Getting Sunrise Credit Services Off Your Credit Report: A Complete Action Plan

If you’re receiving persistent calls from Sunrise Credit Services, it’s time to take control of the situation. This debt collection company has been around since 1974, and chances are they’re pursuing an old debt—either on behalf of an original creditor or because they’ve purchased the debt themselves. The good news? You have legal rights and concrete strategies to challenge the collection account and protect your credit score.

A single collection entry can damage your credit significantly and stick around for up to seven years. But you don’t have to accept it passively. Whether you owe the debt or not, there are multiple paths forward to either eliminate the collection account entirely or negotiate better terms. This guide walks you through every option available to you.

Understanding Your Legal Shield: The FDCPA

Before taking any action, you need to know what protections the law actually gives you. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is federal legislation designed specifically to prevent debt collectors from using aggressive, harassing, or deceptive tactics. Many collectors rely on people not knowing their rights—and they’ll back off immediately if you do.

Under the FDCPA, debt collectors cannot:

• Call you repeatedly to harass you
• Use profane, abusive, or threatening language
• Misrepresent themselves or lie about what they’re collecting
• Report false or misleading information to credit bureaus
• Contact your friends, family, or employer about your debt
• Call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. in your local time zone
• Continue calling after you’ve requested they communicate only by mail

This is your shield. If Sunrise Credit Services (or any collector) violates these rules, you have legal recourse. Many consumers successfully challenge collection accounts by documenting FDCPA violations.

The Debt Validation Request: Your First Move

The most important step you can take is requesting debt validation. Here’s why: you only have 30 days from the collector’s first contact to make this request, so don’t delay.

Under the FDCPA, Sunrise Credit Services must prove that the debt actually belongs to you before you make any payment. Send them a certified letter via U.S. Postal Service demanding that they validate the debt. This letter should request proof that:

• The debt amount is accurate
• The debt actually belongs to you
• They have legal authority to collect it
• The original creditor information is correct

Why certified mail? It creates a paper trail. Phone calls leave no evidence. If Sunrise can’t properly validate the debt—if their documentation is incomplete or inaccurate—you can file disputes with the credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) and potentially get the account deleted entirely.

Review their response carefully. If anything doesn’t match up, file disputes immediately. This is one of your strongest moves because collectors sometimes can’t produce proper documentation for older debts.

The Goodwill Deletion Option

If you do owe the debt and validation won’t help, try appealing to the collector’s goodwill. Write a formal letter to Sunrise Credit Services explaining your situation. If you experienced job loss, medical emergency, or other hardship that caused the missed payments, explain it clearly.

In this letter, ask them to agree (ideally in writing) to remove the collection account from your credit report in exchange for you paying the full balance. Some collectors will agree, especially if the debt is older or they’ve already recovered significant revenue from pursuing it. There’s no harm in asking.

Settlement Negotiations: Playing Hardball

If goodwill doesn’t work, you can negotiate a reduced settlement. Sunrise Credit Services doesn’t always need to collect 100% of what they claim you owe—especially for aged debt. Try offering 50% of the claimed balance and negotiate from there.

The crucial step: Once you reach an agreement, demand that they provide the settlement terms in writing before you send any money. Do not pay first and hope they’ll delete later. That’s backwards. You need written proof of the deletion agreement.

After you pay according to the agreement, wait 30 days and check your credit report. Verify that the Sunrise Credit Services entry is gone. If it’s still appearing, contact them immediately with your written agreement in hand and refuse further payment until the deletion is complete.

What Recent Consumer Complaints Reveal

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has received over 1,000 complaints about Sunrise Credit Services in recent years. The Better Business Bureau has accumulated more than 300 complaints. The pattern? Customers report:

• Inaccurate reporting of debt amounts or status
• Harassment through repeated calls
• Alleged violations of the FDCPA and Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
• Failure to honor deletion agreements
• Collection attempts on debts already paid

These complaints suggest that Sunrise Credit Services doesn’t always play by the rules. This actually works in your favor—if they’ve violated the FDCPA with you (or with others), that’s leverage you can use. Document every contact. Keep records of every call, letter, and agreement.

The company has a B+ rating with the BBB, but that doesn’t mean you should trust verbal promises. Everything must be in writing.

Getting Professional Help

If negotiations stall, consider hiring a credit repair company. These firms specialize in identifying violations and negotiating with collectors on your behalf. Many offer free initial consultations to review your case. A professional can handle all communication with Sunrise Credit Services while you focus on moving forward.

Reaching Sunrise Credit Services

If you’re ready to take action, here’s how to contact them:

Mailing Address: Sunrise Credit Services, Inc. P.O. Box 9004 Melville, NY 11747

Phone Numbers: 866-228-5970 or 800-645-9824

Website: sunrisecreditservices.com

Note: Always prefer written communication (certified mail or email with read receipts) over phone calls so you have proof of what was discussed.

Your Next Steps

Start by sending that debt validation letter within 30 days of first contact. Keep copies of everything. If Sunrise Credit Services can’t properly validate the debt, you may get it deleted at no cost. If they can, then explore goodwill deletion or settlement negotiations with a written agreement.

The key is acting quickly and staying organized. Collection accounts damage your credit significantly, but with the right approach—and knowing your rights—you can either get the account removed or at least negotiate better terms. Don’t let Sunrise Credit Services assume you’re an easy target. You have more power in this situation than you might think.