Legal Question in Consumer Law in Pennsylvania

Re: credit report

You asked about a negative credit line on your credit report.

Contracts entered into before a person is of age may be voidable. The problem you have here is that the contract is voidable but not necessarily void. If the college courses were used to qualify you to graduate from high school then you may still be liable for the debt. Also, the same would be applicable if you used the credits towards your college education. You should also determine if you were responsible for the original debt or your parents were. If the latter then you have no reason to be named as a debtor.

Depending on your age the debt may be stale and may be ready to "age off" your credit report. Generally debts are uncollectable after four years and will age off of credit reports after about seven years from the date of the last consumer activity.

If the debt is not stale or will not age off soon then you need determine if you want to resolve the debt or wait. The easiest thing to do is approach the school's finance office and see how they would like to resolve this matter. It may very well be that they can recall the debt and write it off because you were under age at the time. In any case it will be more effective to deal with the school and get it to remove the "negative trade line" from your credit report.

Good luck.

Regards,

Roger