ByRemoving Medical Collections From Your Credit Report
Negative accounts, like medical collection accounts, can drop your credit score by 50 to 100 points. They also remain on your credit report for seven years. If you want to know how to keep reading to find out what steps you can take to remove them. Then find out how DoNotPay will save you time and money by completing these tasks on your behalf. Here are some other articles to check out from the Clean Credit Report product series.
- How To Fix Credit Score
- How To Remove Inquiries From Credit Report
- Credit Dispute Letter
- How To Remove Late Payments From Credit Report
What Are Medical Collections Accounts?
When you receive medical service or care, you, your insurance provider, or both will be billed. If your insurance won't cover the costs, it is your responsibility. Failure to pay can result in these accounts being turned over to collection agencies. They are then medical collection accounts, and just like other collection accounts, they negatively impact your credit. They also linger; medical collection accounts remain on your reports for seven years.
Disputing Credit Report Errors to Remove Medical Collection Accounts
The law requires creditors and credit reporting agencies to provide fair and accurate information that is not misleading. Any new entries on your credit report should be investigated for accuracy. If there are errors, you must dispute them with the agency reporting them. When a dispute is filed, the reporting agency has an obligation to investigate and fix the information. If the information is fraudulent or inaccurate, the reporting agency must remove the account.
Send demand letters to for Unresolved Dispute of a Medical Collection Account
If the error you disputed is not corrected, the Fair Consumer Reporting Act allows you to file a small claims court lawsuit against the reporting agency. Dispute letters should be sent by certified mail, which gives you receipt verification. The reporting agency then has 30 days to correct or remove the item.
Removing Medical Collection Accounts From Your Credit Report on Your Own
Medical collection accounts can only be if they are fraudulent or contain errors. Here are the options you should take to have medical collection accounts removed from your credit report when they are fraudulent or inaccurate.
| Demand Validation | Write a letter to the reporting agency asking for proof that the account is yours. The letter should demand that the account be removed if validation is not provided within 30 days. The letter should be sent by certified mail so that you have receipt verification for your records. |
| File A Dispute | Write a letter to the agency reporting the account that clearly states that the account should be removed due to errors. You must provide details relating to the account and the reported errors. The letter should be sent by certified mail to have receipt verification for your records. |
| File Lawsuit If Necessary | Retaining copies of letters sent and receipt verification means you have the proof you need to file a lawsuit if action is not taken and one becomes necessary. |
Minimizing The Negative Impact Of Medical Collection Accounts On Your Credit Report
If medical collection accounts are legitimate debts you owe, they will not be removed from your credit report. You can take some steps to minimize the negative impact on your credit report. Here are some options you can try.
- Check your credit report regularly for errors. Everyone is entitled to a free copy of their credit report annually. Go to Annualcreditreport.com to get yours.
- Pay For Delete is an agreement between you and the creditor. The agreement should be put in writing and ensure the account will be removed from your credit report upon payment of the debt.
- Pay off the debt owed. Although the account will still show on your credit report, it will not negatively impact your credit score.
- Write a goodwill debt removal letter. This is a letter written to the reporting company asking for debt forgiveness. This has proven moderately successful when the Saturation Method is used. The Saturation Method involves sending a letter to as many people as possible within a company, in hopes of connecting with the right person.
Use DoNotPay to Remove a Medical Collection Account From Your Credit Report
DoNotPay has products that can save you time and money on various tasks you may have found difficult to complete with your busy schedule. With the Clean Credit Report product, DoNotPay can assist you in cleaning your credit report in one of four ways.
- Debt Validation Request
- Help To Identify And Dispute Errors
- Goodwill Removal Request
- Pay To Delete Negotiations
How to clean up your credit report using DoNotPay:
If you want to clean up your credit report but don't know where to start, DoNotPay has you covered in 3 easy steps:
- Search Clean Credit Report on DoNotPay.
- Prepare a recent copy of your credit report that you can use as a reference.
- Let us guide you through the 4 potential options:
- If you've already paid off your debt, we'll help you file a Goodwill Removal Request to get it removed.
- If you notice any errors in your report (we have a list of common errors you can use!), we'll help you file a credit dispute to the creditor or major credit bureaus.
- If there are no errors, we'll check if you're still eligible to file a debt validation request. If they can't validate your debt, they're required to remove it from your report and they can't collect it!
- Lastly, if none of the above options work, we'll help you file a pay-to-delete negotiation letter. You can customize the amount you are willing to pay in exchange for getting the item removed.
- If you've already paid off your debt, we'll help you file a Goodwill Removal Request to get it removed.
You can also check out our other credit products, including Credit Limit Increase, Get My Credit Report, Keep Unused Cards Active, and more!
Why You Should Use DoNotPay to Clean Your Credit Report
Products from DoNotPay save you time and money quickly, easily, and successfully. No need to spend hours writing disputes or goodwill letters that include all of the information and are professional. No need to search out lists of addresses in the hopes that the right person will see your letter and take action. Who has time for that? Why not have all this done on your behalf quickly, easily, and successfully?
DoNotPay Works With All Creditors and Reporting Agencies
These letters may need to be sent to all three agencies for removal. That is no problem; has you covered. Working with all three reporting agencies ensures that your accounts are reported consistently. No matter where you owe a debt, DoNotPay will assist you with any credit report issues. Save time and money the quick, easy, successful way with DoNotPay. Here are some other articles from the Clean Credit Report product series.
- Debt Validation Letter
- How To Remove Collections From Credit Report
- How To Improve Credit Score
- Dispute Credit Report
What Else Can DoNotPay Do?
With the wide range of products offered by DoNotPay, you are sure to save time and money. Check out what tasks you can have completed on your behalf with one of the other product series from DoNotPay.