Consumer Rights
How Long Do Negative Items Stay on Your Credit Report?
Federal reporting time limits for late payments, collections, charge-offs, and bankruptcies, and how to spot an item being reported longer than allowed.
Updated · 5 min read
The general seven-year limit
Under Section 605 of the FCRA (15 U.S.C. § 1681c), most negative information, including late payments, collections, and charge-offs, can be reported for up to seven years.
For collections and charge-offs, the seven years runs from about 180 days after the date of first delinquency: the date you first fell behind and never caught up.
Common time limits
- Late payments: up to 7 years from the missed payment
- Collections and charge-offs: about 7 years and 180 days from the original delinquency
- Chapter 7 bankruptcy: up to 10 years from the filing date
- Chapter 13 bankruptcy: bureaus generally remove it after 7 years from filing
- Hard inquiries: typically shown for 2 years
Paying or selling a debt does not reset the clock
When a debt is sold to a new collector, or when you make a payment, the reporting period is still based on the original date of delinquency. A collector reporting a newer delinquency date than the original account shows is a potential inaccuracy worth disputing.
Positive information can stay longer
Accounts in good standing can remain on your report indefinitely, and closed accounts in good standing are often reported for about 10 years. That history generally helps your credit.
Common questions
- What if an item is older than the limit?
- Information reported beyond the time allowed is obsolete and can be disputed. Include the original delinquency date and any documents that show it.
- Is the reporting limit the same as the statute of limitations?
- No. The statute of limitations is a state law that limits how long a creditor can sue over a debt. It is separate from how long the debt can appear on your credit report.