How to Ask a Collection Agency to Remove an Account From Your Credit Report

The best method to remove unwanted items from your credit report is by contacting a collection agency or disputing the item yourself. Removing items may be the ideal result for errors or discrepancies you may have found while looking through your report or applying for a loan or line or credit. Depending on the nature of the item, it may take both methods to fully remove the account from your credit report.

Instructions

1

Obtain a copy of your credit report through the three major credit bureaus or through the FreeCreditReport website (see Resources). Contact Experian at 888-397-3742, TransUnion at 800-916-8800 and Equifax at 800-685-1111.

2

Locate the items you wish to dispute and gather the contact phone number from the entries. Obtain any relevant information about the account, such as the date you opened it, the amount owed and any additional information you feel you need to dispute it.

3

Call the phone number on the entry to speak with a collection agency representative regarding your account. Provide the representative with information needed to access your account and explain your reason for wanting the item removed from your credit. Ask for proof that the agency removed the entry, such as a letter on the company's letterhead, for your personal records.

4

Write the collection agency to once again provide your reason for removing the account and to give it any documentation to help prove your case. Send a copy of your credit report showing the entry you want to dispute. Keep a copy of all of these documents and record the date you sent them to the collection agency.

5

Dispute the account with the three major credit bureaus if the collection agency did not remove it. Send a letter to the credit bureau or through the online form if you received you reports online. State the reason for the removal of the item and provide any important details from the information you previously gathered.