Mortgage expert and real estate investor Elvira Rodrigues sits down with Ashley Mitchell of White Jacobs & Associates (WJA) to break down what really moves a credit score, what mistakes hurt borrowers the most, and how to prepare your credit the right way before a mortgage.
Top 10 Highlights From the Episode
1) WJA can challenge virtually every major category of negative credit item (when there are valid grounds)
WJA explains there isn’t one single category they “won’t touch.” They commonly pursue late payments, charge-offs, collections, public records, repossessions, foreclosures, and even items included in bankruptcy—while emphasizing disputes must stay aligned with consumer laws like the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
2) DIY credit repair—especially online disputes—can weaken your leverage
WJA strongly discourages DIY disputes unless you truly understand what you’re doing. They warn that online dispute platforms can compromise the integrity of a dispute and make it harder to go back later with stronger, more specific arguments.
3) Paying off old collections can actually drop your score
WJA explains that paying an old collection may update “date of last activity,” which can trigger a score drop. And in many cases, paying simply changes the account from “unpaid collection” to “paid collection” without delivering a major score benefit.
4) Paying an old charge-off can help in specific situations (original creditor charge-off still reporting a balance)
WJA draws a key distinction: if the original creditor charge-off is still reporting a balance, settling it can zero the balance and reduce utilization/past-due impact, which may help your score.
5) Pay-for-delete is mostly gone with original creditors
WJA explains pay-for-delete used to be more common, but original creditors generally won’t do it anymore. Some collection agencies may still agree to delete, but WJA stresses: get it in writing before paying.
6) Credit repair doesn’t guarantee immediate score increases
WJA addresses a common assumption: even when negative items are challenged or removed, scores don’t always jump instantly. Credit scoring is multi-variable, and disputes can sometimes trigger re-reporting or temporary drops before the broader strategy pays off.
7) Active disputes can derail mortgage closings—and removing disputes can change scores
They emphasize a big mortgage reality: lenders often won’t close with accounts in dispute. And when disputes are removed, scores can shift again—meaning timing matters if you’re close to underwriting or closing.
8) Why your “online score” is higher than your mortgage score
WJA explains that consumers often see higher scores online because many consumer platforms use different scoring models (often VantageScore) compared to scoring models used in mortgage lending (specific FICO versions).
9) Medical collections are evolving—but disputes still hinge on validation and compliance
WJA discusses changes and ongoing movement related to medical debt, and also explains a practical strategy: request proper validation (and the right authorization language) while understanding HIPAA/FDCPA angles that can strengthen a dispute when documentation is incomplete.
10) The fundamentals still win: pay on time + manage utilization
They reinforce what drives scores most: payment history and revolving utilization (they emphasize keeping balances around the 30% range). They also note that recent negatives tend to be weighted more heavily for roughly the most recent ~24 months.
Full Talking Points Timeline (Timestamp Index)
- 00:00 — Intro: Elvira Rodrigues welcomes viewers/listeners, asks for follow + notifications, shares social handle.
- 01:00 — Guests introduced: Curtis Dorsey + Ashley Mitchell (WJA). Topic: credit score impact on home buying + improvement strategies.
- 01:20 — What negative items can WJA remove/challenge? (lates, charge-offs, collections, public records, bankruptcies, repos, foreclosures) + FCRA dispute rights.
- 03:00 — DIY disputes: why WJA doesn’t recommend it; online disputes can weaken your position.
- 05:00 — Myth: paying everything off can hurt; paid collections don’t always raise scores much.
- 06:20 — Warning: paying old collections can reset activity and drop scores.
- 07:00 — When paying charge-offs can help (original creditor charge-off w/ balance).
- 08:00 — Pay-for-delete: mostly gone with original creditors; collections may negotiate—get it in writing.
- 10:00 — Score changes during credit repair: why scores can dip temporarily.
- 11:00 — Mortgage issue: disputes can block closing; removing disputes can shift scores.
- 12:00 — Mortgage rule reminder: don’t open new credit during the process; final pull at closing.
- 13:00 — Why dispute verbiage matters (mortgage meltdown history; investor guidelines).
- 14:00 — Collection agencies using Fair Credit Billing Act dispute coding to remove items from scoring and pressure payment.
- 16:00 — Online score vs mortgage score differences: Vantage vs FICO + mortgage model specifics.
- 19:00 — Medical debt changes discussed + uncertainty and policy dynamics.
- 20:00 — Medical debt disputes: validation, HIPAA/FDCPA angles, authorization language.
- 23:00 — Hard vs soft inquiries: typical impact, how long they matter, how scoring impact varies by credit profile.
- 25:00 — Student loans: deferment aftermath, consolidation strategy, mortgage-readiness considerations.
- 29:00 — Identity theft: steps + warnings about fraudulent affidavits and legal risk.
- 32:00 — When creditors refuse removal: no guarantees, CROA compliance, escalation strategies, attorney tools.
- 35:00 — Debt buyers like Midland: often better to settle + negotiate deletion.
- 37:00 — Chase “tiny leftover interest” late-payment story: huge score drop; banks may not fully remove lates.
- 41:00 — Best practices: autopay minimum, pay early, keep utilization low; payment history + recency window.
- 44:00 — Timeframes: most derogatory items ~7 years; Chapter 13 ~7; Chapter 7 up to 10; bankruptcies hard to remove now.
- 46:30 — Why Curtis and WJA got into credit repair + what makes WJA different (mission + attorney-backed).
- 50:00 — Closing: bad credit is expensive; better credit opens options + better rates; final call to action.
