It’s never a good feeling to find a collection account from Wakefield & Associates on your credit report. These marks are usually accompanied by stress and confusion. The negative mark will drop credit score points whether it’s tied to a medical bill, utility debt, or another unpaid account. But there is some good news –– you can have Wakefield & Associates removed from your credit report! This article will walk you through how to do that and will provide you with contact information related to filing a dispute with the credit bureaus.
What is Wakefield and Associates on Credit Report?
Wakefield & Associates is a debt collection agency that steps in when companies can’t collect payments themselves. Sometimes, the original company will sell your unpaid debt to a collection agency like Wakefield & Associates when they decide it’s not worth the effort to chase it down.
When this happens, the original creditor marks your account as a “charge-off,” and the debt is handed over to the collection agency, which then tries to recover the money from you. Based in Colorado and operating since 1946, Wakefield & Associates is one of these agencies that buys debts and then works to get you to pay what’s owed. If they’ve bought your debt, that’s why they’re showing up on your credit report.
Here are the names you might see in your credit report:
- Wakefield and Associates Inc
- Wakefield and Associates Morgan Colorado
- Wakefield and Associates Colorado
- Wakefield and Associates Knoxville TN
- Wakefield and Associates Jefferson City MO
Wakefield & Associates Contact Information
Headquarters Address: E Bethany Dr Ste 450-10800, Aurora, Colorado, 80014
Contact form: https://wakeassoc.com/contact-us/
Phone number: (303) 537-2900
Who Does Wakefield & Associates Collect For?
Wakefield & Associates collects debts for a variety of companies, mostly in the healthcare industry. If you’ve missed payments on a medical bill, there’s a good chance they’re involved. They also work with utility companies and financial institutions, helping them recover unpaid bills. So, if you see their name on your credit report, it’s likely because they’re trying to collect a debt on behalf of one of these businesses.
How to Remove Wakefield & Associates on Credit Report
If you want to remove Wakefield & Associates from your credit report, there are a few practical steps you can take:
1. Ask for Debt Validation
The first thing you can do is request Wakefield & Associates to prove that the debt is legitimate. You can call them and request them to send you a validation report about the debt they’re trying to collect from you. By law, they must provide evidence that you owe the debt. If they can’t, you can request that the entry be removed from your credit report.
2. Dispute Any Errors
Check your credit report carefully. If you find any mistakes related to the Wakefield & Associates entry, you can dispute them with the credit bureaus. You’ll need to provide proof of the error, and the credit bureaus are required to investigate and correct any inaccuracies. We provided different Credit Bureaus contact forms at the bottom.
3. Negotiate a Pay-for-Delete
If the debt is valid and you’re able to pay it, try negotiating with Wakefield & Associates to remove the negative mark in exchange for payment. You can try negotiating to pay 20-30% of the original amount, if it doesn’t work, ask how much the best that they can offer you.
4. Consider a Credit Repair Company
If dealing with this on your own feels overwhelming, you might think about hiring a credit repair company like Credit Saint or The Credit People. They can help you dispute the entry and negotiate with debt collectors. Just make sure to choose a reputable company to avoid scams.
5. Check the Statute of Limitations
Depending on where you live, the debt might be too old for Wakefield & Associates to legally collect. The time frame varies depending on the type of debt and the state where you live.
Generally, the statute of limitations ranges from 3 to 6 years, but it can be longer in some states, extending up to 10 or even 15 years for certain types of debt. For example, the statute of limitations in New York is 3 years, which means debt collectors can collect unpaid debts from you within three years only. After that, the debt is considered “time-barred” and they cannot legally sue you to collect the debt.
While this doesn’t automatically remove it from your credit report, it could give you some leverage in negotiations. Paying your valid debt is the best way to clear negative reports from your credit report.
What Happens If You Don’t Pay Wakefield and Associates?
If you don’t pay Wakefield & Associates and your debt is legit and valid, a few things could happen:
Credit Report Damage
They’ll likely report your unpaid debt to the credit bureaus, which can seriously hurt your credit score. This negative mark can stick around for up to seven years, making it harder for you to get approved for loans, credit cards, or even a rental agreement.
Persistent Collection Efforts
You might start getting more frequent calls and letters from them as they try to collect the debt. While they have to follow the law, their efforts can still feel overwhelming.
Possible Legal Action
If the debt stays unpaid, there’s a chance they might take you to court. If they win, they could get a judgment against you, which might lead to garnishing your wages, taking money from your bank account, or placing a lien on your property, depending on where you live.
Increasing Debt
Over time, interest and fees could continue to pile up on the unpaid balance, making it even harder to pay off the debt down the road.
Statute of Limitations
There’s a time limit, known as the statute of limitations, for how long they can legally sue you for the debt. However, if you make a payment or even acknowledge the debt, that clock might reset, giving them more time to take legal action.
Let’s face it—dealing with credit issues can be really overwhelming. But don’t worry, you don’t have to tackle it alone. Credit-building tools like Cushion are here to help and can make a difference in boosting your credit score over time. Cushion makes managing your credit simple and stress-free. It helps you build a positive credit history, making sure you will not miss any recurring payments with the Cushion’s virtual debit card.
Ignoring the debt isn’t a good idea because the consequences can get worse over time. If you’re having trouble paying, it might be worth trying to negotiate with them or get advice from a financial counselor to find a solution.
Wakefield & Associates Complaints
Wakefield & Associates has faced a significant number of complaints from consumers, many of which are detailed on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website. Over the past three years, they’ve received more than 900 complaints, and their BBB rating is a low 1.03 out of 5 stars. This paints a clear picture of the dissatisfaction many people have experienced in dealing with this debt collection agency.
Here are some of the complaints posted:
“I have been receiving text messages from Wakefield and Associates regarding a debt that does not exist. I have spoken with my insurance company and the hospital regarding any outstanding payments that need to be made, and there is nothing I owe.”
“Wakefield @associates did not verify my debt and just put it on my credit.. They have been giving me all sorts of run arounds and saying different things when I call I have all my calls recorded. They told me to speak to compliance department, so I ask to speak to them then they said they can not transfer me to them. I ask to speak to a manager and they leave the line come back and pretend to be the manager.”
“Wakefield and Associates placed a debt into collections on my account 06/03/24 For a total of $610.00. I was only recently made aware of this when I looked my credit score up this month. For something they said was back in 11/20/23?! I have no knowledge of the creditor company. Looking online says its a known scam company. I never received anything about owing anyone money. Nor have I ever owed/ paid them any money. Wakefield and Associates is trying to scam money from me.”
Filing a Dispute or Complaint Online
If you think they have mistaken you for having a debt with Wakefield & Associates, you can file a dispute with the credit bureaus, here is their contact information:
Experian
Experian Dispute Center
Contact number: 888-397-3742
Equifax
Equifax Dispute Center
Contact number: 888-378-4329
TransUnion
TransUnion Dispute Center
Contact number: 800-916-8800
Related article: How to Remove Harris & Harris From Your Credit Report
Summary
Finding a collection account from Wakefield & Associates on your credit report can be stressful, but you have options to deal with it. Start by asking them to validate the debt to make sure it’s legitimate. If you find any mistakes, dispute them with the credit bureaus. You can also try negotiating a pay-for-delete agreement if the debt is valid. If this process feels overwhelming, a credit repair company can help guide you through it.
Ignoring the debt may lead to more serious issues like persistent collection efforts, a damaged credit score, and even potential legal action. It’s important to address the situation head-on, whether that means negotiating directly with Wakefield & Associates or seeking professional advice. Taking these steps can help you remove the negative mark and protect your financial health.
