It is possible to have a 700 credit score when a default payment goes to collections. That being said, it’s not likely your credit score will stay at 700 once this happens. Credit scores tend to drop once there’s a report of collections.
If you have ever been on the receiving end of calls from a debt collector, you will know well the anxiety that comes with an account in collections. According to the Urban Institute, about 64 million Americans had a debt collection account as recently as August 2022.1
No one wants a credit account to be passed off to a collection agency, but it happens often to those experiencing financial difficulties that make it challenging to cover their monthly payments on time.
When a borrower defaults on a loan or stops making their credit card payments, lenders and credit card issuers will sell the debt to a collection agency, so they don’t have to deal with the hassle of getting payment. This is not only done for loans and credit card balances but also for landlords, utility companies, and medical service providers.
If you are looking to improve your credit score after a collection account, you may be wondering “can you have a 700 credit score with collections?” A good place to start is to gain a clearer understanding of the credit scoring system, and frequently check your credit reports. From there, you can better know how collection accounts impact your credit and what you can do to obtain a good credit score.
What Information Is on Credit Reports?
Your credit report is of enormous importance in many different areas of your life. Credit reports are not only relied upon by mortgage lenders and credit card companies but can also be instrumental in apartment applications, insurance coverage, and even employment opportunities.
The information on your file is compiled by three major credit reporting agencies – TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. All details and facts are either reported to or gathered by the credit bureau to portray an overall view of your creditworthiness as a borrower. Each credit bureau generally divides the information into the categories of personally-identifying details, credit accounts, credit inquiries, public records, and collection debts.
Personal details like your full name, date of birth, Social Security number, current and previous addresses, and employment information are included in your credit report to connect you to it. Next, your report will have details on all your credit accounts, including the type of account (i.e., personal loan, credit card, quick cash loans, mortgage loan), the date the account was opened, the loan amount or credit limit, available credit, and payment history.
Whenever you authorize a credit check, a new hard inquiry will appear in the credit inquiries section of your credit report. Soft inquiries from pre-approval and checking your own credit are included there as well, but they do not impact your credit score. And finally, public records like bankruptcy and foreclosures, as well as collection accounts will show up as derogatory marks on your credit report.
How Credit Scores Are Calculated
The information on credit reports is then used to calculate three-digit credit scores to give a more broad view of an individual’s creditworthiness at a glance. There are many different credit scoring models, but the most widely used is undoubtedly the model created by the Fair Isaac Corporation.
FICO scores are calculated by dividing up an individual’s credit report into five parts, each part with a different percentage in the calculation. The calculation of the FICO scoring model is as follows:
| Credit Score Factor | Percentage of Overall Score | Description |
| Payment History | 35% | Your history of on-time and late payments. On-time payments boost your score, while late or missed payments harm it. |
| Amounts Owed | 30% | The total amount of debt you owe across all your credit accounts. High debt, especially with high credit utilization ratio, can lower your score. It’s recommended to keep your credit utilization rate at 30% or lower. |
| Length of Credit History | 15% | The average age of your credit accounts, including your oldest and newest accounts. A longer credit history generally improves your score. |
| New Credit | 10% | The number of recently opened credit accounts and hard inquiries. Too many new accounts or hard inquiries can lower your score. Soft inquiries, like pre-approval and checking your own credit, don’t affect your score. |
| Credit Mix | 10% | The variety of types of credit accounts you have. A mix of different types of credit, rather than many accounts of the same type, can improve your score. |
Credit Score Classifications
The classification of credit scores according to the Fair Isaac Corporation are as follows:
300-579 → POOR
A credit score between 300 and 579 points is considered poor credit. It is incredibly challenging to get approved for new credit at all when you have a poor credit rating in this range. And those lending products that are available, like loans for people with poor credit, tend to have extremely high-interest rates making them difficult to afford.
580-669 → FAIR
A credit score between 580 and 669 points is considered fair credit. With a fair credit score, you might be able to access a few more opportunities, but you will still likely be charged higher interest rates than your peers with a good credit score.
670-739 → GOOD
A credit score between 670 and 739 points is considered good credit. Having a good credit score means you are more likely to receive pre-approval offers from lenders, banks, and credit card companies. You will likely be able to get approval for credit products with market-equivalent rates.
740-799 → VERY GOOD
A credit score between 740 and 799 points is considered very good credit. A credit score within this range will give you access to far more competitive interest rates. A very good credit score can get you better offers and make denial less likely.
800-850 → EXCELLENT
A credit score between 800 and 850 points is considered excellent credit. There is a wealth of opportunities open to you with an excellent credit score. You are the borrower that companies want to work with. Because of this, you will have access to the most competitive interest rates and best deals available.
Is a 700 Credit Score Possible With Collection Accounts?
It is theoretically possible to get a 700 credit score with a collection account on your credit report. However, it is not common with traditional scoring models. A derogatory mark like a collection account on your credit report can make it incredibly difficult to obtain a good credit score like 700 or over.
How Long Do Collections Remain on Your Credit Report?
Collection accounts are almost always reported to the credit bureaus and, according to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), can remain on an individual’s credit report for up to seven years from the date of the original debt’s first delinquency.
Can Paying off Collections Improve Your Score?
Newer credit scoring models do not include collection accounts that have a zero balance, meaning that when you pay off your balance, you should see your credit score increase. That being said, older models still factor in collection accounts even if they have been paid off. Some lenders still use the older scoring models, especially mortgage lenders, so it is important to be aware either could be used.
Improving Your Credit Score After Collections
If you have recently had a collection account on your credit report, there are plenty of things you can do to improve your credit score. A 700 credit score may not be too difficult to reach if you have paid off your collection account and you are using one of the newer credit scoring models. However, if you want to play a more active role in boosting your credit score, there are several strategies you can employ to get the results you want to see.
Here are a few of the most important things to keep in mind when rebuilding your credit after a collection account:
Prevent a New Collection Account
To ensure that your credit recovers quickly, do whatever you can to prevent any new collections from being created for debts you have. This will mean that you need to be very careful not to have any late payments in your payment history. Late payments have the potential to harm your credit, but not handling the required payments can also lead the lender or credit card issuer to sell the remaining balance to debt collectors. A secondary collection account will not only stall your efforts to improve your score but also lead to bad credit that is even harder to fix.
Handle all your minimum payments for your credit cards and monthly installments on your loans by the due date or earlier to make a positive impact on your credit. If you have a habit of forgetting to make your payments, we recommend setting up automatic payments so that you won’t ever miss a due date again. You will thank yourself for making the change when you see the difference in your credit score.
Lower Your Credit Utilization
One of the most reliable ways to give your credit score a major boost is to lower your credit utilization ratio. If you are approaching your credit limit on all your credit cards, you likely do not have much available credit and a very high utilization ratio. Paying down the balance of your credit cards until you have 70% of your total credit limit available will significantly improve your credit score.
By doing this, you will make your minimum payments more affordable and decrease the financial stress your credit card debt causes in your life. As a general rule for responsible credit usage, always keep your credit utilization rate at 30% or below. Additionally, you want a reasonable debt-to-income ratio to keep your finances as low-stress as possible.
Stop Applying for New Credit
After you’ve paid collections, take a break from applying for any new credit, including credit cards, personal loans, cash advance loans, or bad credit loans. All applications for new credit, whether that’s for credit cards or loans, will create a new hard inquiry on your report. Too many hard inquiries within a short period of time can result in bad credit, so it’s a good idea to take some time off so that your credit has time to recover.
It may take some time to see the results of your efforts, as credit scores don’t jump a hundred points overnight. Patience is crucial to building credit after a derogatory mark like collections. The time and effort you put into it are well worth it because of the financial opportunities that will be available to you with good credit.
Credit Scores When You Have a Collections Account: FAQ
How do collections affect my credit reports?
Collection accounts can have a significant negative impact on your credit reports and credit score. This is because payment history is the most heavily weighted factor in calculating your credit score. Just one missed payment can affect your credit report for up to seven years. A collection account shows that you’ve had difficulty repaying your debts, which can lead to lower credit scores.
Can I still achieve a higher credit score if I have collections on my report?
Yes, it’s possible to achieve a higher credit score even with collections on your report, but it’s more challenging. The impact of collections on your credit score diminishes over time, especially if you maintain good credit habits like making payments on time and keeping your credit utilization low.
How can I check if I have collections on my credit report?
You can check your credit report for free once a year from each of the three major credit bureaus through AnnualCreditReport.com. This report will show you any collections along with other details about your credit history.
What can I do if the information about collections on my credit report is incorrect?
If you find incorrect information about collections on your credit report, you can dispute it with the credit bureau that provided the report. They are required by law to investigate your dispute. If the collection agency can’t verify the debt, it must be removed from your report.
What is a debt collector?
A debt collector is an entity that collects overdue debts from borrowers. This could be a third-party agency hired by the original creditor, or it could be a company that has bought the debt from the original creditor. The job of a debt collector is to recover as much of the unpaid debt as possible.
Who are the three major credit bureaus?
The three major credit bureaus are TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. These agencies collect and maintain information about your borrowing and payment history to create your credit report and calculate your credit score.
What role do collection agencies play in my credit score?
Collection agencies report unpaid debts to the three major credit bureaus. Having a debt in collections can significantly lower your credit scores because it indicates that you’ve had trouble paying back what you owe.
Remember, maintaining a good credit score is an ongoing process. It’s important to regularly check your credit report, make payments on time, and keep your credit utilization low. If you have collections on your report, consider seeking advice from a credit counselor or financial advisor to help improve your credit health.
A Note From CreditNinja
If you’re currently going through a financial emergency, but don’t know how to get money when you already have a debt collection account, know you have some options available to you. Consider reorganizing your budget to free up some extra cash, asking a friend or family member for a small loan, or dipping into your savings account. But if a loan is ultimately the right choice for you, be sure to research all your options, like CreditNinja.
At CreditNinja, we pride ourselves in providing personal installment loans with an easy application, quick funding,* and a flexible repayment schedule. Fill out the online app in just a few minutes to find out how much cash you could get today!*
References:
- The Number of Americans with Debt in Collections Fell during the Pandemic to 64 Million | Urban Institute
- Can You Have a 700 Credit Score With Collections? | Sensible Dollar
- Can Paying off Collections Raise Your Credit Score? | Experian
