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    Credit term

    Collection account

    A collection account is a past-due debt that has been sent or sold to a collection agency.

    How it shows up on your credit report

    COLLECTIONIN COLLECTIONSPLACED FOR COLLECTION

    Collections are a negative mark that can drag your score down. Some are inaccurate, unverifiable, or not even yours — those can be disputed. Always confirm a collection is valid before you pay it.

    Not sure how this affects your score? We'll walk through your report with you.

    Mesa Group Consulting helps Bakersfield and Kern County families read their credit reports and dispute what is wrong, in English, Spanish, and Punjabi.

    Book a free consultation How credit restoration works

    Related terms

    Charge-off

    A charge-off is when a lender writes off an unpaid account as a loss, usually after about 180 days late.

    Derogatory mark

    A derogatory mark is a serious negative item on your report, like a late payment, charge-off, or collection.

    Back to the full glossary