 TITLE: Can Paying off Collections Raise Your Credit Score? CONTENT: What Are Collection Accounts?\n-----------------------------\nA collection account is an entry on your credit report that indicates default on a previous obligation. The original creditor either sold the defaulted debt to a debt buyer or consigned the debt to a collection agency. The goal of the collector, not surprisingly, is to work on behalf of its client to collect the defaulted debt from the debtor, or as much of it as possible.\nCollection accounts often are reported to the credit reporting agencies, and are allowed to remain on credit reports for up to seven years from the original debt's first delinquency date, per the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). END