Allow at least 4-6 weeks to receive your credit report(s).  If you have already received an annual credit report from an agency and are not entitled to the free yearly report, you may also use any denial letter of credit within 60 days of its receipt.  If you receive a letter denying you credit, make a copy and enclose it with your written request for a copy of your credit report.

Once you receive your reports from all of the agencies, review each report for accuracy and differences.  Design a spreadsheet or written log to track the differences.  Do not hesitate to make use of disputes or accounts that are invalid. If you find anything on your report that is worth disputing, most agencies allow you to file an official dispute via their website.  

Your credit reports should include contact and account information for each creditor.  Organize all of your debt and creditors.  Most debts older than 7 years old will or may not appear on your report, if this is the case, leave them alone, do not dig around for them.  Most creditors after 7 years of not having any contact with you will write off the debt, some may continue their pursuit to locate you, either way, don't open the Pandora's box if the account isn't listed on your credit report.

Take it upon yourself to contact each creditor to make payment arrangements, most are willing to work with you, some may make your task very difficult.  If a creditor is being difficult, feel free to ask for his or her supervisor or speak with someone else.  Expect some creditors to be rude and unwilling to work with you, do not feel discouraged, and just ask to speak with someone else. Offer a settlement amount.  Write down details of the conversation as well as the person's contact information every time you speak with a creditor.

It may take up to 6 months to feel like you are making any progress at all on your credit with your payment arrangements but rest assured that your credit will fall into place within a year.