consumeraction

Released: May 02, 2005

Help Desk FAQ

How long does negative information stay on my credit report?

Negative information stays on your report no more than seven years from the original date of delinquency. Negative information can be: unpaid debts, charge-offs, late payments, judgments, liens, excessive revolving credit (too many credit cards), and bankruptcies. Bankruptcies can stay on your report for up to 10 years. If your debt is turned over to an outside collection agency and it reports the debt to credit bureaus, that same debt will be reported twice on your report. The negative mark from the collection agency will also stay on your report for seven years. Inquiries from potential creditors stay on your report for one year. Too many inquiries may also be viewed as negative.

Note: If you apply for certain jobs with a salary above $75,000, or apply for insurance or loans over $150,000, all negatives will be seen, even if they are more than seven years old.