01/27/2026
💳 To Pay or Not to Pay: Part 2 – Charge Offs! Charge offs and collections may look similar on a credit report, but don’t be fooled, they play very different roles in a borrower’s financial story. 🔍 The Breakdown: • A charge off is debt the original creditor has declared as a loss, but the borrower still owes it. • Paying a recent charged-off credit card could improve utilization but be careful of updating the DLA (Date of Last Activity)! • Auto loans and private student loans have different consequences, paying these won't change your payment history, leaving you with less money and the same credit score (or worse!) • Personal loans? Same logic applies; it all comes down to the impact vs. the benefit. ⚠️ Bottom line: Charge offs can affect a borrower’s score, but paying them doesn’t always help, and in some cases, it can hurt. Let us help you navigate the process of preparing to be PreApproved for a mortgage!