# Removing a paid-off debt from your credit record **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 10, 2007, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-a-paid-off-debt-from-your-credit-record/429443 "2007-12-10T03:30:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-a-paid-off-debt-from-your-credit-record/429443/1 "2007-12-10T03:30:44Z")
While browsing my free annual credit report, I discovered I owe a debt of 200 bucks, which has been sent to a collection agency. This is from several years ago, and I haven’t heard a word from the agency, and it hasn’t affected me wrt my credit cards, etc. I contacted the company involved and will pay the bill this week. My question is once I pay this bill, what do I have to do to remove this debt from the records of the “Big 3” credit reporting agencies. I have heard horror stories about trying to get such things removed from credit reports. Thanks for any information. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-a-paid-off-debt-from-your-credit-record/429443/2 "2007-12-10T03:41:36Z")
If it is a valid debt, the credit reporting agencies do not have to remove it from your credit report. You can ask for a pay for delete but the creditor does not have to do it. If the debt is more than 4 years old in New Mexico, the statute of limitations has tolled and you do not legally owe on the debt anymore. It will stay on your CR for at least 7 years from charge off though. ---
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-a-paid-off-debt-from-your-credit-record/429443/3 "2007-12-10T03:52:16Z")
Thank you **racer72** ETA: Only 9 weeks till Daytona! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-a-paid-off-debt-from-your-credit-record/429443/4 "2007-12-10T06:15:39Z")
Wait 3 more years. You really blew it (if you paid it already). In many cases, the clock starts all over, with a big, ugly, \*\*paid collection \*\* (just about as bad as an unpaid one) and all you get out of the deal is a wallet $200 lighter. My advice? If the rest of your credit is decent, shine this debt and let it slip off in another 3 years. Why spend $200 bucks to dent your credit for the next (possibly) 7 years? (You know, I was going to start a rant in the Pit about the “Credit Industry” and the giant scam they are perpetuating on the public, but am too lazy and Frankly, don’t give a damn!) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-a-paid-off-debt-from-your-credit-record/429443/5 "2007-12-10T06:22:44Z")
[QUOTE=Klaatu] While browsing my free annual credit report, I discovered I owe a debt of 200 bucks, which has been sent to a collection agency. This is from several years ago, and I haven’t heard a word from the agency, and it hasn’t affected me wrt my credit cards, etc. I contacted the company involved and will pay the bill this week. My question is once I pay this bill, what do I have to do to remove this debt from the records of the “Big 3” credit reporting agencies. I have heard horror stories about trying to get such things removed from credit reports. Thanks for any information. [/QUOTE] _No no no!_ Do not pay that bill! Never pay off an old debt without getting them to promise \*in writing \*that they will take it off all 3 credit reports. In fact, a really old bill, one that is about to drop off anyway, may come back to haunt you for a longer time \*because \*you pay it off. It’s not supposed to work that way, but it too often does. I usually suggest _disputing_ any old “DeRogs”. But, paying it off- _as long as they agree to remove it-_ is not a bad idea either.