<prompt> Human: Hello, my wife and I have about 5k debt between 7 different high interest credit cards. Our credit scores are both in the 500s and we are looking to raise them over the next three year period so we can get a loan on a house. I could pay them off entirely this year but someone told me it is better to pay them off over time because it has a better effect on your credit score. I am wondering if this is true and how I should go about doing that. Also any other advice to raise our scores would be great. Thanks!  <response>: Pay them off ASAP. No need to pay interest when you dont have to. 