Paying off collections improves your finances, but what happens to the negative mark on your credit report?

No one wants a bill to be sent to collections, but life happens. The good news is that it isn't the end of the world. Here's what you need to know about collections and their impact on your ...

Jerry Brown is a personal finance writer based in Baton Rouge, La. He's been writing about personal finance for three years. Financial products he enjoys covering include credit cards, personal loans, ...

Paying off collections debt isn't always the clear win it looks like. Here's how to decide what path to take.

We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. After all, a lot can happen between defaulting on a debt and it landing ...

Pay-for-delete promises to erase collection debt from your credit report, but the results of this strategy can vary.

In April 2025, Freedom Debt Relief reviewed data from tens of thousands of people actively looking for help with their debt. The numbers might be surprising. About one in four has at least one account ...

When a debt is sent to a collection agency, it appears on a borrower’s credit report and could impact their credit score for up to seven years. A WalletHub analysis found Wyoming had the highest ...