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Make medical payments to the collection company not to the hospital
Dear Experian, I have been making monthly payments for a hospital bill. The hospital has stopped all correspondence and continues to cash my checks. They have also reported on my credit report with...
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Contacting collection agency won’t add negative entry
Dear Experian, I have an unpaid charge-off that I want to pay off. I’ve contacted the creditor showing on my current credit report but they advised me that they sold the account in 2011. The “sold...
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Company suing after account deleted from credit report
Dear Experian, Last year, I disputed an account with you and the other CRAs. About a month after the dispute, you and the other CRAs deleted that item off my credit reports. Now the company that...
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Collection account and charged off account for same debt in credit report
Dear Experian, If an account is “charged off” and sold to collection agency, how can both accounts be used against you? My credit report shows two negative accounts. I owed $1,900, but now one...
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Alarm company can turn past due account over to collections
Dear Experian, I have a dispute with a security alarm company. They have implied a contract extension on a policy that I did not approve. I have not made a payment on the policy since November 2012...
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Evictions are not shown in a credit report
Dear Experian, I have an eviction on my credit report which is inaccurate. I have proof that it was paid. Every time I apply for an apartment I am denied because of this eviction on my record. I...
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Collection account payments should never be sent to Experian
Dear Experian, I recently looked at my credit report and saw that I owe two debts, and Experian is the collector. My question is where do I send the payment? I have been trying to pay it for a while...
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Balance on collection account may not be updated until it is paid in full
Dear Experian, I have a “charge off” credit card account on my credit report that I have been repaying for over a year. I am paying the original creditor, as they handled their own collections. Why...
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“Paid in full” charged off account is better than “settled for less than owed”
Dear Experian, If you have a charged off account, is it better for it to show “paid in full” or “settled for less?” - JMN Dear JMN, It is always better for an account to show it was paid in full...
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Accounts still show payment history and amount past due when sent to collections
Dear Experian, I have a couple of accounts that were purchased by another lender or collection agency. I have paid them off and they do show closed, but they still show a balance. Is this negative?...
View ArticleCredit report lists names, contact information for collection agencies
Tweet Dear Experian, I am trying to pay off my debts with collection agencies, but I do not know who to contact as they do not send me any collection notices for my debts. Would you guys be able to...
View ArticleBenefits of paying a collection account
Tweet Dear Experian, I have a credit card account on my report that has gone to a collection company and was written off by the credit card company. If I make a deal with the collection company to...
View Article“New” collection account will be deleted at the same time as original account
Tweet Dear Experian, Is it legal for a collection agency to submit an account that they buy from a creditor as “new” even though that same account before it was purchased from the original creditor by...
View ArticleOriginal account not updated when debt is paid through collection agency
Tweet Dear Experian, When an account is paid off through a collection agency, why doesn’t it show paid in settlement on the account with the original creditor as well as the collection agency account?...
View ArticleDebt can still be collected after it is removed from the credit report
Tweet Dear Experian, Once an item is removed from the report after having been reported for 7-10 years, can the creditor still try to collect the debt? Can the account still collect interest? - LGD...
View ArticlePayments should be made to collection agency, not original lender
Tweet Dear Experian, I made payment arrangements to pay a debt to the original credit card company; however, a third party collection agency is now contacting me for payment on the same account. Who...
View ArticlePaid collection account not deleted immediately
Tweet Dear Experian, How do I get something I have paid removed from my credit report? I’m trying to get approved for an apartment and I need it taken off ASAP. I have the letter from the collection...
View ArticleIndividual payments to collection agency not always reported
Tweet Dear Experian, I am currently making payments on accounts that are on my credit report. Do the credit bureaus recognize my payments that I’m paying to the collection agency? - AYR Dear AYR,...
View ArticleEnsuring charges sent to collection in error are not in credit report
Tweet Dear Experian, I disputed a charge off on my credit report and have a letter from the company stating the “charges were sent to collections in error,” how can I get this letter to you? - KLB...
View ArticleUnpaid doctor bills appearing in credit report
Tweet Dear Experian, I am seeing that each time I go to the doctor and I do not pay those bills on time, the bill ends up on my credit report. This has resulted in 10 or more delinquencies, some of...
View ArticleIt is possible to owe debts not on your credit report
TweetDear Experian, Everything shows on the credit report right? Every debt you owe? I currently have two debt collectors harassing me claiming I owe them money and threatening to sue me. But when I...
View ArticleThe meaning of “derogatory public record”
Tweet Dear Experian, My credit score states “time since derogatory public record or collection is too short.” What is a “derogatory public record”? - JTR Dear JTR, A derogatory item is an entry that...
View ArticleMedical collection accounts can be part of a credit report
Tweet Dear Experian, On my credit report there are two collection items. One says Medical Payment Data. The other just says Emergency Physician. I need their contact information, such as address and...
View ArticleCollection account added after declining settlement offer
TweetDear Experian, A debt collector contacted me about a debt that isn’t on my credit report. If I don’t pay him the settlement offer he proposed, can he then add the account to my report? - RBL...
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Paying off closed or charged off accounts
Tweet Dear Experian, Does paying off a closed or charged off account raise your credit scores? -TYC Dear TYC, Paying a closed or charged off account will not typically result in immediate...
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Student loans reported as “claim filed with government”
Tweet Dear Experian, My student loans were consolidated into a new loan. My old student loans now state “closed/paid collection” and, “Claim filed with government for insured portion of balance on...
View ArticleUnpaid utility bills can appear on your credit report
Tweet Dear Experian, If you don’t pay your utility bill, can that go on your credit report? - MWB Dear MWB, If you don’t pay your utility bill the utility company usually will send it to a collection...
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Adding a statement explaining collection accounts to your credit report
Tweet Dear Experian, Can I include a letter in my credit report to explain a charge off or collection? - SMB Dear SMB, You can add a consumer statement to your report if you wish to explain the...
View ArticleThe impact of paying a collection account on credit scores
Tweet Dear Experian, Does settling a debt that is showing negative on my credit report as a “collection”, get removed from my report as soon as it is paid? Does paying this debt help raise my credit...
View ArticleTime limits for collection agencies to collect a debt
TweetDear Experian, What is the time frame that collections agencies can go after their money? - TRA Dear TRA, Some states may have laws limiting the time in which collection agencies can pursue...
View ArticleThe consequences of writing a check when there is no account
TweetDear Experian, Is writing checks on an account which has been closed considered illegal? - LXS Dear LXS, Writing checks on an account you know is closed would be considered check fraud, which is...
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When negative information will be removed from your credit report
Tweet Dear Experian, If the account status information says the item will be moved from negative to positive on a certain date, what determines when and why that happens? - AJH Dear AJH, Negative...
View ArticleCollection account does not have to appear on your credit report to be...
Tweet Dear Experian, I received a letter from a collection agency asking that I pay almost $3,000 for a debt that was originally a credit card opened in 1996. It seemed to come out of the blue, and...
View ArticleCredit report may be hurt by joint lease, utilities with roommates
Tweet Dear Experian, My daughter is in the process of looking for a new apartment and obtained a copy of her credit report. She found her credit is “fair.” She also found her roommate’s name, Social...
View ArticleCosigners are responsible for debt repayment
Tweet Dear Experian, I cosigned a loan with my son. He is not making payments, and it will be turned over to a collection agency soon. Other than this circumstance I have good credit and make all...
View ArticleCar accidents don’t affect your credit report
Tweet Dear Experian, Does having a car accident hurt your credit score? - OYD Dear OYD, Having an accident will not affect credit scores because your credit report does not include information about...
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Collection agency may request a report without your permission
Dear Experian, Can a collection agency request your credit history without your consent? I have one on my report under “inquires shared with others” in which I did not consent. - LDA Dear LDA,...
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Collection efforts can continue after the account is removed from your credit...
Dear Experian, Can a charged off account on your credit report that was opened in 1999 and closed in 2010 be sold to another collection agency and then be given to an attorney to get payment from...
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An account update by your creditor will not change when it is deleted
Dear Experian, If a negative item is past seven years on my report and the creditor updates it, will it ever come off my report? - JCP Dear JCP, It will be deleted based on the delinquency date...
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Lender might repossess van even after several years of non-payment
Dear Experian, I took out a loan for a van in 2008 and lost my job shortly afterwards. I only made two payments on it. The lender never came looking to take back the vehicle. This past week I...
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Landlord does not need a judgment to report unpaid rent to Experian
Dear Experian, Does a landlord have to have a judgment against a former tenant in order for the debt to be reported? Can a collection agency report a debt without obtaining a judgment? - WLW Dear...
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Collection accounts for repossessed car will show in credit report
Dear Experian, If you have had a vehicle repossessed, will it stay on your credit if the creditor keeps selling the papers to different creditors? - JNB Dear JNB, Your credit report is your credit...
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Make payments only to the collection agency that currently owns the debt
Dear Experian, I have two collection agencies reporting the same item. If I pay the current collection company will both of them be updated as paid in full or do I have to pay them separately? - WJH...
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Car returned under Service Member Relief Act is a voluntary repossession
Dear Experian, I am in the military and currently serving in Afghanistan. Prior to my departure I turned in my car lease under the Service Member Relief Act. When I check my credit report, it shows...
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Collection accounts are not removed immediately after being paid in full
Dear Experian, If you have a derogatory record on your credit report from a collection agency and you pay off the debt in full, will the debt be taken off of your report sooner? Or do you still have...
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Selling or transferring an account to a new creditor does restart the...
Dear Experian, A creditor of mine sold my credit card debt to another company after seven years. Do I now have to wait another seven years to have it removed from my credit reports? - LDE...
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Original delinquency date determines when repossession and collection account...
Dear Experian, I had a repossession in July 2006, but on my credit report it states date reported January 2013. A collection agency owns the account now. When will it be removed from my history? Is it...
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Unreported auto loan could be shown as collection after voluntary repossession
Dear Experian, I bought a car about 2 years ago at a “buy-here-pay-here” lot. I have never missed a payment and have been a good customer. Since buying the car I have spent over $3,000 in repairs. I...
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Entering payment plan will not “restart the clock” for removing charge off
Dear Experian, I have a charge off from 2009. I am in a payment plan. Does this mean I started the clock over on when the charge off will be removed? - EYJ Dear EYJ, Entering the payment plan did...
View ArticleExperian credit report does not include eviction reports
Dear Experian, An eviction is showing on my credit report, per the leasing company I submitted an application to. I have never received paperwork for an eviction, but when I contacted the courts, they...
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