Best Method for My Credit Situtation?

[juantons]

Hey guys, I found this forum and have been reading through some of the post for the last 3 hour and wanted to reach out and see if anyone could provide me with advice in relation to my own credit situation.

Im 25, fell into 2 years of hard times after a start-up company me and a partner worked on in school. I have student loans at about $3,500, they went into default but I started on the repayment plan and in 3 months they said they will be removed from delinquent status and off my CR.

In addition I have about $4000 in other debts, amex, $1200 from Arizona State University for a class, $259 from a public library, a $90 bill from a cable company from when I was 19...

Here are my questions:

• Is the "1-2" punch method best for the above or is there another method?
• American Express offered me to pay the balance on the card and they would give me the "Optima" - BUUUUUUT could I get the old balance that says in collections taken off the credit report.

[juantons]

NOTE:

I paid off 2 photo radar tickets that were on my CC as well....Is there a way to get those off my credit report?