A collection account appears when an unpaid debt is sent to a collector or reported as a collection by the original creditor. It can lower your credit score and generally stays on your credit report for up to seven years from the date of the original delinquency. Paying the collection does not automatically remove it, but it usually changes the account's status to paid.
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, most negative information, including collection accounts, can generally be reported for seven years. That period usually runs from the date of the first missed payment that led to the collection, not from the date the account was sent to a collector.
Not automatically. A paid collection can stay on your report with a paid status. Newer scoring models, such as FICO 9 and VantageScore 3.0 and later, do not count paid collections against you, but some lenders still use older models.
Yes. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, a collector must send written validation of the debt. If you dispute the debt in writing within 30 days of receiving that notice, the collector must stop collection until it sends verification. Learn more at consumerfinance.gov.
In some cases. The three nationwide credit bureaus have voluntary policies that remove paid medical collections, do not report medical collections under $500, and wait one year before reporting unpaid medical debt. Policies can change, so check your current reports at annualcreditreport.com.
Last reviewed October 15, 2026 by Sandra Ruiz, CEO.
Start with a free consultation and a general review of your credit scores from the three bureaus. Individual results vary.