Can a collection agency change the reporrted since date?

Question

I have two credit reports and the same agency changed the "reported since" date by 5 years, from 01/2001 to 01/2006. Can they do this legally?

Answer 1

Stopccdebt is getting confused with the "Statute of Limitations".

It is illegal to change the reporting date. This is called "re-aging" the debt. Many collection agencies will do this for one simple reason: You don't know the law!

And unless you can prove the did it on purpose (very unlikely) you can't do anything. Once you point out that you know what they are up to, they will simply change it back, and avoid any civil actions.

What you need to do is file a dispute with the credit bureau (include both reports as evidence). Also send a "demand to validate" letter to the collection agency.

If this is not corrected within 30 days, then you now have the proof you need to file a civil action, and you will win $1000 with a small claims suit. It's like winning the lotto!

Answer 2

It is illegal to change the original open date, but the reported date means that was the last time they updated the credit bureaus, which is legal. They cannot extend the amount of time the item can stay on your report though, that is illegal and can be disputed with the company and the bureaus. By changing the reported date, it can lower your score by making the activity look more recent. The agencies do this to make you suffer for not paying the bill. Currently, that practice is legal.

Answer 3

Yes they can. If the item had stale dated on their file and they updated it with the collection agency then the reported date would change too.

Answer 4

In some states, they can do this if you acknowledge that you owe the debt or begin making payments toward it. Otherwise, this is illegal. NCO Financial was fined over a million dollars for this exact practice.

Answer 5

Nope its illegal.

Unless you ignore it.