Collection account date opened is wrong: should you dispute it?
Claire Bennett — Founder & Editor, Fix My Money Life Quick answer If your collection account date opened is wrong, dispute it only when the date…
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Does paying a collection restart the seven-year period?
Paying, settling, or making a partial payment on a collection does not restart the federal seven-year credit-reporting period. Learn which dates matter and what to check…
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Original creditor and collection agency both reporting a balance
An original creditor and collection agency can both report the same debt, but that does not mean you owe it twice. If the debt was sold,…
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Can the same collection appear twice on your credit report?
The same collection can sometimes appear twice for legitimate reasons, but duplicate reporting can also be inaccurate. Learn how to compare the entries, verify ownership, and…
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Why Did a Collection Disappear From My Credit Report—and Come Back?
Claire Bennett — Founder & Editor, Fix My Money Life Why did a collection disappear from my credit report? A collection can disappear from your credit…
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Collection removed but credit score did not increase
Claire Bennett — Founder & Editor, Fix My Money Life A collection can disappear from your credit report without producing a higher score. First confirm that…
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Paid collection still showing a balance on your credit report? What to do
A paid collection should generally show a $0 current balance after full payment or a completed final settlement. Check the records, compare bureau reports, and follow…
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Can a charge-off be reported every month?
A charge-off can continue updating month to month without becoming a new charge-off. See which fields matter, what does not restart the reporting period, and when…
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How long does a charge-off stay on your credit report?
Claire Bennett — Founder & Editor, Fix My Money Life A charge-off generally stays on your credit report for about seven years from the date of…
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Settled charge-off vs. paid in full: which is better?
Settled charge-off vs paid in full comes down to one main trade-off: paying in full means repaying the entire balance, while settling means the creditor accepts…
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