 TITLE: Can Utility Bills Appear on Your Credit Report? CONTENT: Collections on Your Credit Report\n---------------------------------\nCompanies typically turn to collection agencies when bills are severely past due and the providers are unsure whether they will ever recover the debt. Once a collection agency assumes the debt, it typically opens a collection account in the debtor's name and sends a record of that account to one or all of the three major credit bureaus. When that happens, the collections account becomes a part of your credit file.\nOnce a collection account or charge-off becomes part of your credit history, it can have a lasting negative effect on your credit score. These are considered derogatory marks and can remain in your credit file for seven years. Even if you pay the collection agency and the account is closed, a record of the debt will still remain.\nCollection accounts don't only negatively impact your credit scores, but they can also come with expensive fees that increase your overall debt. If you've had a collection account opened for a past debt, it's best to try to resolve it as soon as you can before the issue escalates any further. END