Paying Off Debt Held By Collection Agency

Added October 9, 2009 by Ilyce R. Glink

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Summary: Paying Off Debt Held By Collection Agency If you want to pay off a debt held by a collection agency, there are certain things you should know. Depending on how the collection agency will report the payment, your credit report, credit history and credit score may be affected differently. It's important that you know how the collection agency will report your payment. While paying off the debt held by the collection agency is easy, you should understand the impact it will have on your credit.

Paying Off Debt Held By Collection Agency

Q: I’m currently paying off a debt that a collection agency bought from my creditor. Is it better to pay off a debt in full or settle for a lesser amount if it is offered to you?

A: It's always better for your credit history and credit score to pay your debt in full. If your creditor offers you a deal by paying a portion of what you owe, make sure the creditor will agree to report that deal as “paid in full” or “paid as agreed” on your credit history.

But once a debt goes to collection, the damage has been done to your credit history and score. So, settling with the collection agency for a lesser amount may not have a negative impact on your credit history and score – in fact, it might work in your favor.

If you settle for a lesser amount, and you and the collection agency agree (in writing) that the debt will be reported as “paid in full” or “paid as agreed,” and that happens years sooner than you would have otherwise paid off the debt, you'll start improving your credit more quickly because time is going by.

The timing issue is something to consider.

Here are some other stories of interest relating to paying off debts held by collection agencies and other credit issues.

Credit Card Debts Can Be Sold To Debt Collection Agencies

Credit Report Hurt By Inaccurate Charge-Off

Medical Bill Sold To Collection Agency

Paying Off A Debt Collector

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