How to Spot & Dispute Reaged Debt · Credit Freedom Society

How to Spot & Dispute Reaged Debt

Reaged Debt = Illegal. Here’s How to Spot and Dispute It (FCRA Strategy Inside)

Some debt collectors reset the clock on an old debt to keep it on your credit longer.This is called re-aging — and it’s ILLEGAL under the FCRA.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (Section 605) prohibits reporting accounts beyond 7 years from the Date of First Delinquency (DOFD).

If a charge-off or collection is reporting a new date to look fresh, you can dispute and demand removal. 🔥

⚠️ What is Re-Aging?

Re-aging is when a creditor or collector falsely updates the “Date Opened” or “Date of Last Activity” to make an old account look new — keeping it on your credit report longer than legally allowed.

✅ Legal Rule:Negative accounts must be removed 7 years from the original delinquency — not from when it was sold or transferred.

🔍 How to Spot Reaged Accounts:

Check your credit report and look for:

❌ “Date Opened” AFTER the charge-off❌ “Last Activity” months or years after you defaulted❌ Accounts that should’ve fallen off still showing❌ Same account showing multiple times with different dates

Use the DOFD (Date of First Delinquency) as your anchor.

✍️ What to Do Next:

✅ Step 1: Pull All 3 Reports

Get a copy of your Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion reports:👉 https://www.annualcreditreport.com

✅ Step 2: Highlight Suspicious Dates

Use a highlighter or tracker sheet to flag:

“Date Opened”
“Date of Last Payment”
“Date of First Delinquency”
“Estimated Removal Date”

✅ Step 3: Send a Re-Aged Debt Dispute Letter

Demand deletion for FCRA violation if they updated the dates illegally.

Include:

Your ID + proof of address
Copy of the report showing the issue
Dispute letter citing FCRA Section 605(c)

💥 FCRA Violation = Leverage

If they don’t correct or remove it, you can:

Escalate to the CFPB
File a complaint with your state attorney general
Take action under 15 U.S.C. §1681n

Reaged Debt Dispute Letter Template

Send this to the credit bureaus AND optionally to the furnisher (original creditor or collector).

[Your Full Name]

[Your Address]

[City, State ZIP]

[SSN: XXX-XX-XXXX]

[Date of Birth: MM/DD/YYYY]

[Date]

To: [Credit Bureau Name]

[Credit Bureau Address]

Subject: Re-Aged Account Dispute – FCRA Section 605(c) Violation

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to formally dispute inaccurate reporting of an account appearing on my credit report, which appears to be **illegally re-aged**, in violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Section 605(c).

The account in question:

- Creditor/Collector Name: [Insert Name]

- Account Number: [Insert Number – last 4 digits]

- Date Opened (on report): [Insert]

- Date of First Delinquency (DOFD): [Insert, if known]

- Current Status: [e.g., Collection, Charge-Off]

I have reviewed my credit report and discovered that this account is reporting with a “Date Opened” or “Date of Last Activity” that is **not consistent** with the true Date of First Delinquency. This appears to be an attempt to re-age the debt to continue reporting past the legal 7-year limit.

Under FCRA 605(c), negative accounts must be removed **7 years from the date of first delinquency**, not from the date of collection, transfer, or resale.

I am requesting the immediate deletion of this account unless you can verify:

1. The **original Date of First Delinquency (DOFD)**

2. The **method and source** used to verify this date

3. Any documentation provided by the furnisher supporting these dates

I’ve enclosed a copy of my ID, proof of address, and highlighted credit report showing the discrepancy.

If this item is not removed or corrected within 30 days, I will escalate this matter to the CFPB and my state attorney general’s office for review under FCRA enforcement guidelines.

Sincerely,

[Your Signature]

[Your Printed Name]

✅ When to Use This Letter:

The charge-off or collection is reporting newer dates than when it actually went delinquent

An old debt is still showing when it should have been removed

You pulled your reports and the “removal date” is clearly manipulated

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