Most credit history stays on your file for a maximum of 7 years, except for bankruptcies which stay on for 10 years, unpaid tax liens which remain for 15 years, and positive information which remains indefinitely. Still, if you have defaulted on a loan, your creditors may continue to submit negative. Top page Previous Page

There are basically ten things that look the worst on your credit report. Here they are, listed from the best to the worst: Credit inquiries, credit rejections, late payments, past due and unpaid payments, court judgments, collections, loan defaults, repossession, foreclosure, and bankruptcy. All negative information stays on your credit file for anywhere from 3 to 7 years.

Most people are unaware of exactly how long credit items will remain on a credit report. It is actually very "One Sided". The "Fair Credit Reporting Act" (FCRA) mandates the duration of time negative credit items can remain on your credit report. The sad part is that the Credit Reporting Agencies (CRA's) benefit from collecting and leaving these negative items on your file. A common myth it that CRA's are run by The Government.

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, credit bureaus can report most negative credit information for no more than seven years. There are some exceptions to the seven-year rule. For example, bankruptcies may be reported for ten years.

Derogatory items such as late payments and most public record items remain on your credit report for 7 years, with the exception of Chapter 7, 11 and 12 bankruptcies, which remain for 10 years, and tax liens, which remain for 7 years from the paid date. Active positive information may remain on the report indefinitely. Inquiries, or requests for your credit history, remain on the credit report for two years.

The Credit Bureaus would like you to believe that all information stays for 7-10 years, regardless of anything you do. Items on your credit report DO NOT Automatically drop off you MUST take action! Negative credit (late payments, collections, charge-offs, closed accounts, child supports, civil and small claim judgments, paid tax liens) - 7 years.

Federal law specifies how long negative information may remain on a credit report. Most negative information must be erased after seven years. This includes late payments, accounts that the credit grantor turned over to a collection agency and judgments filed against you in court. Credit reporting agencies use the date of original delinquency or, in the case of public records, the date of filing to determine when negative information is deleted.

A Bankruptcy may remain on your credit report for 7-10 years after your bankruptcy case is discharged. However, you may be able to get credit during that time. For a free consultation, call 312-427-7400 today to speak with an experienced Chicago bankruptcy attorney at Leeders & Associates, Ltd. for a free consultation.

A. An initial alert stays on your credit report for at least 90 days. You can have an extended alert placed on your credit report for seven years if you have been a victim of identity theft (that is, if you can prove that someone has used your personal information without your permission) and you provide the credit bureau with a police report.

Public records and collection items may remain on your personal credit report for up to seven years, with the exception of bankruptcies, which may remain for up to ten years. Unpaid tax liens may remain for up to 15 years. Positive information remains indefinitely, although agencies can remove it after seven years. Inquiries remain for two years.

In accordance with Title 26 IRS Code, Section 6502(a)(1), IRS’ ability to collect any federal tax expires 10 years after it assesses the tax, unless it commences a lawsuit to collect the tax, obtains a favorable court judgment and periodically renews the judgment. The 10 year time period begins to run on the date IRS assesses the tax, not on the date it files a tax lien.

In theory - forever. However, federal law requires that any negative remarks be removed upon request after 7 years or after 10 years if you declared bankruptcy. If you don’t ask, it won’t go away.

Federal law specifies how long negative information may remain on your credit report. Most negative information must be erased after seven years. This includes late payments, accounts that the credit grantor turned over to a collection agency and judgments filed against you in court - even if you pay the account off.