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Having a collection account on your credit report can be frustrating, especially if it’s an older debt that you thought was no longer an issue. The good news is that collection accounts fall off your credit report after 7 years, even if you haven’t paid them. However, you may still have options if you want to try removing or disputing a collection account before the 7 years are up.
How Long Do Collections Stay on Your Credit Report?
According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, collection accounts can remain on your credit report for up to 7 years from the date the debt first became delinquent. This is true even if you eventually pay the debt in full.
For example, if you missed a credit card payment in March 2020 and the account went to collections a few months later, that collection could potentially stay on your credit report until March 2027. Paying it now wouldn’t necessarily get it removed.
The 7 years also restarts if you make a payment or agree to a new payment plan on an old collection account So be cautious when collectors contact you about debts that are close to falling off your report,
When Can You Dispute a Collection Account?
You have the right to dispute inaccurate or outdated information on your credit report at any time. There is no time limit. Disputing a collection account after 7 years is certainly possible if it’s still appearing past the allowable reporting period.
With that said it’s usually easier to get collections removed or deleted within the first couple years after the account became delinquent, before creditors pass it off to multiple collection agencies. The older and more convoluted the history, the more difficult it can be to unravel.
How to Dispute a Collection Account after 7 Years
If you find a collection account on your credit report that is older than 7 years, you have a few options for disputing it:
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Contact the credit bureaus – File a dispute directly with each bureau reporting the obsolete collection account – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Provide proof that the debt is older than 7 years. The bureau must investigate within 30 days.
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Contact the collector – If you can identify the collection agency reporting the account, reach out to them directly and share documentation that shows the debt is too old to keep reporting.
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Hire a credit repair company – For a fee, a credit repair service will audit your reports, identify issues like obsolete collections, and handle the dispute process for you. This saves time and effort.
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Submit a CFPB complaint – Reporting outdated collections past 7 years violates the FCRA. You can submit a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (subject to availability) or your state attorney general.
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Consult a consumer lawyer – If other methods are unsuccessful, a lawyer can help determine if legal action against the credit bureaus and/or collectors is appropriate.
Strategies to Remove Collections Before 7 Years
Trying to remove a collection account earlier in the 7-year period takes more finesse but can be done in some cases:
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Request a goodwill deletion – If you’ve paid the collection account already, you can ask the collector (in writing) to remove it from your credit report as a goodwill gesture. No guarantees, but it works sometimes if you have a sympathetic story.
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Negotiate pay-for-delete – When settling a collection debt, try to negotiate having it deleted from your credit reports in exchange for payment. Get this deal in writing first.
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Challenge inaccuracies – If you spot errors in the collection account details, such as the amount owed or dates, you can dispute these inaccuracies with the credit bureaus to potentially get it modified or removed.
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Prove your identity was stolen – Debts resulting from identity theft should not remain on your credit report. You’ll need an identity theft report and police report to back up your dispute.
Does Paying Collections Help Your Credit?
With paid collections still damaging your credit for the full 7 years, you may wonder if there’s any benefit at all to paying them. There are a few potential perks:
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Stops further collection efforts – Once paid, collectors will leave you alone instead of continuing to pursue the debt through calls and letters.
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Brings account balance to $0 – A $0 balance looks better than still owing the full past due amount.
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May improve credit scores slightly – FICO and VantageScore give a small credit score bump for paid collections versus unpaid.
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Helps with lender approvals – Many lenders have strict cutoffs regarding unpaid collections. Settling them can help your approval odds on future credit applications.
So paying collections, even if they remain on your credit report, can still provide some advantages. Just don’t expect paid collections to be removed until they naturally age off your credit reports after 7 years.
Alternatives if Dispute is Unsuccessful
If you exhaust all options and cannot get an obsolete or inaccurate collection deleted from your credit before 7 years, here are some backup plans to consider:
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Add a credit report statement – You can request to attach a 100-word statement to your credit report to explain the dispute over the collection account.
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Focus on adding positive information – Opening new responsible accounts and making on-time payments can offset the old collection’s impact over time.
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Wait it out – Collections fall off eventually after 7 years. Be patient and avoid restarting the clock.
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Consult an attorney – If the collector violated consumer protection laws, legal action may force removal of the account. But lawsuits should be a last resort.
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Prioritize other factors – FICO and VantageScore credit models minimize the damage from collections once you have established or re-established other positive credit.
With persistence and patience, even difficult collections don’t have to be a permanent credit report fixture. Understanding your options and rights is key so you can take appropriate steps to remove or counteract the negative impact of collection accounts.
Collections can stay on your credit report for up to 7 years, but you may have options to dispute or delete them earlier in certain situations. If a collection account remains past 7 years, you have a strong case to contact the credit bureaus for removal. Paying off collections can help limit their damage, but typically won’t lead to immediate deletion before the 7-year period ends. With the right approach, you can take action to minimize obsolete or misleading collection accounts.
Hire a credit repair company
Hiring a credit repair company is another option for removing old or incorrect information from your credit report. For a fee, a credit repair company will identify errors on your reports, file disputes and even write goodwill letters on your behalf.
This service can cost between $50 and $200 per month, so it’s important to do your research and ensure you’re using a reputable credit repair company.
Wait for the old debt to fall off
Information only stays on your credit report for a certain length of time. Unpaid debts, delinquent accounts and accounts in collections will remain on your credit report for seven years even if you eventually repaid them. Chapter 7 bankruptcies are visible for 10 years, and Chapter 13 bankruptcies, seven years.
If your old debt is about to expire, the easiest approach is to wait for it to fall off. However, if the right number of years has passed and it’s still showing, you can contact the appropriate credit bureau to have it removed.
How I REMOVED A COLLECTION from my CREDIT REPORT in 24 HOURS!
FAQ
How to dispute a 7 year old debt?
If this happens, you can file a dispute by contacting each credit bureau that is still reporting the old debt. The credit bureaus can be contacted by phone, mail, or online. Gather supporting documents such as receipts, letters and statements from your creditor.
Can a collection agency collect on a debt after 7 years?
Can I be chased for a 7 year old debt?
If you have made payments towards a debt where the limitation period of six years has already gone by, and no court action has already been taken, the debt is …
Should I pay a debt that is 7 years old?
Yeah, at this point, there’s not really a reason to pay those off. They will fall off your credit after 7 years, and the statute of limitations has expired. Do NOT acknowledge the debt or make a promise to pay as this can reset all that.