How to Get a Paid Credit Account Off Your Credit Report

Your options are limited for stripping paid-off credit accounts from your credit report. The Federal Trade Commission reports that positive credit information can be reported indefinitely. However, any information that is wrong must be removed if you dispute the item with the credit bureaus. Most credit information that is negative, such as late payments, can remain on your credit report for seven years, according to the FTC. Federal law requires the credit bureau to investigate anything you dispute on your report.

Instructions

1

Obtain a copy of your credit report from the Annual Credit Report.com website. The site was created by major credit bureaus TransUnion, Equifax and Experian to offer free credit reports as required under the terms of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. You're entitled to three free reports every 12 months -- one from each of the credit bureaus.

2

Review your report to find the paid credit items you would like removed. You must have a legitimate reason for having the information removed, such as it is wrong or outdated.

3

Write a letter to the credit bureau to dispute the paid credit information based on its lack of timeliness or accuracy. Mail the letter to the credit bureau at its address on the credit report. Return to AnnualCreditReport.com to order credit reports from the two other bureaus. Send letters to those credit bureaus as well. Allow about 30 days for responses while the credit bureaus investigate your claim. By law the information must be removed if it is wrong or outdated. Otherwise it will remain.