Q: How do I get a credit card company to remove negative information from my credit report after I have paid off the account?
A: This is a common misconception. Many people think that when they pay an item off, whether it is a credit card or a collection, that it should come off their report. Actually, these items will stay on the credit report for 7 years from the date of last activity. So, to answer the question above, the negative information will stay on your report for 7 years. This is something all consumers should be aware of when paying old collections. If a collection is 6.5 years old, it will fall off the credit report in 6 months. If you pay it, it will show as a paid collection, but will remain on the report for another 7 years from when it is paid.