How to Remove Paid Collection From Credit Report

Choosing to pay off a collection that appears on your credit report is a critical step in credit repair. By satisfying past-due debts, you can increase your credit score and make your entire credit report more favorable to creditors. Sometimes, however, you might find that a collection that you've satisfied is still on your report as being delinquent or in collections. To update your report to reflect the debt paid-in-full, you simply need to file a dispute with the credit reporting agency.

Instructions

1

File a dispute with the credit reporting agency online, if you've obtained your copy of your credit report online.

When viewing your online report, there will be an option to file a dispute for any of the items on your report. The online application will group all of the items in question (if there should be any other erroneous information) and file them in one single dispute that is sent directly to the credit reporting agency.

When disputing the paid item, notate that the item was paid-in-full and that you would like it completely removed from your credit report.

You will be given a confirmation number so that you will be able to log in to the company's website to view that status and outcome of your dispute(s). The company will also send you periodic emails to remind you of the dispute and update you on the progress of the investigation.

Contact information for the three credit reporting agencies is:

TransUnion
P.O. Box 2000
Springfield, PA 19022
(800) 888-4213
www.transunion.com

Experian
P.O. Box 2014
Allen, TX 75013
(888) 397-3742
www.experian.com

Equifax
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374
(800) 865-1111
www.equifax.com

2

File a dispute with the credit reporting agency through the mail if you've obtained your report through the mail, or if you simply prefer to mail the dispute in even if you've received your report online.

The Federal Trade Commission recommends disputing all erroneous credit file information by sending a letter of dispute directly to the credit reporting agency. This letter should include your name and contact information, information regarding the item in question such as the creditor's name, account number and balance reflected on the credit report. Explain that you would like the item completely removed from your report since it has been paid off. Include supporting documentation as well-- a copy of a canceled check, letter from the creditor, receipt of payment or copy of a credit card or bank statement that reflects payment on the account in question. This will assist the investigator in correcting your credit report and removing the item in question. List all items you sent along with the letter at the bottom of the letter by writing or typing "Enclosures:" followed by descriptions of the supporting documents that you've submitted.

3

Allow 30 to 45 days for the credit reporting agency to investigate and process your dispute.

Mailed-in disputes will be resolved within 30 days of their receipt, while disputes submitted over the Internet can take up to 45 days.

The credit reporting agency will notify you via email or postal mail once the dispute has been processed and a decision reached. If the agency was able to validate payment on the account, it should be removed from your record.

4

Check your credit report again to verify that the item in question has been removed.