How to Remove Medical Collection From Credit Reports
Removing negative, medical collections from your credit report will help to improve and raise your credit score. This is a tricky situation, and there is not always just one answer. Sometimes you can get a negative report removed and other times it is impossible. Working with the creditor if it is your over sight will be the first step to improving your credit score. There is also help available through consumer credit counseling. It is important to request your credit report each year from the three reporting agencies. This helps to ensure that your information is correct and also gives you a chance to clean up a poor score.
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Instructions
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Contact the three credit reporting agencies and get your credit report. These agencies are Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax.
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Research your credit reports and locate any negative credit information.
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Contact the creditor who is reporting the negative credit activity.
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Validate your claim to the creditor. If the mistake is a problem with the health care provider (hospital, doctor, lab, etc.,) let the creditor know. (You should also contact the health care provider and ask that they remove the bill with the creditor if this is the case.)
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Pay off the bill if is this your fault.
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Tell the creditor that you want a written letter stating that you have paid your account in full. Also ask that they remove the unpaid balance from your credit reports.
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Follow and monitor your credit reports with the three reporting agencies.
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Send a copy of the paid in full letter from the creditor to Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax if you find that the creditor does not remove the negative account.
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Remind the creditor of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability) laws. By law, creditors can report unpaid medical accounts as this does not violate your privacy. If you have paid your account in full, however, this is a privacy violation that you can contest.
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Tips & Warnings
Negative credit items stay on your credit report for seven years. If you have problems cleaning up your credit or understanding your credit reports, contact the National Foundation for Credit Counseling at 1-800-388-2227.
