A Guide to Removing Commonwealth Financial Systems from Your Credit Report

If Commonwealth Financial Systems, Inc. (CFS) has contacted you about an unpaid bill, whether by phone or collection letter, there’s a good chance that this debt is impacting your credit.

You might be wondering how to remove them from your credit report. Debt collection agencies like CFS can disrupt your financial plans and add stress to your daily life.

The advice below will help you stop collection calls, resolve your account, and improve your credit score.

What is Commonwealth Financial Systems?

Founded in 2001, CFS is a third-party debt collection agency based in Pennsylvania. Despite their persistent collection methods, they are a legitimate company.

CFS is considered a medium-sized collection agency and operates as an accounts receivable management business. Their services include debt purchasing, credit bureau reporting, third-party debt collection, and first-party outsourcing. CFS collects various types of consumer debts, such as medical bills, retail balances, and financial account debts, including credit cards and student loans.

You might see CFS on your credit report under the following names:

• CFSI
• CFSI collections
• Commonwealth collections
• Comnwlth fin
• Commonwealth finance
• Commonwealth financial

Commonwealth Financial Systems Contact Information

You can reach CFS at the following address and phone number:

• Commonwealth Financial Systems, Inc.
• 245 Main St., Dickson City, PA 18519-1641
• Phone Number: 800-848-2170
• Website: cfsi-arm.com

4 Ways to Remove Commonwealth Financial Systems from Your Credit Report

Ignoring CFS’s calls can be tempting, but overdue bills in collections can devastate your credit score. Whether you owe money or believe CFS has incorrect information about a debt, it’s crucial to communicate with them. Here are four simple ways to resolve an issue with CFS:

1. Verify the Debt

Debt collectors often make mistakes, and information can get lost or mixed up during the transfer from the original creditor. Before making any payments, verify the debt by sending a debt validation letter to the collector within 30 days of their first contact.

In your letter, ask the collector to verify specific details such as the name, dates of account activity, total debt, and any other related information. Confirming the date of the debt is essential, as each state has a statute of limitations within which collectors can legally pursue the debt. If the collector fails to pursue the debt within this time, you are not obligated to repay it.

Request a return receipt to prove the collector received your letter. This evidence can be valuable if they ignore your request for validation.

2. Negotiate a Payment Plan or Settlement

If you missed the 30-day validation window or CFS validated your debt, you can still negotiate with CFS and ask them to remove the collections account from your credit report. Collections agencies often agree to a reduced payment. A good starting point for negotiations is about 50% of the total amount you owe.

Always put your negotiations in writing, using letters or email to communicate with CFS representatives. Phone negotiations are harder to prove and may not lead to the removal of CFS from your credit report.

If your debt is valid, simply paying it off might not improve your credit. You may need to request that the company stop reporting your collections account to the credit bureaus to have it removed. Debt collectors are not required to do this unless it has been seven years since your bill went unpaid, so use your debt payments as leverage.

After agreeing on a settlement and making your payment, ensure that your credit report reflects these changes. Follow up with the agency if the negative entry remains on your credit history.

3. Dispute the Debt

You can dispute your debt, which may lead to CFS removing itself from your credit report. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you have the right to request validation of the debt. If the collection agency can’t provide adequate evidence of your debt, they must remove the account from your credit report.

To dispute an outdated, incorrect, or invalid debt, get a copy of your credit report from one of the three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) and review it carefully. Note any errors and gather supporting documentation. Send a debt dispute letter to the credit reporting agency, which must investigate and respond within 30 days.

If the agency doesn’t remove the disputed debt, follow up with additional letters or escalate the dispute. You can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau if you believe the credit reporting agency is not responding appropriately.

4. Seek Professional Help

While you might succeed in removing CFS from your credit report on your own, it can be a frustrating and time-consuming process. Credit repair agencies are experts at disputing debts and removing collection accounts from consumers’ credit reports. They may be able to get the debt removed more quickly than you could on your own. If the debt is valid, however, the collections account may linger on your credit report even with professional help. If you’re unsure of your next steps, consider free advice or counseling from a non-profit organization like the National Foundation for Credit Counseling or the Financial Counseling Association of America.