By Melissa Douros
30 December 2009

Dear Melissa,
 
I have several accounts on my credit report that just got reopened by new collection agencies that bought the existing account.  The accounts are 5 years old now.  How do I get these accounts removed from my credit report without having to pay a credit repair company $ and getting no results?

I got into this mess because I was not educated about the whole credit repair business, and this individual told me she can clean my credit and for me to stop payment on everything.
 
I am in the process of trying to buy and house and I need to get my credit scores up.
 
Please help.

Geoffrey T.

Dear Geoffrey,

You need to find out what the statute of limitations is on the debt that is being bought or placed through collection agencies. 

Each different account will have a different statute if they are multiple types.  For example, a credit card debt, an unsigned doctor bill and a promissory note will all expire at different times.

If the statute has passed, although the bill is still owed, the collection agency will not be able to place the account on your credit or sue for judgment.  If the items are placed on your credit after the statute expires, this can be disputed with the credit bureaus for immediate removal.

Melissa Douros Dovco Collection Solutions, Inc.

As the owner of Dovco Collection Solutions, Inc., Melissa Douros uses her eight years of being a collections specialists to offer advice and answer questions pertaining to debt collection. With running her own successful collection agency, she seeks to keep debt collectors accountable for their actions and in line with the law.

Do YOU have a question for Melissa? Email her at melissa@dovcocs.com

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