Pay for Delete Letter in District of Columbia
An offer to pay a collection account in exchange for the collector asking the credit bureaus to remove it. Collectors are not required to agree; get any agreement in writing before you pay, and check your state's rules on whether a payment restarts the time limit to sue (below).
What District of Columbia law says
| Can a payment restart the clock? | No. Once the limitations period on a consumer debt has run out, a later payment or a written or oral acknowledgment of the debt does not extend or restart it. A debt collector may not sue on a consumer debt when it knows or should know the period has expired. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: D.C. Code § 28-3814(l), (f)(10) |
|---|---|
| Time limit for credit cards and open accounts | 3 years, the same as all other consumer debts, including credit card and open accounts. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: D.C. Code § 28-3814(o) |
Fill it in
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[today's date]
To: [collection agency name and address]
Re: Account [account number]
I am willing to pay $[amount offered] to resolve this account in full, on the condition that you ask each credit bureau to remove the account from my credit reports.
If you agree, please confirm these terms in writing on your letterhead before I send payment.
This letter is not an acknowledgment that I owe the debt.
[your name], [your address]
Pay for Delete Letter for other states · District of Columbia tenant rights
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.