How long can negative items and old debts stay on my credit record?
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires that most negative credit items be deleted from your credit bureau file in no more than seven years, except for bankruptcy, some tax liens and judgments (public records) which can be reported for up to ten years. These are the time limits for reporting negative credit. The creditor or the credit bureau can choose to have the negative credit information deleted whenever they please. Inquiries may remain on the credit report for up to two years. Don’t let this discourage you. You can start rebuilding your credit at anytime, and if you stay current on your payments and balances, your score can get better even after a bankruptcy. For more information, ask for our Fact Sheet: Charged-Off Debt and the Seven-Year Rule.
