Collection accounts are the most commonly removable item on a credit report, because collectors buy debts in bulk and frequently can't verify what they're reporting. We validate every collection under the FDCPA, dispute what's inaccurate or unverifiable, negotiate pay-for-delete on what's valid when it fits your goal, and leave alone what should simply age off.
Who it's for
Anyone with one or more collection accounts, especially medical collections, duplicate collections for the same debt, or collections from companies you've never heard of.
Why collections are disputable so often
When a debt is sold, the paperwork often doesn’t travel with it. Balances get inflated with fees, dates get re-aged, the same debt gets reported by two collectors, and paid accounts keep reporting a balance. Each of those is a reportable inaccuracy under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and a collector that can’t validate the debt under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act has a weak claim to keep reporting it.
How we work a collection
- Validation request to the collector: amount, original creditor, proof you owe it, proof they own it, and proof they’re licensed to collect in your state.
- Bureau dispute for anything inaccurate or unverifiable, with evidence.
- Escalation if it comes back verified without proof: method of verification, direct dispute, regulator complaint.
- Negotiation for valid debts you want resolved: pay-for-delete first, “paid in full” settlement second, always in writing before payment.
- Patience for valid, accurate collections near the end of their seven-year window. Sometimes the right move is nothing.
Medical collections
The bureaus don’t report paid medical collections, medical collections under $500, or any medical collection less than a year old. If one is on your report anyway, it comes off on dispute. We check every medical item against those rules first.
What we won’t do
Tell you to pay a collection before validating it. Dispute a valid collection as “not mine.” Promise it will be deleted. Results depend on the collector, the paperwork, and your goal, and every file is different.
Want it handled?
You can do everything on this page yourself. If you'd rather have Laura build the strategy and run the rounds, start with a free consultation.
Request a Free ConsultationRead the DIY guide →Related questions
Should I pay a collection before disputing it?
No. Validate and dispute first. Paying removes your leverage and does not remove the account. See our page on whether paying a collection raises your score.
Can a collection be removed if I owe the money?
Only if the collector agrees (pay-for-delete) or can't verify it. Owing a debt and the collector being able to report it accurately are two different things.
How long do collections stay on my report?
Seven years from the date of first delinquency on the original account, regardless of when the collector bought it or when you paid.
Can I do this myself?
Yes. Validation and dispute letters are in our free DIY guide. Hire us when you have several and want the sequencing handled.
Free consultation
Not sure what this means for your file?
The consultation is free and it's a conversation, not a pitch. A house, a car, a fresh start, or just being done feeling embarrassed when someone pulls your credit: whatever it is, you'll leave knowing what your file needs, even if the answer is "do it yourself."
Month-to-month. No long-term contract. Cancel anytime.