How to Remove Collections from Your Credit Report

How to Remove Collections From Your Credit Report

Do your homework, gather evidence and either dispute the account if it’s an error or ask for a goodwill deletion if you paid the collection.

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Collections accounts generally stay on your credit reports for seven years from the point the account first went delinquent, even if the account has been paid in full. But you may want them off sooner than that because collections can make you look bad to potential creditors. While newer versions of FICO and VantageScore credit scores ignore paid collections, many lenders still use older formulas that count them against you.

Investigate the collection

Gather information on the debt from two places: your own records and your credit reports. First, check your records for details on the account in question, including its age and your payment history. If available, you'll want to have a personal banking statement or similar document handy that shows the date of your last payment. Next, print out your credit reports from all three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — and highlight the differences when looking for errors. Not all lenders report to all three bureaus, so your reports might not be identical. The good news: You can get a free credit report every week from each bureau by using AnnualCreditReport.com. In addition, you can check your free credit report at NerdWallet as often as you like, along with a free credit score, both from TransUnion.

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How to get credit reports in Spanish ? Nerdy Tip You can request your credit report in Spanish directly from each of the three major credit bureaus:
· TransUnion: Call 800-916-8800.
· Equifax: Visit the link or call 888-378-4329.
· Experian: Click on the link or call 888-397-3742. You can request your credit report in Spanish directly from each of the three major credit bureaus:
· You can request your credit report in Spanish directly from each of the three major credit bureaus:
· : Call 800-916-8800.
· : Call 800-916-8800.
· : Visit the link or call 888-378-4329.
· : Visit the link or call 888-378-4329.
·

? Consejo Nerdy
Usted puede solicitar una copia de su informe crediticio (gratis y en español) de cada una de las tres principales agencias de crédito:
· TransUnion: Llame al 800-916-8800.
· Equifax: Visite el enlace o llame al 888-378-4329.
· Experian: Haga clic en el enlace o llame al 888-397-3742. Consejo Nerdy
Usted puede solicitar una copia de su informe crediticio (gratis y en español) de cada una de las tres principales agencias de crédito:
·
Usted puede solicitar una copia de su informe crediticio (gratis y en español) de cada una de las tres principales agencias de crédito:
· : Llame al 800-916-8800.
· : Llame al 800-916-8800.
· : Visite el enlace o llame al 888-378-4329.
· : Visite el enlace o llame al 888-378-4329.
· Use your credit reports to verify these details: Use your credit reports to verify these details: Account number in question. Account status (paid, charged off, closed). The date the debt went delinquent and was never again brought up to date. Once you have the details straight, you can decide which approach to take next.

If the collection is an error, dispute it

You may have a collections account on your credit report that shouldn’t be there. Maybe it’s too old to still be reported, or the collection itself is incorrect. Here's what to do based on where the error originated:

What to do if the credit bureau made an error

Delinquent accounts should fall off your credit report seven years after the date they first became and remained delinquent. But that doesn’t always happen. For debts that linger longer than they should, file a dispute with any credit bureau that still lists the debt. If a credit bureau has made a mistake on your report — if you don’t recognize the account or a paid account shows as unpaid, for example — gather documentation supporting your case. Then, file a dispute by using the credit bureau's online process, by phone or by mail. The bureau has 30 days to investigate.

What to do if the debt collector made an error

If you think the error is on the part of the debt collector, not the credit bureau, ask the collector to validate the debt to make sure it’s yours. A debt validation letter should include information like the amount owed and the creditor that is seeking payment, among other things. Note that you have 30 days from the date you receive validation information to dispute the validity of the debt. If the collector can’t validate, the collection should come off your reports.

If you already paid the debt: Ask for a goodwill deletion

You can ask the creditor — either the original creditor or a debt collector — for what’s called a “goodwill deletion.” Write the collector a goodwill letter explaining your circumstances and why you would like the debt removed, such as if you’re about to apply for a mortgage. There’s no guarantee your request will be accepted, but there’s no harm in asking. Having a record of on-time payments since the debt was paid will help your case. Your credit record will still show the late payments leading up to the collection action, but removing the collection itself takes away a source of score damage.

Sample letter requesting a goodwill deletion

Date
Creditor name & address
Subject: Goodwill Removal Request - Account #### Date
Creditor name & address
Subject: Goodwill Removal Request - Account #### Date
Creditor name & address
Subject: Goodwill Removal Request - Account #### Dear [Creditor Name], I’m writing to ask if you would consider removing a late payment from my credit report. I’ve been a customer since [year], and I’ve worked hard to keep my account in good standing. Unfortunately, I missed a payment on [date] due to [brief explanation, such as a temporary hardship or unexpected event like job loss, medical emergency or natural disaster]. Since then, I have made every effort to keep my payments current. Because the late payment is now affecting my credit score and limiting my financial opportunities, I’m hoping you might be willing to make an exception in this case. I understand the importance of making payments on time, and I take full responsibility for this mistake. I value my relationship with [Creditor Name] and appreciate your time and consideration. Thank you for reviewing my request. Sincerely,
[Your Name] Sincerely,
[Your Name] Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Check your credit reports after 30 days to make sure the change was made

Whether you're disputing an error or you're trying to get a paid debt removed earlier than the typical 7-year period, there is a 30-day window in which your claim must be addressed. Even if all goes well during the dispute process, it's a good idea to pull your credit reports after 30 days to make sure that the change was made.

Wait for the collection to fall off your report on its own

It’s not always possible to remove a collection from your credit report, especially if the debt is valid. If you’ve exhausted all other options without success, you’ll simply have to wait until enough time has passed. Collections should automatically come off your credit reports after seven years.

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See the full picture: savings, debt, investments and more. Smarter money moves start in our app. Explore more on About the authors Amanda Barroso, Ph.D., is a writer and content strategist helping consumers navigate budgeting, credit building and credit scoring. Before joining NerdWallet, Amanda wrote about demographic trends at the Pew Research Center and earned a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University. Her work has been featured by the Associated Press, Washington Post and Yahoo Finance. Published in Sean Pyles, CFP®, is producer and host of NerdWallet's "Smart Money" podcast. On "Smart Money," Sean talks with Nerds across the NerdWallet Content team to answer listeners' personal finance questions. With a focus on thoughtful and actionable money advice, Sean provides real-world guidance that can help consumers better their financial lives. Beyond answering listeners' money questions on "Smart Money," Sean also interviews guests outside of NerdWallet and produces special segments to explore topics like the racial wealth gap, how to start investing and the history of student loans. Before Sean started podcasting at NerdWallet, he covered topics related to consumer debt. His work has appeared in USA Today, The New York Times and elsewhere. When he's not writing about personal finance, Sean can be found tending to his garden, going for runs and taking his dog for long walks. He is based in Portland, Oregon. Published in How to Freeze and Unfreeze Your Credit with All 3 Bureaus How to Prevent Identity Theft: Warning Signs, Protection Services and More Fraud Alert vs. Credit Freeze: What’s the Difference? How to Stay Safe From Financial Scams 7 Ways to Rebuild Credit By Bev O'Shea, Amanda Barroso, Lauren Schwahn How to Build Credit From Scratch at Any Age By Erin El Issa, Amanda Barroso Credit Score Ranges: What They Mean and How They Work By Amanda Barroso, Lauren Schwahn How to Calculate Your Credit Utilization Ratio By Amanda Barroso What Is a Good Credit Score and How Do I Get One? By Amanda Barroso, Lauren Schwahn