Is it worth the effort to try to increase my credit scores?

Whether it's worth your time and money to work on your credit depends entirely on your NEED for better credit and FICO scores and of course on how much of an effort it will be.

Some people get lucky, they send out one round of disputes and while the results may not be perfect, the scores are substantially higher.   But that's very unlikely if you have 8 charge-offs and 10 collections.

Others go through 2 or even 3 rounds of disputes and then their only option is to sue, to live with their credit or to FIGHT.  If you are able to RECORD collection calls, you have a substantially higher chance of being able to "settle" for nothing and getting permanent deletion as described here:

How to get a collection account deleted and PERMANENTLY closed

If you are a typical CreditFactors subscriber with several unpaid charge-offs and collections, you have quite a bit of reading to do and it is important that you understand that it takes TIME to analyze credit reports and to determine how to increase FICO scores.

I assist subscribers at the CreditFactors member forum free of charge.

You can post questions about your accounts or ask for general guidelines at the CreditFactors subscriber forum.  It's not personal consultation, but I'll try to point you in the right direction.

Sometimes it may seem like I do MAGIC - one seemingly unimportant date is added to the credit reporting and the score goes up over 80 points.   But often the credit bureaus simply ignore factual disputes.  I do NOT recommend disputing the same thing over and over.  The CRAs classify the disputes as frivolous and it becomes a waste of time.

If you have RECENT charge-offs, you need to determine whether you can dispute or settle accounts if creditors decide to sue you in response to disputes. 

At CreditFactors you'll find lots of info on how to avoid getting sued and what to do if you are served.  The CreditFactors litigation database contains court filings written by attorneys as well as court rulings in credit reporting and collection cases.