Credit Report contains same acct reported by several agencies?

Question

Can multiple collection agencies report the same debt for collections? I pulled my credit report from all 3 agencies this morning & have been going over them with a fine-tooth comb today. In the course of this I have discovered that several different collection agencies have reported the same debt on all 3 reports.

Is this legal? As it stands, it now appears that I have more debt than is actually owed. How do I go about getting the duplicates removed from the report? Do I dispute them with the Credit Reporting Agency or attempt to contact the collection company that placed them there in the first place?

Any help is deeply appreciated ...

Thanks!

Let me explain a little further ...

1. Collection Agency A has reported an acct for XYZ comp to all 3 Credit Reporting Agencies (Transunion, Experian, Equifax)
2. Collection Agency B comes along & reports the SAME debt for XYZ to all or just one of the Credit Reporting Agencies.
3. After the debt has been reported by A & B, Collection Agency C comes along & reports the exact SAME debt for XYZ to all or just one of the Credit Reporting Agencies.

Each collection agency has reported their information within 6 mos to 1 yr of each other. While the amts reported are the same, each collection agency has "conveniently" left out some info when they reported the debt to the 3 major Credit Reporting Agencies.

This is making it appear that I have more debt than is actually owed & has a definite bearing on my Credit Score & ability.

Hopefully, this helps a little further. If you are still in doubt, please feel free to email me ...

Thanks!

Answer 1

It is illegal for more than one collection agency to report the same debt at the same time.

The only ones that can legally report at the same time is the original creditor and the ONE collection agency that actually has the debt.
If both the original creditor and a collection agency are reporting, the original creditor MUST have a zero balance reporting.

You might start by sending debt validation letters to all of the collection agencies that are reporting. Send everything to them certified mail return receipt.
When you get the green cards back, send your disputes - in writing, to all of the CRA's.

Always do everything in writing. You never know if, or when, you may need that papertrail.

If all three collection agencies verify - then you have at least two of them on violations - or on all three, if none of them currently owns or has assignment of the debt

Which, if you wish to persue, could be "up to" $1000 per collection agency.

You might click on my profile and do some reading in the links I have listed - to the FDCPA, FCRA, etc.
Learn your rights and learn how to use them.

Answer 2

I am really not sure about this one, but it's possible that the collection companies might have sold your account to other collection companies and this would explain multiple reports.

I would contact all three credit bureaus and dispute this. They have 30-days to prove the information true or they have to remove it.