How To Find All Your Debts [4 Tips]
It’s uncomfortable to admit, but it’s entirely possible that you have debts you didn’t even know about. Whether mail went missing or communication about medical debt got mixed up, it’s possible an account with your name on it is languishing somewhere in collections.
How to Find All Your Debts
Even if you keep meticulous records, it’s possible for some debts to have fallen through the cracks. Here’s how to find out which collection agency you owe or uncover debts you don’t know about.
Check Your Credit Reports
Our first tip for finding your hidden debts is to turn to your credit report. If you’re in collections or have owed the debt for a while, chances are someone has placed a negative item on at least one of your credit reports.
Go Through Old and New Mail
Take some time to gather all the mail you have. Open it and sort it, carefully looking to see whether you need to take action on something or if you might owe someone money.
Voicemail can back up just like snail mail. Many people never actually check their voicemail, assuming those who need them will call them back or text them.
Listen to All Those Old Voicemails
Contact Creditors You Think You Owe
In some cases, you know you owe someone, but it’s been a while. You can contact the last creditor you remember and find out if they still own the debt or if they wrote it off and sold it to a collection agency.
What to Do After You Find Your Debt
Decide Whether You Can—or Will—Pay
You might rush to pay off old debts thinking it will boost your credit, but that may not happen. Yes, the debt should then be marked as paid on your credit report.
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