How to remove collections from your credit report

A collection is one of the heaviest items on a credit report. Here's how to go after one yourself, start to finish, without paying a company.

Step 1: Find it on all 3 reports

Pull your free reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion at AnnualCreditReport.com. A collection often shows on one or two bureaus, not all three, and the details are often different on each one.

For every collection, write down: the collector's name, the original creditor, the balance, the date opened, the date of first delinquency and the status.

Step 2: Compare the details

Put the 3 reports side by side. Look for:

• Different balances or dates on different bureaus
• The same debt listed twice, once by the original creditor and once by the collector, both with a balance
• A collector you've never heard of, with no original creditor named
• A date of first delinquency that doesn't match your records
• A debt you don't recognize at all

Step 3: Dispute it with each bureau

Dispute the collection with every bureau that shows it. Say exactly what's wrong and what you want: corrected or removed. Attach proof when you have it. Keep a copy of everything and write down the date you sent it.

Step 4: Ask the collector to validate the debt

Send the collection agency a written request asking them to validate the debt: who the original creditor is, the amount, and proof they have the right to collect it. Send it certified mail so you have the date on record.

Step 5: Track the answers

The bureau generally has 30 days to investigate after it gets your dispute. When the results come back, pull your reports again. Every collection was either deleted, updated, or kept. Anything still showing gets your next round with more detail and more proof.

What about paying it?

Paying a collection doesn't automatically remove it. If you plan to pay, ask in writing first whether they'll remove it from your reports once paid, and get their answer in writing before you send money.

Common questions

Can a collection be removed from my credit report?

Yes. Collections can be removed through disputes with the bureaus and by asking the collector to validate the debt. Anything that comes back deleted is gone from that report.

Does paying a collection remove it?

Not automatically. Ask the collector in writing whether they will remove it once paid, and get the answer in writing before you pay.

Do I dispute with the bureau or the collector?

Both. Dispute with each bureau that reports it, and send the collector a written request to validate the debt.

Will disputing a collection hurt my score?

No. Filing a dispute does not lower your credit score.