Let’s say you already have a past due on your report and you want to get the debt off your back, so you agree to pay for 75 percent of the debt.

It’s important to note that repairing bad credit takes time and there is no quick way to fix a credit score. In fact, out of all of the ways to improve a credit score, quick-fix efforts are the most likely to backfire, so beware of any advice that claims to improve your credit score fast.

The limit on your home-equity line of credit has been reduced, causing the amount of debt you have compared with the limit to shoot up — that’s bad news for your credit score.

Portfolio Recover Associates is a collection agency who claims their communication is an attempt to collect a debt.

You are about to get married, and your Fiance’s FICO Score is 200 points lower than yours. Once you wed, your scores will be combined, and your mate’s low score will pull yours down.