How to Remove Wakefield & Associates from Your Credit Report

If you see an unusual collection account under Wakefield & Associates, Wakeassoc, or Wakefield collections, it may send alarm bells ringing in your mind. You may feel confused, especially if you never owed anything to them. However, Wakefield & Associates is an established debt collection agency that also handles third-party collections as well as purchases old overdue debts from other businesses. So, before you go into full panic mode, here is all that you need to know for dealing with Wakefield & Associates and getting the collection entry removed if it’s not legit.

An Overview of Wakefield & Associates

Wakefield & Associates is a legitimate debt collection company founded in 1986. They specialize in handling first- and third-party debt collection for a range of industries. They primarily handle medical debt as well as revenue cycle management.

Why Did Wakefield & Associates Appear on My Credit Report?

If Wakefield & Associates appears on your credit report, it indicates that they are trying to collect an outstanding debt, most likely a medical bill. 

A negative mark related to Wakefield & Associates can appear on your credit report under any of the following:

• Wakeassoc 
• Wakefield Associates
• Wakefield Collections
• Wakefield Payment Solutions
• Wakefield RRC
• Wakefield & Assoc.

There are 3 main reasons why Wakefield & Associates may appear on your credit report:

1. You have an unpaid balance, such as a medical bill or other debt that they are trying to collect.

2. Wakefield & Associates may have purchased unpaid debt from a healthcare provider or other institution, which also included your account, so they are now attempting to collect it.

3. In some cases, it can be due to a mistake, and the debt may not actually belong to you but to someone else with a similar name.

How Do I Remove Wakefield & Associates from My Credit Report?

If Wakeassoc reaches out to you, don’t panic and don’t ignore it, as it may worsen the situation. Here’s a breakdown of what you should do:

1. Request Debt Validation 

Verify the Debt’s Legitimacy 

Before taking any action towards settling the debt, make sure to ask for debt validation from Wakefield and Associates collections. You need to send a debt validation letter in writing within 30 days of the first contact. 

As per the FDCPA regulations, the Wakefield and Associates debt collector will be required to cease collection efforts until they can provide relevant documentation within the stipulated timeframe. However, if they can’t provide the debt validation proof, they must legally stop all collection efforts, and the collections may be removed from your credit report.

They also have other branches in other locations, including:

• Missouri: 3702 W Truman Blvd, Jefferson City, MO 65109
• New Jersey: 615 Hope Rd Bldg. 3A, 2nd Floor, Eatontown, NJ 07724 
• Wyoming: 110 J Street, Rock Springs, WY 82901

2. Analyze Your Credit Report

Strategize to Minimize Impact on Credit Score

The next step should be to check your credit report. Try to identify if there are false charges or fraudulent debts assigned to your account wrongfully. This helps you stay ahead when a collection agency, such as Wakefield & Associates, comes after you. You can request the credit report by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com or instantly fetch it by using the CoolCredit app. The app allows you to instantly review your report from the 3 major credit bureaus, identify the negative items with AI-powered analysis, and provides actionable steps to deal with negative marks and minimize damage to your credit.

3. Raise a Dispute (If Debt Isn’t Valid)

Check for Errors and Move for Dismissal

When you check your credit report and identify any inaccuracies or errors related to the Wakefield & Associates charge, you can report them to the credit bureau by raising a dispute. It's the simplest and quickest way to get rid of a negative mark on your report and gives your credit score an instant boost. To successfully raise a dispute, you need to draft a professional dispute letter including all the relevant information, including:

• Personal information as required (Name, SSN, address, other details)
• Accurate debt-related information 
• Mention the error or inaccuracy and provide supporting proof   

You can raise a dispute online by visiting each credit bureau’s website portal. Or you can use the CoolCredit app’s vast collection of ready-to-use dispute letter templates to maximize your chances of successfully disputing inaccurate charges.

4. Write a Goodwill Letter

Explain the Exceptional Circumstances (if applicable)

You can send a goodwill deletion letter when the unpaid debt is due to exceptional circumstances/unforeseen hardship. Though the creditors are not obliged to exempt your debt, they may sometimes take it into consideration. If the Goodwill letter for removal does not work, consider debt settlement. For instance, a pay-for-delete is usually a more favorable option considered by creditors.

5. Consider Debt Settlement (If Debt is Legit)

• Discuss Your Payment Options 

Collection agencies such as Wakefield & Associates, which purchase debts, are often up for bargaining to settle your debt for a reduced balance. So you can start negotiations by making an offer for 50% of the amount instead of paying in full.

• Negotiate a pay-for-delete: 

If the debt is manageable and you can afford to pay it off in a lump sum, then you may try to negotiate a pay-for-delete arrangement. This would entail you paying a specified amount to Wakefield and Associates in exchange for the removal of the negative mark. Make sure to get the contract in writing before making any payments. 

• Monthly payment plan option: 

If paying at once is not feasible for you, Wakefield Associates also offers the option of paying via monthly payments. So, you can also consider settling the debt in installments. 

6. Seek Legal Assistance  

Consult a Lawyer Specializing in Collection Defense 

If Wakefield and Associates sues you, you’ll need good legal representation. A legal expert can help negotiate debt resolution, a reduced balance, or work out a payment plan for settlement. However, if you have sufficient evidence against Wakefield and Associates, your lawyer may help you move towards a dismissal. You may also seek legal help if Wakeassoc violates your rights or FDCPA regulations.

Why Is Asking for Debt Validation Important?

Here’s why this matters:

• Determine debt’s accuracy: It's crucial to verify the key details about the debt, the accurate amount owed, and whether it is valid or if the statute of limitations on debt collection has ended. This may also help you ensure that the debt owed is legit and belongs to you, or you can identify if the debt is inaccurate and belongs to someone else.
• Avoid reviving a “time-barred” debt: Debt collectors may sometimes try to collect an old debt even if the statute of limitations has expired, which makes it a “time-barred” debt. And if you make any payment to pay it off, it will reinstate the statute of limitations, and it will stay on your credit report for longer. 
• Prevents unnecessary harassment and false claims: When you raise a request for debt validation, the collection agency must cease any aggressive collection tactics. They are legally required to provide documentation to support their claim upon request. This also safeguards you against any false/inaccurate claims.
• Identify potential mistakes/errors: Sometimes, the debt collectors may have purchased very old accounts; hence, the information can be outdated. Or there can be mistakes, such as the wrong balance amount, or it might not even be your debt. Asking for validation helps catch those errors early and saves you from a lot of hassle.

What to Do If an Inaccurate Charge for Wakefield and Associates Shows Up on Your Credit Report?

• Raise a Dispute

If Wakefield and Associates debt collectors are trying to recover a debt that does not belong to you, or there is some mistake or error, you can simply request a removal by submitting a dispute letter. You can do this online or via mail to the debt collector or directly to the bureau. For this, you need to visit the relevant credit bureau’s website, or you may also use the CoolCredit app for a straightforward and convenient experience.

• Provide Sufficient Proof

Whether you raise a dispute online or send a dispute letter via mail, you also need to attach sufficient proof to support your claim. So make sure to gather the relevant documentation along with a professionally written dispute letter. You can also use the ready-to-use dispute letter templates from CoolCredit to maximize your chances of winning the dispute.

• Use a Credit Repair App

It may feel like a lot of hassle to raise a dispute with each credit bureau individually, but it becomes much easier when you use a credit repair app such as CoolCredit. Its ready-to-use templates make it easier to draft an effective dispute letter, and you can submit the dispute to all 3 major credit bureaus at once.  

Conclusion

Dealing with a collection agency like Wakefield & Associates can feel overwhelming. The key is to stay calm and act quickly. Start by requesting debt validation, disputing inaccuracies (if any), or negotiating a settlement or taking the steps for dismissal if you have enough proof. Taking the right steps can help protect your credit and reduce stress.

Don’t ignore the calls or letters by Wakefield & Associates; instead, addressing them head-on puts you back in control. And if things get complicated, don’t hesitate to seek professional legal advice. With the right strategy, you can remove inaccurate marks, settle collection accounts on fair terms, and move one step closer to a better credit report.

Additionally, it's best to regularly monitor your credit reports to prevent such messy situations in the future. For instance, you can use the CoolCredit app to stay on top of your credit and follow its result-oriented strategies to strengthen and improve your credit rating.

FAQs

Q: Why Is Wakefield & Associates Calling Me?

A: If you get a call from Wakefield Associates, they may be trying to recover medical debt, outstanding rent, or some other debt they may have purchased from third-party service providers. 

Q: Is Asking for Debt Validation a Good Idea?

A: Yes. Requesting a debt validation from Wakefield & Associates helps you determine the legitimacy and accuracy of the debt and verify debt details. For instance, it helps identify expired debts/mistakenly reported old debts, avoid reviving old debt, and spot any inaccuracies. This prevents the unjustified harassment by the debt collectors and gives you grounds for raising a dispute if the debt is not valid.

Q: How to Settle a Debt with Wakefield & Associates?

A: If the debt is valid, then you may try to negotiate a repayment plan to pay it off. For instance, you may negotiate to make a lump sum payment lower than the original amount. Or you may work out a monthly payment plan. Once it is “paid in full” or “settled” with a lump sum payment or has been “paid off partially,” it impacts your credit rating.

Q: How to Defend Yourself If You Get Sued by Wakefield & Associates?

A: If you get sued by Wakefield & Associates, and if they win, they may be able to garnish your wages to recover the outstanding amount. However, if the debt is not valid, you can simply raise a dispute with the credit bureau and get the inaccuracies removed from your credit report. For this, you can use the CoolCredit app, which provides usable and effective dispute letter templates. However, if the debt is valid, you may try to negotiate a pay-for-delete, a monthly repayment agreement, or a reduced lump-sum payment settlement.

Q: What Happens If You Ignore Wakefield & Associates?

A: If you ignore the collection calls, Wakefield & Associates may sue you, and if they win, they’ll be able to garnish your wages. Moreover, if you do not pay off your outstanding debt, it can damage your credit score. Which is why, first, you need to establish the validity of the debt and then take the next steps to make repayment or dispute inaccurate claims.