How Do I Know if I Have Debt in Collections?

How Do I Know if I Have Debt in Collections?

When a debt collector takes over an amount you owe from your original creditor, it will reach out to you and notify you of your obligation.

However, another way to determine whether you have past-due balances in collections is to check each of your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax).

Since collection agencies aren't required to report account activity to all three credit bureaus, checking your credit reports from all three agencies helps ensure you don't miss anything.

To start, consider registering with Experian to check your credit report and FICO^® Score^Θ for free. Alternatively, you can get free weekly reports through AnnualCreditReport.com.

Learn more: Understanding Your Experian Credit Report

What if a Debt Isn't on My Credit Report?

Collection agencies won't typically report a new account immediately, and in some cases, they may not report to the credit bureaus at all. However, there may be a couple of other ways to find out that you owe money:

• You've been contacted by the collection agency. Collection agencies are required by law to notify you of a debt before reporting it to the credit bureaus.
• The original creditor has stopped trying to collect. Lenders will usually try to collect the amount owed before sending it to a collection agency. If you've suddenly stopped receiving communications about a debt, it could be because the lender took the next step of selling it to a collector.

If you believe a debt collector is contacting you in error, take the time to make sure you understand your legal rights and protections.

Types of Debt That Can Go to Collections

Generally speaking, only unsecured debts are sent to collections because there's no collateral for the lender to seize and sell to recoup the amount owed. Among the debts you might see on your credit reports are:

• Credit card balances
• Student loans
• Auto loans (even after a car has been repossessed, if a deficiency balance remains)
• Personal loans
• Utility bills
• Bank fees and overdrafts
• Fines and fees imposed by courts, law enforcement or government agencies
• Medical bills

It's worth noting that recent changes have been made in how medical debts are reported to the credit bureaus. Paid medical debts, medical debts less than a year old and medical debts under $500 no longer appear on credit reports.

How Do Collections Affect Your Credit?

Collection accounts typically remain on your credit reports for seven years from your first missed payment. Because your payment history is the most influential factor in your FICO^® Score, an unpaid collection account can damage your credit considerably.

Generally, collection accounts hurt your credit for as long as they're on your credit reports, though the impact lessens over time. Even so, even one collection account can make it harder to qualify for credit or to secure favorable terms, such as lower interest rates.

Not all collection accounts are reflected in credit scores, though. For instance, fully paid collections are ignored by the FICO^® Score 9 and FICO^® Score 10 scoring models. Meanwhile, collections with an original amount under $100 are disregarded by the FICO^® Score 8, FICO^® Score 9 and FICO^® Score 10 scoring models.

Learn more: What Affects Your Credit Scores?

How to Improve Your Credit Score

If you have one or more accounts in collections, working to rebuild your credit can help you get back on your feet financially. Here are some steps you can take:

1. Pay off the debt. Remember that some credit scoring models ignore paid-off collection accounts, so satisfying what you owe could help improve your score. It can also prevent a potential lawsuit.
2. Make on-time debt payments. Your payment history represents 35% of your FICO^® Score, so it's important to make on-time payments your top priority.
3. Apply for a new account. With a poor payment history, it may be difficult to get approved for a traditional credit card or loan. However, secured credit cards and credit-builder loans are designed specifically to help you rebuild your credit.
4. Pay down your credit cards. With less-than-stellar credit, debt consolidation may be out of the question. However, paying more than the minimum amount due can reduce your balances and help increase your credit score. If you're struggling to keep up with payments, a debt management plan may help.
5. Minimize unnecessary credit applications. While it can help to get a secured credit card or credit-builder loan, resist the temptation to apply for other new credit unnecessarily. Hard inquiries associated with credit applications can temporarily lower your scores.
6. Monitor your credit. With Experian's free credit monitoring service, you can track your progress and spot potential issues before they become serious threats to your credit health.
7. Review your credit reports. It's possible to have information on your credit reports that's been reported by creditors in error. If this happens, you have the right to file a dispute with the credit bureaus.
8. Seek help. Reach out to your creditors or a nonprofit credit counselor if you've run into trouble juggling your bills.

The Bottom Line

Nobody wants their debts to end up in collections, but if it happens, you can take steps to minimize the damage. Options include reviewing your credit reports, paying off past-due debt, making timely payments on other debts and looking for ways to rebuild your credit.

As you move forward with your plan to recover from collection debt, stay on top of your credit score and credit report to track progress and get insights into other ways you can improve your credit.