit report at <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.annualcreditreport.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AnnualCreditReport.com</a>. You are entitled to a free report each year from each of the three bureaus at this Web site. If the accounts are not listed as paid in full, you should dispute the item with the credit bureau that is reporting it incorrectly. You can file a dispute online at all three major bureaus. Unfortunately, if the charge-offs are listed correctly as paid charge-offs, there is nothing else you can do. <a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/finance/financial-literacy/write-the-credit-agencies-1.aspx">Correct negative information</a> will stay on your credit report for seven years from the first date of delinquency that resulted in the charge-off and cannot be removed.</p><p>So, even though your paid charge-offs will remain on your credit report for seven years from the date of first delinquency, you have improved your credit. Originally, your debts were listed as unpaid <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/DrDon/20021217a.asp">charge-offs</a>. From a credit scoring standpoint, there is not a big difference between a paid or unpaid charge-off. However, from the point of view of a lender considering you for a loan or an employer reviewing your credit report as <a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/finance/debt/bad-credit-can-mean-a-lousy-job.aspx">part of the hiring</a> or promotion process, accounts listed as paid can make a big difference.</p><p>You mention that it has been a year since you paid the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/debt/20021216a.asp">charged-off accounts</a> in full. If you have been adding positive information to your report, paying all other accounts on time and as agreed, you are well on your way to rebuilding your credit score. The reason is that most interested parties are more concerned with your most recent credit history -- the last two years or so. The older history will not carry as much weight as it might if it were newer.</p><p>Here are some tips to help you improve your <a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/finance/financial-literacy/credit-scoring-no-nos.aspx">credit score</a>:</p><ul><li>Make sure you are not late on any of your credit obligations moving forward.</li><li>Keep your <a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/credit-cards/credit-card-results.aspx">credit card</a> balances as low as possible or pay them off each month.</li><li>Consider adding different types of credit, such as an installment loan, to show you can handle fixed and variable payments.</li></ul><p>For more tips on rebuilding your score, go to the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.myfico.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">FICO Web site</a>. It has great information and a consumer blog that many find helpful.</p><p>Good luck!</p><p class="fI fs11">Bankrate's content, including the guidance of its advice-and-expert columns and this Web site, is intended only to assist you with financial decisions. The content is broad in scope and does not consider your personal financial situation. Bankrate recommends that you seek the advice of advisers who are fully aware of your individual circumstances before making any final decisions or implementing any financial strategy. Please remember that your use of this Web site is governed by <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/coinfo/disclaimer.asp">Bankrate's Terms of Use</a>.</p><p class="fI fs11">Read more <a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/finance/personal-finance/advisers/debt-adviser.aspx">Debt Adviser</a> columns and more <a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/debt-management.aspx">stories</a> about debt management. To ask a question of the Debt Adviser go to the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/brm/ask.asp">"Ask the Experts"</a> page and select "Debt" as the topic.</p><p class="fB fs11"><img style="WIDTH: 11px; HEIGHT: 11px" height="11" alt="News alert" src="/web/20100311031008im_/http://www.bankrate.com/Images/alert_2nw_graybk.gif" width="11" title="alert_2nw_graybk.gif"/> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankratemail.com/ae.pl?words=debt">Create a news alert for "debt"</a><div class="left width200 mar8 marTB"><div class="adLine"> </div><div class="adText">advertisement</div><iframe id="ctl00_well_ctl01" width="1" height="1" border="0" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true" style="overflow: visible;"></iframe></div><div><div class="relatedlinks width250 left mar20 marTop"><strong>Related Links:</strong><ul><li class="mar3 marTB"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/finance/debt/a-short-sale-followed-by-bankruptcy.aspx">A short sale after bankruptcy is iffy move</a></li><li class="mar3 marTB"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/finance/debt/5-money-jams-bankruptcy-can-fix-1.aspx">5 money jams bankruptcy can fix</a></li><li class="mar3 marTB"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/finance/debt/4-tips-on-making-a-personal-loan-to-family.aspx">4 tips on making a personal loan to family</a></li></ul></div><div class="relatedlinks width220 left mar20 marTop"><strong>Related Articles:</strong><ul><li class="mar3 marTB"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/finance/financial-literacy/secrets-to-creating-a-budget-1.aspx">The secrets of budgeting</a></li><li class="mar3 marTB"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/finance/financial-literacy/finding-a-financial-planner-1.aspx">Find a financial planner</a></li><li class="mar3 marTB"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/finance/financial-literacy/part-7-creating-an-emergency-fund.aspx">Creating an emergency fund</a></li></ul></div></div></p></span></p> <div class="clear"><span></span></div> <div class="storyFooter"> <div class="posted">The Debt Adviser, Steve Bucci, is the president of <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.moneymanagement.org/" rel="nofollow">Money Management International Financial Education Foundation</a> and the author of "Credit Repair Kit for Dummies."<br/></div> <div class="clear"><span></span></div> <div class="left"> <div class="posted">Bankrate.com's <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/coinfo/corrections.asp">corrections policy</a></div> </div> <div class="right"> <div class="posted">Posted: March 8, 2010</div> </div> <div class="subFooter"><div class="left"><strong></strong></div></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="clear"><script type="text/javascript">displayBookmarks();</script></div><div class="boxContainer dw" style="background: #F6DC85;"><div class="height30 mar5 marTop pad5 padRL"><div class="bgWhite height30 georgia fs17 pad5"><div><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/compare-rates.aspx">Compare Rates</a><a class="mar4 marLeft" href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/compare-rates.aspx">»</a></div></div></div><div class="boxContentHolder" style="padding-top: 0px;"><div class="dwContentFt bgWhite pad9 border1 borderT" style="background:transparent url(/web/20100311031008im_/http://www.bankrate.com/images/CPRatesBG.jpg) repeat scroll 0 0; height: 105px;"><div class="left width190 pad14 padRight border1 borderR mar10 marRight height110"><div class="mar5 marBottom section-title">Mortgage Rates</div><ul class="relatedlinks left"><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/mortgages/?prods=1">30 year fixed</a></li><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/mortgages/?prods=2">15 year fixed</a></li><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/mortgages/?prods=6">5/1 ARM</a></li><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/mortgages/?prods=9">7/1 ARM</a></li><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/mortgages/?prods=4">30 year Jumbo</a></li></ul><ul class="relatedlinks right"><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/mortgages/?prods=390">5/1 ARM (IO)</a></li><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/mortgages/?prods=5">30 year FHA</a></li><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/mortgages/?prods=216">30 year fixed refi</a></li><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/mortgages/?prods=215">15 year fixed refi</a></li><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/mortgages/">See all Mortgages</a></li></ul></div><div class="left width180 pad14 padRight border1 borderR mar10 marRight height110"><div class="mar5 marBottom section-title">High Yield CD and MMA Rates</div><ul class="relatedlinks left"><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/cd-investments/cd-investment-results.aspx?prods=14">6 month CD</a></li><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/cd-investments/cd-investment-results.aspx?prods=15">1 year CD</a></li><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/cd-investments/cd-investment-results.aspx?prods=16">2 year CD</a></li><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/cd-investments/cd-investment-results.aspx?prods=18">3 year CD</a></li><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/cd-investments/cd-investment-results.aspx?prods=24">1 year Jumbo CD</a></li></ul><ul class="relatedlinks right"><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/cd-investments/cd-investment-results.aspx?prods=500">3 year jumbo CD</a></li><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/cd-investments/cd-investment-results.aspx?prods=55">5 year IRA CD</a></li><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/savings/savings-results.aspx?prods=33">MMAs</a></li><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/cd-investments/">See all CDs</a></li><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/savings/">See all MMAs</a></li></ul></div><div class="relatedlinks width160 left"><div class="mar5 marBottom section-title">Other Rates</div><ul class="relatedlinks left"><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/home-equity/">Home Equity</a></li><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/credit-cards/credit-card-results.aspx">Credit Cards</a></li><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/auto/">Auto</a></li><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/insurance/insurance-rate-quote.aspx">Insurance</a></li><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/cd-investments/?local=true&prods=15">Local CDs</a></li></ul><ul class="relatedlinks right"><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/checking-account/">Checking</a></li><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/college-finance/">College Finance</a></li><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/personal-loans/">Personal Loans</a></li><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/credit-union/">Credit Unions</a></li><li class="mar3 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/savings/?local=true&prods=33">Local MMAs</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div><div class="industry_brains" title="/system/ads/ib/badcredit_a.html"><span/></div> <div class="clear"></div> </div> <div class="rightRail"> <div class="clear"></div> <div> <div id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_pnlTabs"> <script type="text/javascript"> document.observe("dom:loaded", function() { $("ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_tbHomeEquityZipCode").observe("blur",function(event){ if($("ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_tbHomeEquityZipCode").value == '') { $("ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_tbHomeEquityZipCode").value = 'Invalid Zip'; } }); }); </script> <span id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_StudentLoanZipValidator" controltovalidate="ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_tbStudentLoanZipCode" errormessage="Invalid Zip!"></span> <span id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_StudentLoanProductValidator" controltovalidate="ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_ddlStudentLoanProduct"></span> <span id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_MortgageZipValidator" controltovalidate="ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_tbMortgageZipCode" errormessage="Invalid Zip!"></span> <span id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_MortgageProductValidator" controltovalidate="ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_ddlMortgageProduct"></span> <span id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_HomeEquityZipValidator" controltovalidate="ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_tbHomeEquityZipCode" errormessage="Invalid Zip!"></span> <span id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_HomeEquityProductValidator" controltovalidate="ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_ddlHomeEquityProduct"></span> <span id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_InsuranceZipValidator" controltovalidate="ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_tbInsuranceZipCode" errormessage="Invalid Zip!"></span> <span id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_AutoZipValidator" controltovalidate="ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_tbAutoZipCode" errormessage="Invalid Zip!"></span> <span id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_AutoProductValidator" controltovalidate="ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_ddlAutoProduct"></span> <div class="boxContainerRightRailCR"> <div id="Div1" class=""> <div class="rr2"> <div class="boxHeader"> <div class="georgia fs15 pad5 padTop"> <span id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_lblHeaderProductName">Compare Home Equity Rates</span> </div> </div> <div class="rr2ContentFtCR pad9 padRight"> <div id="pnlHomeEquity" style="display:block"> <div class="right mar6 marTop"> <div class="mar5 marTop" align="right" style="display: block;"> <input name="ctl00$rightrail$ctl00$OvernightAveragesWidget1$ZS_tbHomeEquityZipCode" type="text" value="Enter Zip Code" id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_tbHomeEquityZipCode" class="big190"/> </div> <div class="mar5 marTop" align="right" style="display: block;"> <select name="ctl00$rightrail$ctl00$OvernightAveragesWidget1$ZS_ddlHomeEquityProduct" id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_ddlHomeEquityProduct" class="big190"> <option value="-- select --">-- select --</option> <option value="438">30K FICO-based Home Equity Loan</option> <option value="506">50K FICO-based Home Equity Loan</option> <option value="457">75K FICO-based Home Equity Loan</option> <option value="437">30K FICO-based HELOC </option> <option value="507">50K FICO-based HELOC</option> <option value="570">100K FICO-based HELOC</option> </select> </div> </div> <div class="left natAve mar2 marNoRight" align="center"> <br/> <label class="fs9 pad5 padTop fcNatAve "> 30K FICO-based HELOC average</label><br/> <label class="fs24 fB fcNatRate mar1 marTop "> 5.20% </label> <br/> </div> <div class="clear"><span/></div> <div class="tang-bkgd right mar5 marLeft"> <input id="ctl00$rightrail$ctl00$OvernightAveragesWidget1$ZS_btnSearchHomeEquity" type="button" name="ctl00$rightrail$ctl00$OvernightAveragesWidget1$ZS_btnSearchHomeEquity" class="tang-btn right" value="Search" tabindex="0" onclick="s_objectID='OA_HomeEquitySingleWide_HomeEquity_paid_charge_offs_better_for_your_credit_debt_finance';OAProcess([new CheckZip('ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_HomeEquityZipValidator'),new CheckSelect('ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_HomeEquityProductValidator')],new _context(null,$F('ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_ddlHomeEquityProduct'),ProductType.HomeEquity,$F('ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_tbHomeEquityZipCode'),null,null,null,null,'OA_HomeEquitySingleWide_24_HomeEquity_{0}_{2}_paid-charge-offs-better-for-your-credit.aspx_debt_finance_{1}',escape($('ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_ddlHomeEquityProduct').options[$('ctl00_rightrail_ctl00_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ZS_ddlHomeEquityProduct').selectedIndex].text.replace(/ /gi,'_'))));"/></div> <div class="left mar8 marTop pad5 padLeft"> <a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/bankrate-com-averages.aspx">About our rates</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="boxContainerRightRail"><div class="pad9 bgAdBlue"><center><iframe id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl01_ctl00" width="1" height="1" border="0" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true" style="overflow: visible;"></iframe></center></div><div class="fs9 fcAdGrey ad">advertisement</div></div><div> <div id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_pnlTabs"> <script type="text/javascript"> document.observe("dom:loaded", function() { $("ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_oaTabs_homeEquityTab_OA_txtEquityZip").observe("blur",function(event){ if($("ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_oaTabs_homeEquityTab_OA_txtEquityZip").value == '') { $("ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_oaTabs_homeEquityTab_OA_txtEquityZip").value = 'Invalid Zip'; } }); }); </script> <span id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_OA_CustomValidator1" controltovalidate="ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_oaTabs_mortgageTab_OA_txtMortgageZip" errormessage="Invalid Zip"></span> <span id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_OA_CustomValidator2" controltovalidate="ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_oaTabs_homeEquityTab_OA_txtEquityZip" errormessage="Invalid Zip"></span> <span id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_OA_CustomValidator3" controltovalidate="ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_oaTabs_autoTab_OA_txtAutoZip" errormessage="Invalid Zip"></span> <span id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_OA_CustomValidator6" controltovalidate="ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_oaTabs_creditCardTab_OA_ddlCreditCard"></span> <span id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_OA_CustomValidator4" controltovalidate="ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_oaTabs_insuranceTab_OA_txtInsuranceZip" errormessage="Invalid Zip"></span> <span id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_OA_CustomValidator5" controltovalidate="ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_oaTabs_studentLoanTab_OA_txtStudentLoan" errormessage="Invalid Zip"></span> <span id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_OA_CustomValidator7" controltovalidate="ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_oaTabs_mmaTab_OA_ddlMMA"></span> <span id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_ctl00" controltovalidate="ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_oaTabs_cdsTab_ddlCDs"></span> <div> <span> <div class="boxContainerRightRail"> <div class="rr1"> <div class="boxHeader"> <div class="boxSponsor"> <a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/bankrate-com-averages.aspx">About this index</a></div> <div class="boxHead"> <span id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_HeaderText">Home Equity Averages</span></div> </div> <div class="boxContentHolder"><ul class="" style="display: none;"><input name="ctl00$rightrail$ctl02$OvernightAveragesWidget1$oaTabs$selectedTab" type="hidden" id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_oaTabs_selectedTab" value="0"/><li id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_oaTabs_homeEquityTab" class="tab selected" < li></ul><div class="keyLine"><div class="bgWhite pad3 padBottom"><div class="tabContentDiv"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" colspan="2" class="border2 borderB pad5 padRL"> <strong>Product</strong></td> <td align="center" class="border2 borderB"> <strong>Rate</strong></td> <td align="center" class="border2 borderB"> <strong>+/-</strong></td> <td align="center" class="border2 borderB"> <strong>Last week </strong> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18" align="left" class="bgListBlue pad5 padRL"> <a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/home-equity/?prods=437&ic_id=OA_HomeEquitynotab_6_HomeEquity_30KFICO-basedHELOC_Grid_paid-charge-offs-better-for-your-credit.aspx_debt_finance"> 30K HELOC </a> </td> <td align="center" class="bgListBlue pad5 padRL"> <a id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_oaTabs_homeEquityTab_Repeater1_ctl01_HyperLink1" href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/graph/?cat=8&state=zz&d=1825&t=Line&ids=30&ic_id=OA_HomeEquitynotab_6_HomeEquity_30K FICO-based HELOC _Graph_paid-charge-offs-better-for-your-credit.aspx_debt_finance"><div class="graph-oa"></div></a> </td> <td align="center" class="bgListBlue pad5 padRL"> 5.20% </td> <td align="center" width="15" class="bgListBlue pad5 padRL"> <div class="arrow-down-gold"></div> </td> <td align="center" class="bgListBlue pad5 padRL"> 5.21% </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18" align="left" class="pad5 padRL"> <a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/home-equity/?prods=438&ic_id=OA_HomeEquitynotab_6_HomeEquity_30KFICO-basedHomeEquityLoan_Grid_paid-charge-offs-better-for-your-credit.aspx_debt_finance"> 30K Home Equity Loan </a> </td> <td align="center" class="pad5 padRL"> <a id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_oaTabs_homeEquityTab_Repeater1_ctl02_HyperLink1" href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/graph/?cat=8&state=zz&d=1825&t=Line&ids=240&ic_id=OA_HomeEquitynotab_6_HomeEquity_30K FICO-based Home Equity Loan_Graph_paid-charge-offs-better-for-your-credit.aspx_debt_finance"><div class="graph-oa"></div></a> </td> <td align="center" class="pad5 padRL"> 8.10% </td> <td align="center" width="15" class="pad5 padRL"> <div class="arrow-down-gold"></div> </td> <td align="center" class="pad5 padRL"> 8.14% </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18" align="left" class="bgListBlue pad5 padRL"> <a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/home-equity/?prods=507&ic_id=OA_HomeEquitynotab_6_HomeEquity_50KFICO-basedHELOC_Grid_paid-charge-offs-better-for-your-credit.aspx_debt_finance"> 50K HELOC </a> </td> <td align="center" class="bgListBlue pad5 padRL"> <a id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_oaTabs_homeEquityTab_Repeater1_ctl03_HyperLink1" href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/graph/?cat=8&state=zz&d=1825&t=Line&ids=522&ic_id=OA_HomeEquitynotab_6_HomeEquity_50K FICO-based HELOC_Graph_paid-charge-offs-better-for-your-credit.aspx_debt_finance"><div class="graph-oa"></div></a> </td> <td align="center" class="bgListBlue pad5 padRL"> 4.90% </td> <td align="center" width="15" class="bgListBlue pad5 padRL"> <div class="flat-gold"></div> </td> <td align="center" class="bgListBlue pad5 padRL"> 4.90% </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18" align="left" class="pad5 padRL"> <a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/home-equity/?prods=457&ic_id=OA_HomeEquitynotab_6_HomeEquity_75KFICO-basedHomeEquityLoan_Grid_paid-charge-offs-better-for-your-credit.aspx_debt_finance"> 75K Home Equity Loan </a> </td> <td align="center" class="pad5 padRL"> <a id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_oaTabs_homeEquityTab_Repeater1_ctl04_HyperLink1" href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/graph/?cat=8&state=zz&d=1825&t=Line&ids=472&ic_id=OA_HomeEquitynotab_6_HomeEquity_75K FICO-based Home Equity Loan_Graph_paid-charge-offs-better-for-your-credit.aspx_debt_finance"><div class="graph-oa"></div></a> </td> <td align="center" class="pad5 padRL"> 9.82% </td> <td align="center" width="15" class="pad5 padRL"> <div class="arrow-up-gold"></div> </td> <td align="center" class="pad5 padRL"> 9.42% </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div class="oa-foot modfoot-border2" id="Div1"> <nobr><div class="tang-bkgd right mar5 marLeft"><input id="ctl00$rightrail$ctl02$OvernightAveragesWidget1$oaTabs$homeEquityTab$OA_BankRateButton2" type="button" name="ctl00$rightrail$ctl02$OvernightAveragesWidget1$oaTabs$homeEquityTab$OA_BankRateButton2" class="tang-btn right" value="Search" tabindex="0" onclick="s_objectID='OA_HomeEquitynotab_HomeEquity_paid_charge_offs_better_for_your_credit_debt_finance';OAProcess([new CheckZip('ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_OA_CustomValidator2')],new _context(null,null,ProductType.HomeEquity,$F('ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_oaTabs_homeEquityTab_OA_txtEquityZip'),null,null,null,null,'OA_HomeEquitynotab_6_HomeEquity_{0}_{2}_paid-charge-offs-better-for-your-credit.aspx_debt_finance_{1}',null));"/></div><span id="Span1">View rates in your area:</span><input name="ctl00$rightrail$ctl02$OvernightAveragesWidget1$oaTabs$homeEquityTab$OA_txtEquityZip" type="text" value="Zip Code" id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl02_OvernightAveragesWidget1_oaTabs_homeEquityTab_OA_txtEquityZip" class="zip tiny"/></nobr> </div> </div></div></div></div> </div> </div> </span> </div> </div> </div><div class="boxContainerRightRail"><div class="rr2" style="height: 146px;"><div class="boxHeader"><div class="boxSponsor"><span>By</span><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/finance/personal-finance/Advisers/">Steve Bucci</a></div><div class="boxHead"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/finance/personal-finance/advisers/debt-adviser.aspx">Debt Adviser</a><a class="darrow" href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/finance/personal-finance/advisers/debt-adviser.aspx">»</a></div></div><div class="bgWhite pad9"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/finance/debt/paid-charge-offs-better-for-your-credit.aspx"><img class="imgLeft" border="0" src="/web/20100311031008im_/http://www.bankrate.com/Images/steve-bucci.jpg"/></a><span class="section-title">debt</span><div><div class="section-hed"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/finance/debt/paid-charge-offs-better-for-your-credit.aspx">Pay charged-off debt</a></div></div><div>It might not help your credit score, but paid charge-offs look better to lenders and employers.</div></div><div class="modfoot modfoot-border1"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/finance/personal-finance/advisers/" style="line-height: 18px;">View more Bankrate Advisers »</a></div></div></div><div class="boxContainerRightRail"><div class="talignC"><iframe id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl04_ctl00" width="1" height="1" border="0" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true" style="overflow: visible;"></iframe></div><div class="ad fs9 fcAdGrey">advertisement</div></div><div class="boxContainerRightRail"><div class="rr2" style="height: 146px;"><div class="boxHeader"><div class="boxSponsor"><span/></div><div class="boxHead"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cheap/tips_form.asp">Frugal Living</a><a class="darrow" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cheap/tips_form.asp">»</a></div></div><div class="bgWhite pad9 height75"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cheap/tips_form.asp"><img class="imgLeft" border="0" src="/web/20100311031008im_/http://www.bankrate.com/Images/frugal-living.jpg"/></a><span class="section-title">Smart Spending</span><div><div class="section-hed"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cheap/tips_form.asp">Share your tip to win $100</a></div></div><div>Are you a champ at cutting costs? Enter your tip in our Frugal $ense contest to be eligible to win $100. There’s a new winner every month.</div></div><div class="modfoot modfoot-border1"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cheap/tips_home.asp " style="line-height: 18px;">Top 20 frugal tips »</a></div></div></div><div class="boxContainerRightRail"><div class="rr1"><div class="boxHeader"><div class="boxHead"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/rates/safe-sound/bank-ratings-search.aspx">Safe & Sound Ratings</a><a class="darrow" href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/rates/safe-sound/bank-ratings-search.aspx">»</a></div></div><div class="boxContentHolder border1 borderNoT"><div class="bgWhite"><div class="pad7 height108"><div class="section-hed">Is your bank safe? Now you can find out</div><div class="fs12 mar10 marTop">Look up a bank, thrift or credit union by clicking one of the buttons below.</div><div class="mar15 marTop"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/rates/safe-sound/bank-ratings-search.aspx?t=cb" class="mar5 marRight"><img src="/web/20100311031008im_/http://www.bankrate.com/images/buttons/banks_thrifts_btn.jpg" border="0"/></a><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/rates/safe-sound/bank-ratings-search.aspx?t=cu"><img src="/web/20100311031008im_/http://www.bankrate.com/images/buttons/credit_union_btn.jpg" border="0"/></a></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="boxContainerRightRail"><div class="talignC"><iframe id="ctl00_rightrail_ctl07_ctl00" width="1" height="1" border="0" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true" style="overflow: visible;"></iframe></div><div class="ad fs9 fcAdGrey">advertisement</div></div><div class="pad9 padBottom"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="338"><tr><td><img src="/web/20100311031008im_/http://www.bankrate.com/images/social-media/share_tl.jpg"/></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.facebook.com/Bankrate" target="_blank"><img src="/web/20100311031008im_/http://www.bankrate.com/images/social-media/connected_top_title.jpg" border="0" width="328"/></a></td><td><img src="/web/20100311031008im_/http://www.bankrate.com/images/social-media/share_tr.jpg"/></td></tr><tr><td style="background: url(/web/20100311031008im_/http://www.bankrate.com/images/social-media/share_left.jpg); background-position: bottom;"/><td style="background: url(/web/20100311031008im_/http://www.bankrate.com/images/social-media/share_bg.jpg); background-position: bottom;"><div class="mar10"><div class="left fcBlue fs12 arial fB width130" style="height: 55px; margin: 3px 25px 0px 0px;"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.facebook.com/Bankrate" target="_blank"><img src="/web/20100311031008im_/http://www.bankrate.com/images/social-media/connected_fb_icon.jpg" border="0" class="mar5 marRight" align="left"/><span>Bankrate is now on Facebook</span><sup class="fs9">®</sup></a></div><div class="left mar3 marTop fcBlue fs12 arial fB width150" style="height: 55px;"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankratemail.com/index.pl" target="_blank"><img src="/web/20100311031008im_/http://www.bankrate.com/images/social-media/connected_rate_icon.jpg" border="0" class="mar5 marRight" align="left"/><span>Get alerted when rates change</span></a></div><div class="clear left fcBlue fs12 arial fB width130" style="height: 45px; margin-right: 25px;"><a href="/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/finance/rss-directory.aspx" target="_blank"><img src="/web/20100311031008im_/http://www.bankrate.com/images/social-media/connected_rss_icon.jpg" border="0" class="mar5 marRight" align="left"/><span class="fcBlack">Subscribe:</span><br/><span>RSS Feeds</span></a></div><div class="left fcBlue fs12 arial fB width150"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankratemail.com/index.pl" target="_blank"><img src="/web/20100311031008im_/http://www.bankrate.com/images/social-media/connected_news_icon.jpg" border="0" class="mar5 marRight" align="left"/><span>Daily newsletters full of $$ tips</span></a></div></div></td><td style="background: url(/web/20100311031008im_/http://www.bankrate.com/images/social-media/share_right.jpg); background-position: bottom;"/></tr><tr><td><img src="/web/20100311031008im_/http://www.bankrate.com/Images/social-media/share_bl.jpg"/></td><td style="background: url(/web/20100311031008im_/http://www.bankrate.com/images/social-media/share_bottom.jpg); width: 330px;"/><td><img src="/web/20100311031008im_/http://www.bankrate.com/images/social-media/share_br.jpg"/></td></tr></table></div> <div class="clear"></div> </div> <div id="PreFooter"> <div class="botbanner"><span class="advertisement">advertisement</span><br/><iframe id="ctl00_bottom_ctl00_ctl00" width="1" height="1" border="0" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true" style="overflow: visible;"></iframe></div> </div> </div> <div class="footerC1" style="text-align:center;margin:0px;clear:both;"> <div class="footerC2" style="clear:both;"> <div class="footerC3" style="text-align:center;color:#aaa;font-size:11px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <div class="full bgDarkBlue height90" id="footer"><span id="brmfooter" style="visibility=hidden"><center><div class="width550 pad17 padTop"><div class="arial fs11 footerheight left"><a class="mar8 marLeft pad8 padLeft" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/coinfo/default.asp">About us</a></div><div class="arial fs11 footerheight left"><a class="mar8 marLeft borderfooter pad8 padLeft" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/mediakit/">Advertise with Bankrate</a></div><div class="arial fs11 footerheight left"><a class="mar8 marLeft borderfooter pad8 padLeft" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/coinfo/PartOpp.asp">Partners</a></div><div class="arial fs11 footerheight left"><a class="mar8 marLeft borderfooter pad8 padLeft" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://pr.bankrate.com/">Press Room</a></div><div class="arial fs11 footerheight left"><a class="mar8 marLeft borderfooter pad8 padLeft" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/brm/site-tour/site-tour.asp">Site Tour</a></div><div class="arial fs11 footerheight left"><a class="mar8 marLeft borderfooter pad8 padLeft" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/coinfo/webmasteremail.asp">Contact Us</a></div><div class="arial fs11 footerheight left"><a class="mar8 marLeft borderfooter pad8 padLeft" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/corporate/site-map.aspx">Sitemap</a></div><div class="clear arial fs11 width550"><div class="pad12 padTop fcAdGrey"><a class="mar3 marLeft fcAdGrey" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/brm/publ/average.asp">Understanding Bankrate's rate averages</a></div></div><div class="arial fs10 width350 pad10 padTop"><div class="left arial fs10 footerheight fcBlack">© 2009 Bankrate, Inc. All Rights Reserved.</div><div class="left arial fs10 footerheight mar20 marLeft"><a class="mar5 marRight" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/coinfo/privacy.asp">Privacy</a></div><div class="left arial fs10 footerheight borderfooter"><a class="mar5 marLeft" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.bankrate.com/coinfo/disclaimer.asp">Terms of Use</a></div></div></div></center></span><span id="cbfooterspan" style="visibility=hidden"><iframe id="cbifooterframe" style="visibility:hidden;" noresize="noresize" frameborder="0" border="0" cellspacing="0" scrolling="no" width="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" height="0"><html><head/><body/></html></iframe><div id="cobFooter"><script type="text/javascript">try{CobrandModel.LoadDivFooter();}catch(e){}</script></div></span></div> </div> </div> </div> <div style="text-align:center;font-size:10px;margin:0 9px 20px 9px;color:#727272;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></div> <script src="/web/20100311031008js_/http://www.bankrate.com/system/js/s_code_brm.js" language="javascript" type="text/javascript"></script>  <script language="javascript">PageManager.onPageLoadComplete();</script><noscript><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008/http://www.omniture.com/" title="Web Analytics"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031008im_/http://bnk30livejs.112.2o7.net/b/ss/bnk30livejs/1/H.15.1--NS/0" height="1" width="1" border="0" alt=""/></a></noscript>  </div> </form>  <script type="text/javascript"> if (opContentUrls.length>0 && opModulesArray.length>0) { for(var i=0;i<opModulesArray.length;i++){ optimost.displayModule(opModulesArray[i]); } } if(typeof opRunCounters=='function' && opCounterPagesUrls.length>0 && opCountersUrls.length>0) { opRunCounters(); } </script>  </body>  </html>

CINXE.COM