Advice on how to reestablish credit after years of unemployment and years ago unpaid bills?

Ok, first he does not need a tv. And if he has to finance it he cannot afford it either.
Now the question is how long has it been since he paid anything on his debts. after being 7 years delinquent these debts are wiped off his credit history. Government debts will never go away.
Get an account at the Navy Federal Credit Union, they may be the most friendly place for a vet to get credit. Go slow and don’t do stupid things, like financing TVs. Pay on time, don’t exceed 30% of available credit, and be consistent. Yes its hard, but people don’t like being screwed over by debtors who fail to pay. He needs to earn others’ trust, and that takes time.

Your son needs to get out of the underground economy. If he works but gets paid “under the table,” both he and the payor are violating state and federal law. Your son has earned income, but he isn’t filing an income tax return or paying any tax. Form W-2’s and income tax returns establish a history of income and dependability.

Your son should also open a savings account. Maybe he can’t save much money, but even a little bit is better than nothing at all. A bank account is further evidence that someone’s a reliable, functioning member of society.

If the debt is over 4 years old, and in those 4 years he has not made a payment. They cant go after him for restitution. If collectors are calling. Tell them to kiss off. Makes sure it has been more then 4 years. 7 years total it will be on his credit report. It was good he did not do bankrupts.

He needs to find a job. No employment history. No credit.
Once he shows consistent employment. Like a year. His credit will be good to go again.

During that year of employment. He needs to learn how to save for something and pay with cash. Save the credit for emergencies.

I have not used a credit card in over a year. It has not prevented me from having anything I want. I just have to wait and understanding that with responsibility comes patients.

The TV financing was just an example, where he lives in south Central Missouri, there is little or no TV reception anyway. Will having household utilities in his name help credit history? Assuming he pays always on time.

Start by saving money from his pay in the amount of a loan he would take out. Then he pays himself, and it earns interest. When he has the necessary amount of money, take out a loan and make the payments out of the money he has saved.

We have excellent credit and we have always handled our finances that way, with the exception of the houses, which are our biggest debt.

He might also want to look into getting a secured credit card. They require a cash deposit into a collateral account that becomes the credit line for the card. He’ll need to shop around as not all secured credit cards are the same—the best will not require an application fee and will have a low annual fee.

The account will be reviewed periodically and may be graduated to an unsecured card which means the collateral funds will be returned.

He has to just wait out the seven years for the unpaid bills not have such a negative effect. He’ll need to save to buy the things he wants with cash. After seven years he should take out a small loan at a bank or finance a small item like a TV or computer and pay back by the terms. Then he will start building a credit history. He needs reportable income too.