how long does a collection remain on your credit report
Accounts to a debt collector are reported to the credit bureaus as being charged off or sold to a debt buyer. The debt collector then reports the debt as a new account that is added to your credit history. The original account and the collection account can stay on your credit record for up to seven years, at which time both are removed. The Nolo website says you may be able to get collections removed early as part of a payment agreement with the debt collector, or the original creditor if the debt hasn't been sold.