How to Remove Charge Offs on Your Credit Report

A creditor will write off an account they believe to be uncollectable. This account will then become a charge off and listed as a charge off on your credit report. Creditors will do this when you are very late on an account. The debt owed is still valid and can be collected on either by the original creditor or a collection agency.

A charge off on your credit report is one of the worst things you can do to your credit. A recent charge off can lower your credit score over 100 points. Any new lender seeing this on your credit report will see it as a sign you will let accounts get so late they will be charged off. This will kill any chance of getting a new loan while it is listed on your credit report.

Only the creditor that listed the charge offs or the credit bureau can remove a charge off off your credit report. You will need to work through one of these companies to get it removed.

Contact the Creditor
Creditors want their money and will negotiate to get it. Call them and talk to them. Set up payment arrangements to pay off the debt. This is when you have the leverage in negotiations. Make it point that the charge off gets removed upon final payment. Get it in writing and make sure they do it when you have paid off the account. Not all creditors will agree to this and some have policies against it.

Dispute the Credit Bureaus
Credit bureaus make mistakes and a lot of them, so now they have verify any dispute they receive. The Fair Credit Reporting Act allows consumers to dispute any negative item on their credit report they believe to be inaccurate. With 79% of all credit reports containing errors, this allows you a chance to get your accounts investigated. Don't dispute anything that is accurate or it will most likely be verified and your account has a chance of being flagged for being frivolous.

You can do this yourself or hire an expert to do it for you, either way you need to get your credit back on track. Removing your charge offs will increase your credit score and make it possible to receive the credit you want.