Answer: -Paying down the credit card is definitely a good thing to do. Ideally you should get all of your credit cards under 30% of the total available credit.But the thing that is causing you more problems is the collection account. When talking to the company about the medical bill. Be sure to negociate with them to have them actually remove the item before you pay it. Only when they send the agrement to you in writting you should pay it. Once they have the payment, and they remove it you should see a boost in your score. As the score only takes into account what is currently on your report, so once it is off the effect is immediate.Not knowing what major debt you took care of and how much of a negative that is having it is hard to say how much it will improve when you take care of these two issues. -Between the collection bill and the credit card nearly maxed out, those are problems. The score should go up in about a year. Make sure that when you pay the collections bill, you send the big three copies of your bill being paid off. Usually most places take a year to remove those things from your credit. ALso make sure that your utility bills are paid ont ime as well. Those do determine (a bit) how you are rated. During this time, do not open or close any accounts. Period. DO not apply for any credit offers no matter how tempting it seems. Each time you apply for any one of these your score can do down between three and five points. Once you pick your mortgaeg place, that is it. DO not keep shopping. Brokers will pull your credit and thus you loose a few more points. Three to five don't seem like much, but htey add up quickly. -I think you can built a good credit if you get a credit card with someone who has an excellent credit history. For example, if your father has a good credit history then he can request a credit card for you through his company and that way his credit score will be added to yours. It will also improve your credit score.