How long does negative information remain on my credit report? | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (2024)

FAQs

How long does negative information remain on my credit report? | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau? ›

A credit reporting company generally can report most negative information for seven years.

Highlights: Most negative information generally stays on credit reports for 7 years.

Consumer reporting agencies are required by law to remove most negative information about your account after seven years, which generally means that if you find an item in their report that is older than seven years you should dispute that information.

The length of time that negative information can remain on your credit report is governed by the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Most of it must be taken off after seven years.

A credit reporting company generally can report most negative information for seven years. Information about a lawsuit or a judgment against you can be reported for seven years or until the statute of limitations runs out, whichever is longer.

The statute of limitations for bringing an action for a violation of the FCRA is two years from the date of discovery of the violation by the consumer, although the action must be brought within five years of the date of the actual violation.

Outdated information may not be reported.

In most cases, a consumer reporting agency may not report negative information that is more than seven years old, or bankruptcies more than 10 years old.

To clean up your credit report, start by obtaining a copy from each of the three major credit bureaus and carefully review them for any errors or inaccuracies. Dispute any incorrect information with the credit bureaus and provide supporting documentation if necessary.

Is it true that after 7 years your credit is clear? ›

In general, most debt will fall off of your credit report after seven years, but some types of debt can stay for up to 10 years or even indefinitely. Certain types of debt or derogatory marks, such as tax liens and paid medical debt collections, will not typically show up on your credit report.

In most states, a credit card company can't sue you for debt that still has not been paid after seven years. However, the statute of limitations varies from state to state. Certain actions can restart the clock and add additional time during which the creditor can sue as well.

An account in default will show for 6 years from the date it defaulted, after which it will no longer appear on your credit report.

Under the provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, adverse information—for example, collection actions, charge-offs, suits, and judgments—may remain on your credit report for seven years.

Unpaid credit card debt is one type of debt that might come off a credit report after seven years. That can help your credit score rise again, making it easier to get loans and other types of credit. But related problems, such as bankruptcy and legal judgments, can stay on credit reports for longer than seven years.

You generally cannot have negative but accurate information removed from your credit report. You can, however, dispute accurate information if it appears multiple times. Most negative information will remain in your report for seven years. Some types of information remain longer.

The 7-year rule means that each negative remark remains on your report for 7 years (possibly more depending on the remark). However, after that period has ended, a remark will most probably fall off of your report.

Accurate items in your record can't be removed before the term set by law expires, which is seven years for most negative items. For example, if you missed payments on your credit card, your dispute to remove that information will be denied.

The debt will likely fall off of your credit report after seven years. In some states, the statute of limitations could last longer, so make a note of the start date as soon as you can.