Legally speaking, collection agencies cannot re-age your debts. What they can technically do is report the debt as becoming delinquent on the date it was referred to the collection agency in an effort to extend the time during which the debt can be reported on a
consumer’s credit report. This is how debts are re-aged, which is actually in violation of both the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). According to the FCRA, a debt can be reported for 7 years from the date of the original delinquency. A furnisher of information must report the first date of delinquency, or be be fined with $2,500 should he change the date of the original delinquency. The FDCPA also prohibits making false or misleading representations in connection with the collection of a debt.
Should your credit report shows a
re-aged account, write to the credit bureau and dispute the tradeline and request that it be deleted from your report. Say why the debt shouldn’t be reported, including the original creditor and the original date of delinquency, and back these reasons with proper documentation showing the original date of delinquency. Also write the collection agency about the dispute, and request that they provide you with the underlying documentation which supports the debt, and which shows the original date of delinquency. If they wouldn't do so, you may need the help of your state’s Attorney General’s Office and/or the Better Business Bureau. Consult your attorney if you can sue the collection agency for its violation of federal laws.
