Collections

 

 

When you fail to pay a bill on time and several months go by with it remaining unpaid, the creditor can choose to send your account to collections.

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The collection account will remain on your credit report for seven years from the date the original creditor first reported the debt as delinquent to the credit-reporting agency. That’s true even if the collection account has been transferred from the original creditor to one or more collection agencies.

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While bringing the account current by paying the collection agency is a good start, it does not mean the negative information will be immediately removed from your credit report. The account will be noted as paid on your report, but the negative information about the debt will remain on your report for the full seven years from the original delinquency date.