Rebuilding Your Credit

[mseamm74]

I've been rebuilding my credit after identity theft in 2005.  I finally got my score out of the "oh hell no" zone. Yay!    However, yesterday I received a notice that a new collection has been added to my credit report, and that my score droppped 81 POINTS!! 

I did some investigation, and it turns out it's from Comcast Cable from 4 years ago.  Why did it take 4 flippin years to end up on my credit?  I have a call into them, as I have no knowledge of any outstanding debt.  In fact, when I signed up for their internet services last month, there was no mention of any outstanding debt when they ran my SS#.  Wouldn't that have been the time to mention it?

If this turns out to be a debt that I actually owe (and somehow COMPLETELY forgot about), when does the clock start for it to age off of my report entirely?  From the time they posted it to my credit report, or the date of first delinquency? Also, is it better to pay it off if it's that old?

Thank you!

[rogersave]

I would call them and see if they would agree to delete if you PIF

[pizzadude]

The credit reporting clock starts at 7.5 years from the DOFD of the original account for any charged~off accounts or collections.    Unfortunately creditors can wait any number of years before collecting or getting a CA involved.