multiple questions for "newbie"

I'm a newbie, but have some questions... By the way, this seems like a GREAT message board - I'm so happy to be finally learning that there is hope in restoring my credit rating!!!

3 1/2 years ago, I had about 25000 in credit card debt, and enrolled in a credit counseling service to help me pay off my bills. Earlier this month, my husband and I sold our house, and with the money we made, we paid off all our credit cards (by that time, the total we still owed was about 15000). I went to creditexpert.com, and was told my score was 622 - YUCK! None of the pay-offs except the mortgage have hit yet though. How much do you predict my credit score will increase???

Also, I've been reading and it seems a lot of people are saying that Providian is revolking their credit - my husband, who has worse credit than I do (about 580 through CreditExpert) has a providian and it's his only card. Any recommendations on what card he should apply for just in case Providian pulls his account? Seeing that his credit score is so low, I hate for him to have his only credit closed...

Also, he had an account about 4 years ago through Capital One that went to collections. We settled....how do you recommend we go about trying to remove it from his credit report? Also a medical bill that went to collections and was paid last year - totally not his fault either (as far as I see it)...he was in a car accident, one bill from the hospital was billed WAY later than all the rest - by that time he had moved (no forwarding address) and the bill went to collections - the only way we knew about it was when we got our mortgage...

Thanks in advance for all the advice. I've just written three goodwill letters that I'm mailing out next week to try to start my credit repair!