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What is Credit Associates of Hawaii and why are they calling me?
Back when they were in business, Credit Associates of Hawaii was a debt collection agency—a company that collects severely overdue debts that consumers owe to other businesses. Debt collectors often collect for companies such as:
- Banks
- Credit card issuers
- Healthcare providers (if they perform medical bill collections)
- Universities (if they perform student loan collections)
- Utility companies
- Telecom/phone companies
According to records filed by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Credit Associates of Hawaii is no longer in business. 1 This means there’s no longer any reason for these debt collectors to contact you.
However, that doesn’t mean that any debt you previously owed Credit Associates of Hawaii has magically disappeared. We’ll explain what you need to know and what steps you need to take to protect your credit and your finances.
If someone claiming to represent Credit Associates of Hawaii calls you and tries to collect a debt, be very careful. Wait for written confirmation of the debt before you consider paying anything, and be sure to ask questions during the call to clarify what they’re claiming their relationship was with Credit Associates of Hawaii.
What happens when debt collectors go out of business?
Credit Associates of Hawaii may still appear on your credit report even though they’re no longer in business. This has several implications for your finances and credit.
How Credit Associates of Hawaii can still appear on your credit report
Credit Associates of Hawaii can appear as a collection item on your credit report for up to seven years, even though the business is no longer in operation. 2
Items like this remain on your credit report for a simple reason. Your credit report shows records of your debts and credit activity, and it’s mainly used by lenders and other interested parties to assess your creditworthiness.
Accordingly, even after you close an account or pay off a debt, derogatory items like late payments and collection accounts remain on your credit report for years so that individuals and businesses can assess your risk as a borrower.
Ultimately, information will stay on your credit report until one of the following things happens:
- The reporting period ends (this is 7 years for most derogatory items, except for some types of bankruptcy, which can reach 10 years). 2
- The data-furnishing company (in your case, Credit Associates of Hawaii) tells the credit bureau(s) to remove the account from their records.
Unless Credit Associates of Hawaii has updated your account records with the credit bureaus, the collection item will remain on your account for seven years.
You may still have to repay the debt
Even though Credit Associates of Hawaii is no longer in operation, there is still a chance you’ll have to repay the debt—just not to the same company. It’s not uncommon for debts to be sold or transferred from one debt collection agency to another. The process can sometimes take a while, so debts that you thought were settled can sometimes show up years later.
Fortunately, the uncertainty regarding who currently owns your debt may make it easier to get the Credit Associates of Hawaii collection account removed from your credit report.
How to get Credit Associates of Hawaii off your credit report
If your credit score is suffering as a result of Credit Associates of Hawaii debt, then don’t worry. You have two options for getting their collection accounts off your credit report.
1. Send a credit dispute letter to the three credit bureaus
In accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) are required to delete disputed information on consumer credit reports if the information is inaccurate or cannot be verified. 2
If you dispute the items on your credit report by sending a letter to the bureaus reporting your Credit Associates of Hawaii debt, they have 30 days to obtain evidence that the debt is valid and belongs to you. If they’re unable to do so (which is likely, considering Credit Associates of Hawaii is no longer in business), then they’ll have to delete the collection account from your credit report. 2
The credit bureaus also need to delete the collection account from your credit report if the debt is past its statute of limitations.
2. Get help from a credit repair company
If you don’t have success filing a credit dispute or you just need some assistance, then find a credit repair expert who can remove Credit Associates of Hawaii collection items from your credit report for you. This can save you time and help you avoid the frustration of trying to remove their negative marks on your own.
