How to Remove Collection Accounts From Credit Report

Every negative item that you are able to remove from your credit reports will raise your credit score. As your credit score goes up, you will be eligible for loans with better interest rates. Collection accounts that are older than seven years will usually be removed from your credit reports whether you take action to remove them or not. Recent collection accounts will remain on your credit report for up to seven years, so it will benefit you to take the time to challenge the account and have it removed as fast as possible.

Instructions

1




Payment arrangements stop your lenders from reporting new negative information to the credit bureaus.

Call your lender and make payment arrangements. Recent collection accounts cannot be permanently removed from your credit reports until they have been paid.

2




It is always best to get financial agreements in writing.

Request that lenders report positive payment to the credit bureaus, stop reporting the negative information, or agree not to validate the negative information when you challenge it. Get the agreement in writing.

3




The three credit bureaus are TransUnion, Equifax and Experian.

Visit annualcreditreport.com and get a copy of your credit reports. Make sure you get one credit report from each of the three credit bureaus.

4




Your credit reports are your responsibility.

Use the dispute system at each of the credit bureaus to dispute the collection accounts. It will take the credit bureaus 30 to 45 days to confirm information. If the credit bureaus cannot validate the debt, then the collection account will be removed.

5




There are a many valid reasons to dispute collection accounts.

Continue making payments with your lenders and re-challenge the collection account if the credit bureaus verify it. You may need to challenge collection accounts multiple times before you are able to have them removed. The older a collection account is, the easier it is to have it removed.