Collection account removal

Why these come off

A collection is rarely held by the original creditor. It has usually been sold two or three times, and each sale loses documentation. That is exactly why collections are among the most successfully challenged items on a credit report.

We demand verification from the collector and the bureau. Not a computer-generated confirmation — actual proof that the debt is yours, the balance is right, and they have the legal right to collect it.

How the process runs

Common questions

Should I just pay the collection?

Be careful. Paying can restart the clock in some situations and a paid collection can still sit on your report. Get it challenged first — if it comes off, there is nothing to pay.

What is debt validation?

Your right to demand the collector prove the debt is yours, in the amount claimed, and that they can legally collect it. Many cannot, especially on debt that has changed hands.

How long do collections stay on?

Seven years from the original delinquency date — not from when the collector bought it. Collectors 're-age' debts to reset that clock, which is illegal and very challengeable.

Can the same debt appear twice?

It should not, but it happens constantly when a debt is sold. The original creditor and the collector both report it, and your score gets hit twice for one debt.

What about paid collections?

A paid collection can still show for seven years. Under newer scoring models it hurts less, but older models lenders still use count it. Worth challenging either way.