what does a "charge off" mean?
352320
It means a creditor has decided a loan is noncollectable.
192060
A common miss-conception is that  trying to pay off charge offs will help to raise your credit.  In some cases this is the exact opposite. If the Account is Charge-off then the Creditor has already considered you a lost cause.\n\nIf you try to make a payment, you will re-open the creditors interest in collecting those funds from you. And along with there interest in collecting. Basically starting the entire proses over again.  Even if you pay off those cards, they will always be reported as charge off. Just changed to "Paid charge off" Which is not any better.  The guide on the link below is probably the Best, and least expensive way to begin repairing your credit.\n\nSo you know, 0 balances are not good, the credit burrows like to see 30% balances.  \n\nTry to keep open as many tradelines as you can. They reward you with a higher credit score the more in debt you can get. LOL
190511
Yes, just becauseit's charged off does not relieve you of the debt.  It just means they have quit trying to collect (for now).\n\nThey can either sell the debt to a collection agency or use their own in-house agency.  \n\nEither way, the debt will be reported to the credit agencies and it will be on your reports for several years.\n\nIf you wish to repay it....VERY IMPORTANT!\n\nSend them a letter telling them that in exchange for paying the debt, they must remove all negative reports from your credit history.  Otherwise, you will still have bad credit, even after it's paid.\n\nUse the sample letter below as a guide.
432173
No, they cannot do that, you can report them for threating you. The only property they can take is what you paid for on the credit card, which most companies will not do, since what you bought is usually not worth the money it requires them to get it. Just hang up on them. It will eventually go to charge off.
144278
Call your credit card company and dispute the charges. They will send information to the company that charged your credit card. The company only has so many days to respond to the credit card company, and unless you signed or otherwise gave agreement to company to use your credit card the bank will reverse the charges off your card.
658571
it was probably just an authorization to make sure card was real , should be reversed . Just like a gas station will authorize 5 dollars when you pay at the pump , and you get 20 in gas , go home and there is a charge for 5 and 20 on your statement , but the 5 will be taken off
446449
Ok.  When a credit card or whatever charges off your account, it is usually sold to a collection agency.  You will now have 2 reports for the same thing on your credit.  This is ok.  If you have 3, you should contact the credit agency.\n\nYou have 7 years FROM THE LAST PAYMENT MADE before it falls off of your credit.  If it's been a year since your last payment, you have 6 years left, even if it was just charged off this month.  If you have no intention on paying, do not contact the collection agency, it could restart your 7 years.
162173
It means Free On Board price.That you will deliver the consignment and pay for freight without charging it to the importer's account .The price to be paid by the importer should be free from this charge.
877779
Bankruptcy should be a last resort. \n\nI would reccommend saving some money and eventually settling each debt one at a time. \n\nCredit Counseling cannot help with charge offs because it is rare for them to reduce or freeze interest. \n\nSettlement is probably best. \n\nHere is a good site that has free settlement letters you can fill in and print: http://www.expert-credit-advice.com/
695909
If it's been 10 years since you made any payments, wait another 6 months and the charged off account will be off your credit report and won't matter anymore.  Some of them may have fallen off after 7 years anyway.
257490
Pay up or we will pull the plug (LOL, sorry, I don't know)
38822
call the company and explain they should not charge you
326430
I would call SBC if I were you. I know friends who were overcharged and ended up getting a refund -- I think some companies overcharge on purpose, and then offer special discounts to customers who find out they've been overcharged -- because in the long run they make more money off of the customers who never realize they're being overcharged.
840521
A "charge off" is an accounting procedure.  The creditor has been unable to collect on the debt, so they take it off their books.  By charging off the debt they can get a tax breaks due to the loss.\n\nIt does not mean they are excusing the debt.  They will most likely turn this debt over to a collection agency to continue to try and collect.\n\nOne more bit of info...when a company charges off a debt, they must turn this information over to the IRS.  Your boyfriend will be responsible for the tax "gain".  The creditor is supposed to file a 1099 with the government, and send you a copy.  But many times they don't do this.  When you file your income taxes, it will trigger an audit if you don't declare this income.  \n\nJust something to keep in mind.
1004933
It means you are alive and generating a charge.
88675
Yes, if you try to screw them by not paying...Is this what you are asking?
94932
The charge off account could be sold and buyer of the account could try to collect it legally.  And they would be entitled to do this.  So it can be collected until the statute of limitations runs and this varies from as little as 4 years in some states to as long as 10 years in others. Interest can accrue this entire time even if the original creditor charged the account off.  Accounts beyond the statute of limitation are called "zombie debt" and you can challenge collection of these under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.