credit rating impact on small claims judgment

[tcat9999]

Hi – I just received a New York City Small-Claims (counter-claim) judgment against me for ~$40 dollars. I now understand that it can go on my credit report under the "public records" section even if it is paid in full. (No comment here on how bogus this claim is – I just need to deal with credit implications.) Is there anything the claimant can do to get it erased – or to nip it in the bud before it gets on my record? Is there anything I can do?

Obviously small dollars but implications of blight on otherwise perfect record can mean additional fractions of a percent on interest rate of future mortgage, which translates into several thousand dollars.

Thanks in advance for any help on this.

 

[mightymoose]

Pay the $40 immediately. If, after you pay it, the mark should appear on your credit report, then you can dispute it since the debt was already settled. Judgments against you can be reported on your credit, but should not be reported unless the debt is outstanding.

 

[jharris352]

You can't do anything about it now but pay it and get it recorded as such. There is no use worrying about it because whatever minor damage it does you can't prevent.

 

[tcat9999]

Pay the $40 immediately. If, after you pay it, the mark should appear on your credit report, then you can dispute it since the debt was already settled. Judgments against you can be reported on your credit, but should not be reported unless the debt is outstanding.

ok thanks - think i have 30 days to satisfy judgment and thus avoid blemish on record. never hurts to be proactive on these things.