Credit Check for US Passport Renewal

I have yet another question about renewing my US passport...

I'm reading through the form and see that they will conduct a credit check using my Social Security number. Does anyone know if this will affect my application?

Here's the story...

My parents recently received a call from a collection agency, claiming I owed money to a university I never attended. Having been outside the US for the past four years, we knew this was incorrect, so I called the collection agency for details. I then contacted the university and after a few emails, everything was cleared up. This was about a month ago that the university said the matter was settled. However, I still keep getting calls from (a VERY rude man at) a collection agency claiming I owe them money. I keep telling him that I spoke with the university and the matter is settled, but he refuses to leave me alone (I know it's his job, but he continually accuses me of lying) and keeps telling me I need to settle my debts. He claims my credit score is going to be affected, which never bothered my considering I'm permanently outside the US and won't be moving back (probably) ever, but now I'm concerned about my passport application.

Does anyone know if this will this affect my application?

I don't know if it will affect your application, but I would check your credit report (you can do it for free up to 3x/year) and make sure it's not on there. If it is, you can submit a correction request to the reporting agencies and they'll remove it.

I recently had to do this for speeding tickets that weren't in my name (but were associated with a car I sold before moving). I think it took a couple of weeks for the debt to be taken off my credit report, but otherwise it was pretty painless.

ETA: you may be getting called because the collection agency did buy your "debt". You'd need to get the university and/or collection agency to sort things out regarding the legitimacy of the debt, but I wouldn't count on the collection agents to stop calling just because you say the university doesn't care about the debt anymore. If the debt now belongs to the collection agency, they probably won't give up until they decide you really won't pay and/or they realise it's an invalid debt.

Thanks, equestrianerd.

I just checked my credit report, and it's not on there. I haven't been contacted since last Wednesday, so either the guy has gotten lazy (I was getting calls 3 times per week) or the agency was finally contacted by the university.

...the agency was finally contacted by the university...

Hope that's the case!