Will paying off charge offs result in a lower credit score?

Maybe, maybe not. Credit scores are calculated based on all the information in a consumer's credit report. It is impossible to guess the exact repercussions of one item on that score, in most instances. The factor that causes the highest deductions to the score is when a derogatory item was last updated/reported on the bureau. If a charged off account is being currently reported/updated, (or that date falls within the last 12 months), this hits the score in the history category. History accounts for 35% of the score. Paying off an account like this would MOST LIKELY not cause deductions. If, on the other hand, the charge off has not been updated in some time; paying if off would make it a zero balance account as of NOW. The updated status of "paid charge off" would bring such an account within the past 12 months and would IN THIS INSTANCE cause deductions to the score. How much of a deduction would, once again, depend on ALL the informaiton showing in a consumer's report.