How long can negative information stay on my credit report?
Most negative information can stay on your credit report for seven years. Lawsuits, judgments, paid tax liens, accounts sent to collection, criminal records (except criminal convictions, which may be reported indefinitely), late payments, and any other adverse information can normally stay on your credit report for seven years. Overdue child support can also stay on your report for seven years. Note that some adverse information regarding U.S. government insured or guaranteed student loans, or national direct student loans, may be reported for more than seven years. Bankruptcies, however, can normally stay on your credit report for ten years from the date of the last activity (usually the date you received your discharge, or the date the case was dismissed, although credit bureaus sometimes start counting from the earlier date of filing). Credit inquiries (requests by companies for a copy of your report) can stay on your credit report for only two years.
