Just pay your bills and your credit will improve over time. No need to write anything to the credit agencies because they will receive notification of your pay off from the creditors. Just know that it might take a few years to recover your credit. There is no such thing as a quick fix.Credit card debt can not be erased from a credit report.
It will remain in your reports for 7 years.

With the hospital bill you can work what is called a "pay on delete".
If you pay the bill in full, you can have the item removed.
This is tricky – so do your research on how to do it right.
Also negotiate with the hospital.
Offer 50% of the total bill if they can send you a letter that they will remove the item from the report.
You’ll have to have the cash to pay. Payment plan won’t work.

There are many good books at the bookstore on repairing credit.
They will teach you step by step what to do.
/Paying off derogatory items won’t improve your score, nor get the item removed. The damage is done and will remain for the balanced of the 7 year reporting period, whether paid, unpaid, or settled. However, creditors look at your whole credit report, not just the score. Paid old debt looks better.

The best way to deal with derogatory items is to start with the newest and work back to the oldest. The older the item, the less impact on your score. If anything is close the the 7 year mark, just let it age off.

You may be able to negotiatge pay for delete (you pay and they remove the item from your credit report) for single entry items like medical bills. Doesn’t work for regularly reported items like credit cards and installment loans. Collection agencies can only remove what they report. The original creditor’s charge off would remain.

You should also try to settle for as little as you can. Generally, if the debt is over 3 years old, offer 25%; 2 or 3 years old, offer 50%; less than 2, offer 75%. Lump sum gets the best deals. Payment plans must be short term.

Get any settlement agreement in writing before you pay. Keep that agreement along with your payment proof, forever. Do not give collectors direct access to your bank account.

You will still need at least 24 months of consistent, on time payment history to improve your score. If you don’t have an open credit line, get one even if you have to get a secured credit card. Use the card and pay in full every month.

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