How to Remove Collections From Your Credit Report (What Works and What Doesn't)

Short answer: To remove collections from your credit report, dispute any collection that is wrong, listed more than once, not yours or the result of identity theft. Send a written dispute to both the credit reporting company and the business that reported the debt. If the collection is accurate, you generally can't have it removed early. Most negative information can stay on your report for seven years.

Seeing a collection account on your credit report can feel like a door slamming shut. Some of those entries can be fixed, and some can't. This guide explains the difference, walks through the dispute steps and shows you how to spot a credit repair pitch that promises more than the law allows.

Can You Remove Collections From Your Credit Report?

It depends on whether the collection is accurate.

The CFPB says you generally cannot have negative information removed from your credit report if it is accurate. The FTC puts it this way: no one promising to repair your credit can legally remove information if it's both accurate and current.

That still leaves real options. According to the CFPB, you can:

• Dispute information that is inaccurate. A wrong balance, wrong dates or an account that isn't yours can be disputed.
• Dispute accurate information that appears more than once. A debt listed multiple times can be disputed, even if the debt itself is real.
• Dispute information from identity theft or that isn't about you. The CFPB says the credit reporting companies should remove these items from your credit reports.

How Long Do Things Stay on Your Credit Report?

The CFPB says most negative information will remain in your report for seven years, and some types of information remain longer. The FTC says a credit bureau can report most negative information for seven years and bankruptcy information for 10 years.

If a collection is accurate, time is usually what takes it off your report. The FTC says no one promising to repair your credit can legally remove information that is both accurate and current.

Which Collections Can You Dispute?

Use this table to sort out what you're looking at.

What you see on your report	Can you dispute it?	What to do
A collection you don't recognize	Yes	Dispute it as not yours. If you think it's identity theft, say so in your dispute
The right debt with the wrong amount or dates	Yes	Dispute the specific details that are wrong, with documents that show the correct information
The same debt listed more than once	Yes	Dispute the extra listings with the credit reporting company and the furnisher
A collection that's accurate and current	Generally no	It can generally stay for the reporting period. You can add a statement of dispute if you disagree with how it was handled

The CFPB says a duplicate listing is not a harmless error. It could lower your credit score and lead lenders to give you loan offers with higher interest rates and less favorable terms.

How Do You Dispute a Collection on Your Credit Report?

Here are the steps, based on CFPB and FTC guidance.

1. Get your credit reports. The FTC says you can check your credit report from each of the three nationwide credit bureaus once a week for free at AnnualCreditReport.com.
2. Mark every collection that looks wrong. Note the account, what's wrong and the documents that show it.
3. Write to the credit reporting company. The CFPB says to explain in writing what you think is wrong and why, and include copies (not originals) of documents that support your dispute.
4. Write to the business that reported it, too. The CFPB says that to fully protect your rights, you should always dispute inaccuracies with both the credit reporting company and the company that furnished the information. It suggests sending disputes to furnishers in writing, using certified mail.
5. Keep a paper trail. You can send your letters by certified mail and ask for a return receipt. Keep copies of each letter and the documents you sent.
6. Watch for the results. The FTC says the credit bureau has 30 days to investigate, and it must give you the results in writing.

Our step-by-step guide on how to dispute credit report errors covers the letters in more detail.

What Happens After You Dispute?

The FTC says the credit bureau will forward the evidence you submitted to the business that reported the information. The CFPB says furnishers generally must investigate and respond to your dispute within 30 days of when they receive it.

If the information turns out to be wrong, the CFPB says the furnisher must update or remove it and notify all the credit reporting companies after correcting it. Then the credit reporting companies must update your credit reports.

If the dispute doesn't go your way, the FTC says you can ask that a statement of the dispute be included in your file and in future reports. The CFPB says that statement is provided to whoever requests your credit report in the future.

If you have a problem with a credit reporting company or a credit repair company, the CFPB says you can submit a complaint to it.

Should You Contact the Debt Collector First?

If a collector is contacting you about a debt you don't recognize, or the amount looks wrong, you can ask the collector to back it up before you pay. Our guide to the debt validation letter explains your rights and includes a sample letter. That's a separate step from disputing the entry on your credit report, and you can do both.

What About Credit Repair Companies?

The CFPB says that if a company promises to remove accurate negative information from your report, it's probably a credit repair scam. The FTC says companies that promise to repair your credit can't remove true information.

The FTC also lists rules credit repair companies have to follow:

• It's illegal for them to lie about what they can do for you or to charge you before they help you.
• They must explain your legal rights in a written contract that details the services they'll perform, how long it will take to get results, the total cost you'll pay and your three-day right to cancel without any charge.

Two warning signs the FTC names: scammers insist you pay them before they help you, and they tell you not to contact the credit bureaus directly.

The bigger point: the FTC says anything a credit repair company can do legally, you'll be able to do for yourself for little or no cost. Disputing errors is a right you already have for free.

What If the Collection Is Accurate?

If the debt is yours and the details are right, the entry can generally stay for the reporting period. What you can control is what happens next:

• Make a plan for what you owe. Our guide to the debt snowball vs. avalanche compares two ways to pay down debts.
• Build a cushion. An emergency fund can help keep a surprise bill from turning into the next collection account.
• Keep checking your reports. Free weekly reports make it easier to catch a new error early.

The Bottom Line

You can remove collections from your credit report when they're wrong, duplicated, not yours or the result of identity theft. Dispute them in writing with both the credit bureau and the business that reported them, keep copies, and watch for written results. Accurate collections generally can't be removed: most negative information can stay for seven years, and no one can legally remove information that is accurate and current. For more help, browse our credit and debt guides.

Frequently asked questions

Can you remove a collection from your credit report?

Yes, if it's wrong. You can dispute a collection that is inaccurate, listed multiple times, not yours or the result of identity theft. If it's accurate, the CFPB says you generally cannot have it removed from your credit report.

How long do collections stay on your credit report?

The CFPB says most negative information will remain in your report for seven years, and some types of information remain longer. The FTC says bankruptcy information can be reported for 10 years.

Will paying a collection remove it from my credit report?

Not necessarily. The CFPB says you generally cannot have negative information removed if it is accurate, and the FTC says no one can legally remove information that is both accurate and current. Be wary of anyone who promises that a payment or a fee will make an accurate collection disappear.

What if the same collection shows up twice?

Dispute the duplicate listings with the credit reporting company and with the original creditor or furnisher that reported them. The CFPB says a multiple listing is not a harmless error because it could lower your credit score.

Should I pay a credit repair company to remove collections?

You don't have to. The FTC says anything a credit repair company can do legally, you can do yourself for little or no cost. It's illegal for credit repair companies to lie about what they can do or to charge you before they help you.

Sources

1. CFPB: Is It Possible to Remove Accurate but Negative Information From My Credit Report?
2. CFPB: How Do I Remove Debts That Are Listed Multiple Times From My Credit Report?
3. CFPB: How Do I Dispute an Error on My Credit Report?
4. FTC: Disputing Errors on Your Credit Reports
5. FTC: Fixing Your Credit FAQs

This guide is general information, not personal advice. Your situation may differ, so consider talking with a qualified professional, such as a fiduciary financial adviser, CPA or licensed agent, before making a decision.