How do you get creditors to stop reporting you...?
112859
If you have satisfied the debt and it's showing a $0 balance, that is not an inaccuracy.\n\nIt also does not bring down your score unless your payment history for that account show slow pays beyond 30, 60 and 90 days.  Additionally, it also brings down your score even if you paid down the account if the payment was received in response to a collection or a chargeoff.\n\nAlso, the reporting of a credit account does not, by itself, bring down your credit score.  Other factors come into play such as\n\n1) How old your credit history is.  \n2) What types of credit you have/had: revolving (credit cards, etc), installment (car loans typically), real estate (mortgages).\n3) Your repayment history and whether your accounts are paid as agreed or whether there have been slow pays\n4) Whether there have been garnishments, collections, liens, bankruptcies\n5) How many inquiries have been made in the past few months (i.e. have you been applying for loans all over town or trying to get credit cards)\n\nUnfortunately, I think you're out of luck on this one.  \n\nUnless you have grounds to have those accounts removed (e.g. that wasn't your account, the payment history is inaccurate), they will continue to be reported for about 5-7 years.  \n\nThe reason for this is that, before approving your credit application, creditors want to know how well you repay credit lines and loans in the past, not just the accounts with open balances.  They also want to know if you're carrying too much debt.
1113439
let them file...... bottom line if you never pay it they will never get their money... the only thing they can do is keep dinging your credit.  Let it draw out for a few more weeks and call back... then they will drop their pants.
808926
Send them a letter via mail return receipt requested stating that the money is not owed and the reason why. If you have a receipt showing that you already paid the debt.  Inform them if they do not cease harrasing you, you will (1) report them to the better business bureau and any other state agencies that deal with unscrulous debt collectors and (2) institute a claim under the fair debt collection practices act, and you will seek treble damages. Request they send you a letter stating that you do not owe them any money.
971372
I thought creditors would be listed just like other businesses in the Yellow Pages reverse look up. Have you tried looking up similar numbers but with a different last digit? You should be able to get a new phone number without problem if you're getting harassing calls. And get it unlisted if you can.
896888
If the creditors are older than 7 years you can request the credit reporting bureaus remove them. Unless it is items associated with bankruptcy which can remain on your credit report up to 10 years.\n\ngo to www.annualcreditreport.com and get your credit report, then look over them and read it for information on how to take care of incorrect items, out of date items, etc.
678711
Lets clear up these bad answers.\n\nJeff L is almost correct, but he is wrong about the fact that paying a debt restarts the "clock".  There are actually two "clocks", one is the Statute of limitations, the other is the Credit Reporting Clock.  According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, they can only report a debt for 7 days, beginning on the day of the delinquincy.  PERIOD!  Payments, closed accounts, charge-offs, none of these can reset the clock.  Agents will attempt to do it, but it's called "re-aging the debt" and it's illegal!  If you can catch them doing it you can sue them and easily get $1000 for your troubles.  \n\nThe answers are also wrong that negative information can not be removed from your report.  It is a fact that credit reporting agencies can not remove any listing.  Only a creditor can do it.  Nothing in the Fair Credit Reporting Act, or the Fair and Accurate Credit Reporting Acts prevents a creditor from removing anything that they have posted to your record.\n\nThe problem is convincing them to do it!  And once you have paid them off, you have lost all leverage with them.  You are going to find they are very uncooperative now.  The best you can hope for is they will post "paid in full" on the account, but it will still contain negative information such as collections and late payments.  \n\nThis nonsense that a paid debt looks better then an unpaid one is silly!  IT'S STILL A BAD MARK!!!  IT KILLS YOUR SCORE!\n\nSo what do you do now?  \n\nSend a letter to the credit reporting agencies and dispute the listing.  If the creditor fails to respond to the verification request, they will remove the listing completely.  If they respond, it will be with a notice that the debt is now paid.  \n\nYou can also call the creditor and politely ask if they would remove the listing, or take away the negative information.  It's a long shot but give it a try.
839724
Document each and every phone call.  Get their address and send them something in writing, certified mail with return receipt.\n\nIf it is not yours, and they continue to harass you, you can file compaints with the FTC at www.ftc.gov, or with your state's commerce department.  All collectors are required to be regulated and licensed in any state they do business with, and must adhere to the Fair Debt Collections Practice Act.  You can find lots of stuff on your rights at the FTC website.\n\nAnd did I mention, DOCUMENT EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!  Time, date, who you spoke with (GET NAMES).  They will give fake names, which is actually illegal.  That can be used against them in your complaint when their records don't show any employee by the name you were given.
26973
If the reports that are in your credit report are factual then nothing you can do.  You can only wait for 7 -10 years when they will be erased off your record.\n\nHowever, if it happenned through no fault of your own, speak with the creditors and ask them to remove the negative entry from your file.\n\nSometimes you can call the reporting agency and claim you have no knowledge of a certain entry or you dispute it and they'll request more information from the creditor.  If the creditor does not reply they will remove it.\n\nEither way at least dispute it so it will say "disputed by consumer" on file, so other potential creditors will at least know you are fighting it.
414252
The previous answer is untrue. \nAs per the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, if you TELL them to cease and desist from calling you, it is usually sufficient. If not, you'll need to put your request in writing, and you're well within your rights to do so. If you owe them money, that's one thing, but they don't have a right to call and harass you. Continued calling after you've advised them to stop constitutes harassment.\nIf you still have problems, even after putting your request in writing, contact the FTC.\nI pray that your financial situation improves, too. :)
946276
Not talking to them is the key. The last time I talked to a bill collector they asked for my information claiming that they needed to update their records. And may times a bill collector will attempt to intimidate you into giving them the info. They told me that making the payment arrangement required me to give them the name of my employer, their address, and the phone number. I admit I was too much of a wuss to stand up to them so I gave them a bunch of false information.
236225
hi briezee1\nThe answer to this is going to be it depends.....First, Are they 100% accuratly reporting on your credit report? Second, Are the creditors the original creditor or collection agency?\n\nThere are a couple of ways of approaching this. If the debt is yours and is reporting 100% accurate I will concur with RICK that you have a moral obligation to repay the debt. With that said, I find it highly unlikely they are reporting 100% accurate.\n\nIf the creditor is an original creditor you may want to consider offering them a settlement. If it's a collection agency you may want to consider sending them a debt validation letter first. You want to know that you have a legal and contractual obligation to pay them and not the original creditor. \n\nIt is also important to know the date of last activity on the account. Even though negative credit may stay on your report for 7 years, most statute of limitations is much shorter. You will want to check your state statute regarding the debt.It is possible the SOL (statute of limitation) is up and the debt is no longer collectable.
871777
They are full of crap, tell them to get bent, it would cost them more to sue than what you owe, collection agencies are all full of hot air, send them a cease and desist letter and never give them any bank info or info of any kind
404055
Credit reports are reported for 7 years, beginning on the day of default.  They can not be restarted, but many collection agencies will try.  They simply change the date on the report.  Many consumers don't even realize it.  \n\nGotta keep your records.
597152
People like Zandelia need to be spanked for constantly referring freecreditreport to people.  I'm getting more convinced they get kickbacks by sending people there.\n\nGo to http://www.annualcreditreport.com and get a FREE, NO GIMMICKS credit report.  This is the site that was set up to handle the government mandated free credit reports.\n\nOnce you have your report, it will show all of the delinquent accounts you have, and their contact information.  Contact them and negotiate a settlement.\n\nBE SURE that you get them to agree IN WRITING to remove any negative information that they placed on your credit report.  Remember, the reason you are paying your debt is to fix your credit score.  It does you no good to pay them if your credit will still reflect these unpaid balances.  You will find that once they have your money, they will be very uncooperative in fixing your report.\n\nAlso note that just placing "paid" on your account does not remove the negative information such as late fees, or collections.  They must either show on your account "Paid as Agree, Never late", or simply remove the listing entirely.\n\nYes, it's legal.  They may tell you they can't do it, or it's against the law, but they are lying.  I've done it, and I've helped many others do it also.  Nothing in the Fair Credit Reporting Act prevents a creditor from removing their own reports.  \n\nGood luck
968725
These companies offer to collect on debt that has long sinced dropped off your credit report.  They tend to be very aggressive; but you can absolutely tell them to go pound sand.  There is absolutely nothing they can do.
1066789
The link below contains a bunch of sample letters to send to creditors.\n\nEmail me if you need more advice.
911719
Roderick,\n\nLet me break this down for you.\n\nOnce you are in a situation where you can even pay a portion of the debt, you need to send the collection agency a pay-for-deletion letter.\n\nJust remind them that you have other creditors to pay, and "in the spirit of compromise" you would like to settle the account for $XXX dollars as payment in full IF and ONLY IF the collection agency will remove the negative item from you credit report at ALL THREE credit bureaus.\n\nThe collection agencies will try to give you the okie-doke by saying that they can not do this (because it's extra work for them).  However, they have the ability and authority to do it.\n\nIf the collection agency declines your offier, just inform them in writing that your payment went to another collector who agreed to the aforementioned terms.\n\nPlease be aware that you are NOT TO TALK to the collection agencies over the phone or through e-mail.  All correspondence must be sent via CERTIFIED MAIL.  In addition, you must maintain copies of the receipts as proof of mailing.\n\nSee hyperlink below.\n\nGood luck.