<prompt> Human: I have an 18 month interest free loan. The payment is 260 a month, but on the first bill they listed a few different numbers but not the 260. One was the minimum payment, 99, but also showed it would take 17 years to pay off the debt. Another was I think double that amount and listed 3-4 years. Anyway a relative caught a look at the paper and started to tell me that if I were to pay the minimum payment throughout the course of the loan, and then pay off the balance at 18 months, my credit would be better off because it would show that I pay on it but then can pay off the balance. That sounds ridiculous to me but Im young and hopeless. Someone advise, please!  <response>: Dont listen to your relative. 