How to Remove Duplicate Accounts on Your Credit Report? If you’ve spotted duplicate accounts on your credit report, especially after a lender sells or transfers your debt, you’re not alone. Many consumers discover both the original creditor and the new collector reporting the same account simultaneously. This raises an important question: Can duplicate accounts legally appear on your credit report?
The short answer is yes—but there’s more to it.
Can Two Records of the Same Account Appear on Your Credit Report?
It’s quite common for two entries to reflect the same debt on your credit report, especially in situations where an account has been sold to a collection agency. For instance, if your credit card issuer sells your debt to a collector, both entities might report it.
Similarly, student loans—even those in good standing—often appear twice if they’ve been transferred to a new servicer.
Do Duplicate Accounts Hurt Your Credit Score?
The presence of duplicate entries alone typically doesn’t negatively impact your credit. What can damage your score is the status notation attached to those entries. Accounts listed as “in collections,” “charged off,” or “settled” will hurt your credit far more than the mere existence of duplicates.
Understand Your “Status” Notations
Your credit report includes a “Status” or “Pay Status” field that reflects the condition of each account at the time your report is pulled. These notations include:
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Positive Statuses: “Pays as Agreed,” “Current,” “Never Late,” or “Paid as Agreed”
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Negative Statuses: “30/60/90/120 Days Late,” “Collections,” “Settled,” or “Charged Off”
Even if an account is duplicated, it’s the status that impacts how lenders and credit scoring models assess your risk.
When Should You Dispute a Duplicate Account?
Although having duplicate records is usually acceptable, there are specific situations where you should file a dispute:
1. The Account Was Paid Before Going to Collections
If you resolved the debt before it was transferred or sold to collections, yet it’s listed as a collection account, that’s an error worth disputing.
2. Inaccurate Balance or Terms
If either the original account or collection account contains incorrect information—like the wrong balance, incorrect dates, or incorrect creditor names—submit a dispute to correct the record.
3. The Entry Is Outdated
Under federal law, most negative information (including collection accounts) should be removed from your credit report after 7 years. If a duplicate account remains past that period, request its removal immediately.
How to Remove Duplicate Credit Report Entries
To initiate a dispute, contact the three major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You can file disputes online, by phone, or through written correspondence. Provide as much documentation as possible, such as payment records or letters from your creditor.
Once a dispute is filed, the credit bureau must investigate and respond, typically within 30 days.
FAQs: How to Remove Duplicate Accounts on Your Credit Report
Can duplicate accounts on a credit report hurt your credit score?
Not necessarily. It’s the status notation—such as “collections” or “charged off”—that impacts your score. Two entries for the same debt are often permissible if they reflect accurate and legal reporting.
Should I dispute every duplicate account I see?
No. Only dispute duplicates if they’re inaccurate, outdated, or misrepresent your payment history. In many cases, duplicates are simply the result of account transfers and are not inherently harmful.
How long do collection accounts stay on a credit report?
Collection accounts generally remain on your credit report for 7 years from the original delinquency date. After that, they should be automatically removed.
What if the duplicate accounts show different balances or dates?
This may indicate an error. Dispute the discrepancies with the credit bureaus and request verification from the creditors reporting them.
Can I remove a paid collection account from my credit report?
Paying a collection does not automatically remove it. However, you can request a goodwill deletion or submit a dispute if there’s inaccurate information associated with it.
