removing collections paid in full

Even if they are paid in full, they can still be reported on your bureau for 7 years from the date of first delinquency (albeit, they would have to be reported as a paid collection)...

Keep disputing it, either indirectly through the credit bureaus or directly with the collection agency. Every time you dispute it, they have to go through the process of "validating" it in accordance with FCRA.

Bank on the fact that they get so many disputes, and have better things to do, and one day they may just "delete" it instead of go through the trouble of validating it.


Here's another hint: When you dispute your credit report through the bureaus, they send what's called an ACDV to the person who reported the information, and request them to respond.

If you dispute just the balance and/or status, then the person validating the account has the option to simply check a box that says "accurate as of date reported". They don't have to do anything else, and it will remain on your credit file.

BUT if you dispute ownership of the account and say it is not yours, then they cannot simply check the "accurate" box because the ACDV requires them to validate your identity as well; for these types of disputes, they have to go through the process of typing in your name, address, phone, social, and DOB.

In other words, if you say the account is not yours, its a lot more of a pain in the @$$ to keep validating.

Great information, Mike! And very true..I've used the same methods myself.

You'll find some bureaus work better with you than others, but don't give up. I've also called the CA's and asked them to delete the records...It's worked a couple of times..It's more of a long shot.

You have those removed with some credit bureaus more than others. I have a hard as hell time proving that something is paid (I have to send in receipts). Some credit bureaus won't and some will. Keep sending letters and being persistent.

Were any of them charged off??

Even charged off accounts are reported in the credit report for seven years. Only inaccurate info can be disputed and the CRA will return the updated file after removing all the errors.

In some cases, the CA will tell that they are not going to report anything negative after you pay off the account. Though, accurate negative information cannot be disputed if it appears in the file, but if the CA is saying that it won't be reported, tell them to give it to you in writing. They are the ones responsible for your credit reporting with legitimate reasons.

Hey is there way to remove paid collection accounts from credit report..plz help me..
i am ready to do whatever.it may..i need to take it off from creditreport.
any help is appreaciated..plz

Wow, I think this was my very first post on this site....

Edision - all I can tell you really, is what I originally posted above. Paid collections don't necessarily have to come off your credit report, just legally they would have to show a zero-balance/paid. ALl you can really do is just keep disputing, and hope the CA deletes rather than take their time to verify the information.

if it shows paid will score increase? I am in a similar situation and am trying to buy a house, I have the cash to pay of old collections but want to do it where I will benefit in the long run.According to my mortgage broker, FHA 1st time buyer can have no collections regardless of score. Does anyone know if this is true?

A paid collection will not increase your score. In fact, it may have the opposite effect depending on how old it is. Paying will show a newer DOLA which initially could drop your score.

so what is my goal? What is the wording needed on the report or am I going for deletion?

Deletion will always be the goal but PFD's are not easy to get. You might also research Non-disclosure agreements. The concept there is you pay the collection on the condition that the CA not disclose the arrangement to anyone including the CRA's. Then dispute the tradeline. If the CA verifies, they have violated the NDA and would then owe you a sum of money as a result. Say $10,000 to make it hurt.

Nascar - good idea, in theory. I wonder if they'd actually agree to sign a non-disclosure.

It would be interesting to put a non-disclosure as part of a restrictive endorsement on the back of your payment. Then, by cashing your check, they agreed to the terms in your restrictive endorsement.

My husband and I were applying for a home loan and was told that our score is low because of a "paid collection" on our report. I obtained a copy of our credit report from all CRAs and saw that a report by the collection agency with the note that it is paid.

My questions are the following:
(1) When we found out that we have $50 of unpaid balance on a closed account, we paid the original creditor right away. We didn't know the account had been forwarded to a collection agency. Can a creditor legally forward your account to a collection agency without notifying you?

(2) Can a collection agency legally place a negative mark on your credit report even if we haven't heard from them about collecting a debt, in-behalf of the original creditor?

I called both original creditor and the collection agency and told them that we were not informed that this went to a collection agency, subsequently resulting to a negative mark on our credit report. Both refused to remove it from our credit report. booo hooo!

Any suggestions? I'm planning to send a DV to the CRAs but I don't know how to word my letter. PLEASE help... anyone?

Thanks a bunch.

Yes and yes to both questions 1 and 2.

Advice BEFORE you pay a debt that is in collections. Ask the collection agency if the debt is paid in full that they will remove it from your credit report. MAKE SURE TO GET IN WRITING AND THAT THEY INCLUDE ALL OF THE CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES NAMES THAT THEY ARE REMOVING IT FROM!

My Question: If am marred do you both have separate credit reports. If she gets a account with out me knowing and dose not pay it will it be on my report ?

Only joint accounts will affect the both of you.

"http://www.myfico.com/CreditEducation/Questions/marriage-and-credit.aspx"

i sent a PDF letter to a collection agency and they came back and basically said that they cannot delete the account from my credit report -- what should I do???

If it is accurate, they do not have to delete it.
If it isn't, send a Notarized statement to the CRA (mail it) that you swear that it is not your debt along with a strongly worded letter that they remove it immediately or you shall investigate your legal remedies.

Ditto what Chrys said. Although having your letter notarized is just more for effect than anything. If you don't know a notary, I wouldn't go pay to do that.

Even while married, you both have separate credit reports. Joint accounts will be on both of your credit reports, while accounts that you take individually will only be on your credit report - not your spouse's (and vice versa).

True, it *is* only for effect. But, the CRAs have a bad habit of disregarding consumer disputes - especially "it's not my debt" disputes (which are often answered by the collector as "oh yes it is") so it is a good effect, IMO.

I have a ? to this, I guess I'm still a little confused,what happens if you want to settle the debt,the ca agrees to take the payment but doesn't agree to remove from your credit report? Does that ever happen? What do you do then?

They often will not remove it unless you negotiate for a pay-for-delete, which usually requires payment in full.

im trying to clear a debt that i was not aware that i had, in speaking with the collections company i told them i would send payment in full and that i would need something showing that the account was cleared. I was told that they would not send a PIF letter until i also paid OLD accounts that had dropped off my report years ago. Basically they were holding a PIF letter for ransom. Is this leagel?????

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