A single collection can drop your score 50 to 110 points. We identify the accounts that are inaccurate, unverifiable, or improperly reported — and use federal law to get them deleted.
Payment history is roughly 35–40% of your FICO and VantageScore. A collection is the single loudest signal that something went unpaid — often louder than a late payment, sometimes louder than a recent bankruptcy. The frustrating part: a $300 medical bill sold to a debt buyer can do the same damage as a $30,000 default.
The good news is that collections are among the most removable items on a credit report — but only when you pull the right legal lever at the right time. That is exactly what we do.
We review every collection across Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, flagging re-aged dates, balance errors, duplicate tradelines, and missing documentation.
Debt validation under FDCPA §809, FCRA §611 bureau disputes, §623 furnisher disputes, pay-for-delete, or goodwill — each account gets the path most likely to win.
Generic "this isn't mine" disputes fail. We challenge the exact inaccuracy — date of first delinquency, balance, original creditor, account status — to force a real investigation.
If an item comes back "verified," we escalate with Method of Verification requests, direct furnisher disputes, and CFPB complaints rather than giving up.
Often improperly reported, duplicated, or below the reporting thresholds now used by the major score models.
Portfolio Recovery, Midland, LVNV and similar buyers frequently lack the paper trail to verify a disputed account.
When a furnisher illegally restarts the seven-year clock with a false "date opened," that's a powerful deletion angle.
The same debt reported by both the original creditor and a collector — two hits for one balance.
Paid but never deleted? We pursue goodwill and pay-for-delete to remove the lingering tradeline.
Anything reporting beyond the FCRA §605 window must come off — and often hasn't.
Never pay a collection without a written deletion agreement signed first. Under FICO 8, a paid collection scores the same as an unpaid one — so paying without pay-for-delete can lock the item on your report for the full seven years.
Yes — when the account is inaccurate, unverifiable, or improperly reported. Under the FCRA, the bureaus must delete any item a furnisher cannot verify. Many collections, especially debt-buyer accounts, lack the documentation to survive a properly executed dispute. Read our full guide on how to remove collections legally.
Not without a written deletion agreement first. Under FICO 8 — still used by most mortgage and card lenders — a paid collection scores the same as an unpaid one. Paying without a pay-for-delete agreement can keep the negative item on your report for the full seven years.
Federal law gives the bureaus 30 days to investigate (45 with added information). A clean account often deletes in one cycle; stubborn accounts can take two to four rounds of escalation.
Yes. Disputing inaccurate or unverifiable information is a right guaranteed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. We never use illegal "credit sweep" or fraudulent-file tactics — see your FCRA and FDCPA rights.
Book a free strategy call. We'll review your reports and tell you exactly which collection accounts are eligible for removal — and how long it should take.
Claim My Strategy Call →