Having a debt in collection on a person’s credit report will almost certainly bring that individual’s credit score down. Regardless of whether the debt is paid or unpaid, a collection account will normally remain on a consumer’s credit report for up to seven years. If that person plans on obtaining financing in the future, this blemish can cause serious problems. However, it is possible to remove a collection account from a person’s credit report by taking the following steps.
Submit a Goodwill Letter
This first option is one that is oftentimes overlooked, but it can be successful in many situations. Consumers should first try to remove the collections account on their credit history by sending the collection agency what is called a “goodwill letter.” Make sure this goes to the collection agency and not the original creditor since, at this point, the debt has already been sold to a third-party collection agency.
