If you recently checked your credit report and found a Verizon Collections account, you probably failed to pay your Verizon bills. The combination of the collections and the reported late payments that led to a Verizon Collections account could negatively affect your credit score, so it’s best to tackle the problem head-on as soon as possible.

Why Is This Collection on My Account?

Debt collections work differently than the past-due department at a company. Seeing a Verizon Collections account on your credit report means that Verizon has written you off as an uncollectible bad debt and has assigned it to a collection agency.

You won’t be working directly with Verizon on the debt any longer, but with the collection agency instead. They may be more persistent about collecting the money by calling and sending legal notices and warnings. It’s best to know your rights and what you can do about the collections account.

How Does Verizon Collections Affect My Credit Score?

Seeing Verizon Collections in your credit report means your account was past due long enough that Verizon Wireless closed it and passed it to its collections agency. Verizon Wireless doesn’t report your payment history, for better or worse. This is good news for your credit report.

But — once Verizon Wireless gives up on your account and sends it to Verizon Collections, the collections agency will show on your credit report and negatively impact your credit score. Verizon Collections will remain on your credit history for seven years, even if you pay the collections debt off. There are ways to remove Verizon Collections as a collections account from your credit file, but they’re not easy or guaranteed.

How to Remove Verizon Collections From Your Credit Report

Dealing with debt collectors and getting the matter resolved is never easy. You’ll need to be strategic to get Verizon Collections removed from your credit report. You could avoid the collection agency, but there’s the possibility that if you don’t pay your debt, Verizon Collection could sue you. Here are some approaches you can take to remove the collections account from your credit report:

Ask for the Debt to Be Validated 

The first step you should take in your attempt to have the account removed is to confirm the debt is accurate. Verizon Collections must prove the debt is yours if you request it in writing within 30 days of the collection company’s notice of the debt.

There’s a small chance the debt is not yours or Verizon Collections doesn’t have all the information to prove it. Review the verification letter they send you closely for errors. If any information is incorrect or missing, such as a failure to list past payments, disclosing the wrong name or address, or providing the wrong dates, they must remove it from your credit report.

Negotiate a Settlement for Removal 

If the debt verification comes back error-free and as yours, you could try negotiating a pay-for-delete exchange. You could negotiate to pay the debt (or a portion of it) if Verizon Collections agrees to delete the account from your credit report once they’ve been paid.

For the pay-for-delete to work, it’s crucial you get an agreement from the collections agency in writing clearly stating they will remove the collections account from your credit report once they receive payment. Avoid verbal agreements — if they don’t follow through, you won’t have any recourse if the agreement wasn’t in writing.

Hire a Credit Repair Agency 

If the debt is fairly large and/or you’re unable to come to an agreement with Verizon Collections, a reputable credit repair agency could make more progress. After all, they’re used to dealing with debt collectors on behalf of customers and know the best ways to negotiate to resolve collections debt.

Is Verizon Collections Legit or Is It a Scam?

Verizon Collections is a legitimate company tasked with collecting bad debt on behalf of Verizon Wireless. It’s natural to be wary — there are scammers that imitate the real collections agency to take advantage of your situation. If you notice the collections agency on your credit report, it should be taken seriously. If you’re not sure what’s on your credit report, you can check it for free here. Know your consumer rights and get everything in writing to resolve the issue.

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