Credit Reports and Utility Collections...

Posted by Henri on January 07, 2002 at 22:42:49:

As part of trying to start a new life and quit running from my problems, I recently sent for my credit reports, having received only Equifax thus far. (I was "below the radar" since July 1998 and creditors could not locate me.)

Collection accounts are listed at the beginning, and are all utilities: Bell Atlantic ($1000); Sprint ($700); TCI ($100). Is there any advantage to paying these in as far as positive effect on my CR - with regards to either improving my standing with future utility credit or just future credit in general? Today I realized that Sprint is also the local telco for my new apt., so it looks like I won't have a phone because it will be some time before I can scrape together $700.

- Are these utility accounts treated the same as credit accounts, as far as length of time on my record?
- Seeing as they are all listed under a section called "Collection Accounts", will they be removed from my records after they are settled or paid in full? Should I contact them direct, or the collection agency, or do nothing at all?
- If I do nothing at all, I assume they will be on there for 7 yrs like everything else. Is this 7 yrs from the last activity date, or from when they assigned it to a collection agency, or from when they reported it last?

Thank you.

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup