Do collection accounts age off your credit report after 7 years?
So I have debt from store lines of credit to a bank credit card. I haven't paid on them since at LATEST December 2007. Chase, citi financial (store line of credit) and Sears line of credit all have it showing closed but I am getting reporting from some debt collector companies.
I live in Arizona and just ordered my actual credit report today. I viewed the information online through a credit score tracking website. I read a lot of comments and researched online somethings. My questions are can any of them take me to court still because from what I read some debts are 3 years and some are 6 here in Arizona, I am not sure what they fall under, also at 7 years they have to stop reporting to my credit so I am told. Does this mean that it will show the old reports but they cant continue to report and since the original lenders have the accounts closed can the debt collector who purchased the debt also show up as a closed account or do they just disappear forever?
Any information to better understand when or if this will ever not be an issue for me would be helpful, as these debts were ran up by my ex and are thousands of dollars I cant and haven't been able to afford to even attempt to fix.
Do collection accounts get removed from my credit reports after 7 years?
—Jennifer
Short answer
Yes, but the clock is not the one most people count from. Negative items stay on your credit report for up to 7 years measured from the first missed payment to the original lender, and every entry tied to that same debt should age off on that same date.
Key points on this page
- Original lenders and creditors show payment default for up to 7 years from when you stopped paying.
- The 7 years starts at the first missed payment to your lender, not at the date a collection agency or debt buyer picked up the account.
- All negative trade lines related to the same collection account should age off at that same 7 year mark.
- Only one entry for a bill should show an unpaid balance. If a debt buyer reports a balance owed, check that the original lender no longer shows one.
- A collection account reporting a newer date of last activity prolongs the credit damage, so compare that date against the original lender’s.
- If the debt is still inside the statute of limitations to sue, a dispute can wake a collector who was not bothering you. Weigh that before sending one.
Original lenders and creditors show payment default on your credit reports for up to 7 years from when you stopped paying on the account.
When you first miss payments to a creditor or lender, you will see late pays show up in 30 day blocks of time on your credit report. If the accounts remain unpaid long enough, those 30 day incremental late pays turn into a charge off reporting on your credit. With credit cards, charge offs normally occur within 180 days of consecutively missed payments (they can happen sooner than 180 days).
The 7 years the negative item stays on your credit report starts from the first missed payment to your lender.
When your accounts get this far behind, it is standard to have the account placed with outside collection agencies, and often repeatedly. Many creditors have a practice of selling off debts that remain unpaid long enough to debt buyers. They are legally transferring the rights to the debt to someone else, as is often laid out in your original contract with them.
Collection Agencies and Debt Buyers Showing Up on Your Credit Report
When an additional entry from a collection agency shows up on your credit report it is important to look for some key items:
- Is the new entry showing a balance due? A debt buyer who reports a collection account to the credit bureaus with a balance owed should be matched with the original lenders negative credit reporting to be certain that the original lender no longer shows a balance is owed to them. You should not have more than one credit entry showing an unpaid and due amount on your report for the same bill.
- Does the collection account show a date of last activity on your report that is different than the date your original lender is showing? Collection accounts that are reporting separate from, but related to an existing negative item on your report, should not show a newer date. If a newer date is used by a collection agency reporting, it prolongs the credit damage and will take longer for you to improve your credit.
All negative trade lines related to the same collection account should age off of your credit report at the same 7 year mark you use to calculate your first missed payment to your original lender. The exception used to be when people got sued for collection and ended up with a judgment over one or more of the debts – which would show in the public records section of your credit report for 7 years from the date judgment was entered in the court.
Most judgments obtained in state courts were taken off our credit reports with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion as of July 2017
What to Do If You Need to Dispute a Collection Account on Your Report
I will have an upcoming article about disputing incorrect information on your credit report, but for now, it is important to consider the following:
If your debt is within the SOL (statute of limitations), to legitimately sue you for collection, you should carefully consider whether or not to send a dispute about a collection account on your credit report, even if it is showing incorrect information. When there is still room on the clock to sue you, sending a dispute may wake the collector to the fact that you are:
- Still an unpaid account.
- Care enough to start cleaning up your credit report (usually for some credit goals, which means you are more collectible).
If your debts are beyond the SOL to sue you legitimately, you should have less concern about waking a sleepy debt collector who may not have been bothering you, with disputes about getting your credit reports corrected.
Legislation was passed in 2011 that changed the SOL from 3 to 6 years in Arizona. Given the information you shared about 2007 being the earliest date of last payment, your debts may/may not be off of the current debt owner’s radar. You would need to be certain about the date each of account was last paid. Any of them you know were paid last in 2006 would be clear of the SOL.
Reviewing your credit reports for accuracy when you know you have old collection items is important. Staying on top of when and how to get your credit reports corrected will help you plan for future access to credit at fair prices.
If you have a particular issue or question you can post in the comments below for feedback.
About Michael BoveeMichael started CRN in 2004 with a mission to provide people in need with detailed debt and credit help and education. Michael has participated as an expert panelist in federal consumer protection rule making, collaborated on state law changes governing debt consolidation, has worked as an expert witness in court matters related to the debt relief industry. He is available to speak with you about your financial struggle and helps people resolve their debt problems daily.
With these serious short comings by the these agencies it has cost me not only the ability to get a car loan at a going rate of interest; it has also cost me housing in which I don’t have to put at times double to triple the amount of a deposit; n0t to mention a credit score the has prevented me from advancing at an social economic level that would have afforded advantages that I may never reach.
I now know why I have never received any correspondence regarding these cards from the issuing company nor the collection agencies for they were more than likely using the addresses and phone numbers that corresponded with the application not to mention the checks that kept the accounts current until just recently.
Should I be filing a complaint with the FTC or Consumer Affairs? Is there the possibility of restitution?
The FTC has a helpful site up about dealing with ID theft at https://identitytheft.gov/
Check through the site fully and follow the recommendations made.
You can notify all of the collectors you listed directly and submit the ID theft concerns to them, follow the steps they request, and get things removed that way too.
You may have a mixed file issue along with, or instead of, an ID theft concern.
I pays to keep records of past credit cards and such. Turns out the HSBC and Capitol one issued cards to someone whom has stolen my identity. Thus the originator of the issuing the cards; the collection agencies now holding the outstanding debt and the credit reporting agencies have a lot of errors. The place of residence for the time period shows me living in three different places ranging from Northern Calif to Southern. It also lists phone numbers and addresses I have never had as well as a current employer that I have never heard of.
The biggest bit of proof I have for this is that from 12/2002 thru 09/2006 I was severally injured in an accident not working; incarcerated at a time it says I not only applied for and received the cards but also made payments on them.
Frankly I don’t know of any credit card you can apply for get a line of credit when you have no job and your residence is county.
So how do I go about things from here. This would involve HSBC; Capitol One; Midland Funding LLC; Cavalry Portfolio Svcs and all three credit reporting agencies
Credit card last paid before the year 2000 haven’t received any correspondence from collection agency in over 8 years. Yet the credit report states there was payment made in 2007 along with an 81 month payment history stating that the last reported date of 05/2016. At the same time this charge off shows under the original credit card HSBC as well as Midland Funding, Calvery Portfolio. In fact the charge off amount reported by HSBC is considerably less the the amount stated by each of the collection agencies.
At the time I was being sued by numerous plaintiffs stemming from auto accident that took my wife as well as 2/3rds of the household income. Raising 2 kids from ages 1 and 3 all of which cost me everything house, credit cards, stocks, car as well as nearly 180k in attorney fees. Which is why i let such a great deal of time pass without any credit cards such that time would take care of most of the debts. Now I just need to repair the credit report. Most of whats left has not been used for nearly 15 years so how do I do away with the remainder
Did any of the accounts at issue end up in court with a judgment against you?
Have you filed disputes in the past with the credit bureaus about any of this?
So far I am fairly positive that there has been no judgements on the remaining accouts. as it shows the current status as being open. Besides the amount of these accounts are between $800 and $1600 though according to the records from the originator they all less than 750.
I have not filed any disputes at this time as I want to make sure I follow that fine line between getting the negative remarks removed rather than poking the hibernating bear.
If the date you last paid on any of these accounts has been more than 7 and one half years I would look to dispute them with the agencies themselves and the credit bureaus. If they come back as verified, yet you can show that the 7 years has passed, let me know.
On my Experian report and Trans union report i have 2 hospital bills in collection on bought bureaus and i notice that the bought bureaus are stating different open dates and also these 2 hospital bills is a bill that i have made in 2013 but it was placed on my Experian report 12/15 and on my Trans union report it was placed on my report 01/16 Can they do that?
But the way i live in Texas
Yes, it is pretty common to have things appear on your credit reports at different times. Much of that will be due to the furnishers of the information, and not necessarily the credit bureaus.
Hi, I have a question- I have an old debt that is way old, over 10 yrs, but I had moved a few times and i never got any mail regarding this, but now I am having wages garnished….I KNOW I have other things that are in the past, but dont know how to address them now- I thought that once it was off your credit report, the charges disappear. I am in NJ- A lot of this debt would be 10 years ago, some of it maybe 6 1/2-7yrs? My credit is okay now, but I’m concerned another sneaky charge is lurking!
Wages being garnished mean that you were sued and a judgment entered in the court. Find out what court the judgment was issued in and post an update with when it was filed, what address they say you were served at and whether you lived there at the time, how much the judgment is for.
Search your name in that court for more than just the one judgment.
Post an update and let’s go from there.
I have a few Old CCards that I have Paid in Just about 7yrs this Summer is a BIG year for my credit report as I live in Mass and a lot of things are going to fall off my report some are starting too.
Here are some of my questions.
. If the CC that are about to fall off have sold to a collection company that has been after me and has already taken me to court but has been unsuccessful due to my income. Will the collection Company 1 stop and 2 fall off my report as well?
2. If not should I settle them out to get the collection companies off my report?
3. If some collection companies have fallen off my report and the CC as well and someone calls for payment is it really ness to pay them? at this point?
I guess my question is once this 7yrs mark hits what is actually going to happen with accounts in collections and not and my Credit Report. I am trying to fix it and this is my year to do it.
The collection company with a judgment is not likely to stop trying to collect. The original credit reporting will generally age off your credit reports 7 and one half years from when you stopped making payments. There is likely an additional derogatory on your credit from the judgment (public record section). The judgment will not fall off until 7 years from when it was entered in the court. Once a judgment falls off your credit it does not mean the collectors stop trying to get paid.
You will not be able to settle and get the judgment off your credit. But getting the judgment updated to show paid/satisfied is what you want in order to improve your situation.
It is not necessary to pay a debt collector if the debt is too old to stay on your credit, but that is not the case if the debt collector is calling about a judgment.
If a debt was established in 2009, can a debt collector wait until 2016 to put it on your credit report? This debt was created in AZ and just showed up on my credit report last month (3/2016).
Can you be more specific? What do you mean by established? What type of debt is it? Were there ever payments made toward the debt, and if so when did payments stop?
I don’t know anything about the debt. It just appeared on my credit report from last month with a date of 2009. When I called the creditor on the report I was told they use to be Quest, but is now Century Link. I adkef for proof that the debt was mine.She said she had no info, as thedebt had been sold to a collections agency and I need to call them. (CMI)
I would call CMI and learn what I could. Let me know what you find out.You may need to dispute this with the credit bureaus, and take other steps.
Did you ever have an account with Qwest?
Yes, I did but it’s been so long ago; which is why I questioned the debt and what type of service. I called CMI, who couldn’t provide me with any specifics other than it was a debt that I owed for service. I was told I had to send a letter saying I never had the service in order for the debt to be researched.
And….I just received a call from another collector for cable services regarding a debt where my last pymt was 11/10/2011. What do you say about that?
It would appear the Qwest account is something you could try to dispute off with the bureaus, or that is going to come off this year as it is.
The cable bill has legs if it is showing on your credit report correctly as have last been paid in 2011 (could be on until sometime in 2018 or early 2019).
How does one handle when a creditor continues to extend the date when the item should fall off the credit report? My case is very cumbersome, but they winded up filing suit and I actually won, but my main concern is that these particulars have destroyed my credit for years. Although I have disputed the debt in the past and now won a law suit basically stating the debt is not valid, it still shows in my report and the date on my credit report keeps getting extended on when it will fall off the report. Not to mention it is duplicated multiple times. For years I have just tried to wait it out thinking it would fall off on so and so date, only to find out it has been extended again (second time) I feel trapped!
Post more particulars.
Who is the lender and/or debt collector involved?
When did you stop paying the creditor?
Did the judge in your case say the debt is not valid, or was the case dismissed for deficiencies?
Of the multiple credit report entries, who is showing a balance currently owing?
What credit or finance goals is this holding you back from accomplishing?
as a very naïve 18 year old fresh into college I obtained a visa and discovery credit card in 2000. 16 yrs later, the discovery debt still appears on my credit report under the collection agency Portfolio Recovery LLC. The credit card was for $500 and the debt now is over 3 times that amount. Is this legal? how can I get rid of it and from showing on my credit report? I am from California
When did you stop paying Discover?
Credit Report Question: If items on your credit report have been removed from one credit agency but are still showing up on another credit agency are you liable to pay those debts? I have 3 debts that have been removed from equifax, but they show up under transunion. Some have not been 7 years yet, What do I do?
Thank you,
The debts do not go away legally once they are dropped from your credit reports. These debts exist and can be collected on… forever really. That is how I respond for the “liability” part of your question.
How much pressure is there to pay a debt the older it gets? Not much.
What state do you live in? What are the collections account the result of (credit card, medical bill, etc)? Your state has a statute of limitations for how long you can legitimately be sued for different types of debt. Once that time passes, the debt collectors can bark, but not bite (sue you). If they do, your defense is simple and often swift.
After your state SOL to sue, there is the limits for how long accurate negatives stay on your credit reports. Once that time passes, you can still be contacted for the debts by collectors. You can ignore those contacts, and even tell them you do not want to be contacted any longer.
If your accounts are not yet 7 and one half years from when you stopped your payments, you typically are looking to wait out the time until they do drop off. If Equifax systems decided to drop the negatives earlier than the other 2, and if the other 2 are legitimately supposed to be there a little longer, you may just need to wait things out.
Dear Michael,
I have two collections on my credit report from 2010. One from a Cable Provider($550) and one from a cell phone bill($1200) that have never been payed off. I’m currently looking to rent an apartment in NY. However, I’m concern that the unpaid collections affect my chances of getting approved. Should I go ahead and pay or wait until they come off? What are the probabilities that I can request a pay for delete?
When I checked in 2013 the Transunion report said it will come off my report around March 2018, which at this moment seem like a long time. Recently I checked my report on credit karma and it shows that the collection was opened in 2013, where in fact they both were in 2010, now making it stay longer on my report. I’m guessing they should drop off from the date I stopped paying not the collection company date, right? What would be the best thing for me to do at the moment? Should I pay, dispute the date, or wait till it comes off?
The two collection agencies are Pinnacle Credit Services( cell phone) who made mailed me a settlement letter last year and Convergent Outsourcing(Cable Provider). As of now, I haven’t contact them. Thank you for your time and guidance!
Utility companies are one of the few debts I suggest trying pay for delete with. But Cable providers and cell phone services may not play ball. Neither Pinnacle Credit Services, nor Convergent Outsourcing, are good targets to get to delete collections in return for payment.
I do recommend resolving those collections so that they get updated to show you took care of them on your credit reports.
They will fall off your reports based on the dates you stopped paying them, and not the newer dates the collection agencies use. If they don’t, you can dispute them off. Keep a copy of the credit reports you have today. They could come in handy for the disputes you may later file.
You may want to check out my article about renting an apartment with bad credit.
Hi, so I was wondering about a couple things on my credit report. I have two accounts in collections one is a U.S Cellular bill that I had gotten in my name for an ex who passed away in 2013 with a balance of $264 and another is a medical bill that I know I’ve paid for but since I paid cash I cant find my receipts or anything to help prove I did pay. My big reason is how do I get these collections off my report or how long will it take to fall off. I’m 25 and can’t even get a simple credit card. All I hear is collection items and not enough years of accounts open. Don’t understand how I can open anything when I’m always being denied. Can you help me figure something out, THANK YOU!!!
I would look to resolve the cell phone bill and get it updated to show as such on your credit reports.
I would dispute the medical bill as paid with the credit bureaus and see what comes of it. Do you recall when you walked into the office and paid cash, and who it was that helped you? Makes some notes of all that in case you need to do something more.
You might want to try getting a secured credit card to start.
I have an AT& T bill that has been over 16 years since it was disputed. and not paid. It is still showing up and being sent to collection agency after collection agency. How do I get that to stop? I live in Florida.
Also, I had a credit card with BOA. that I stopped paying back in 2010 or 2011. They then filed a 1099-C. I countered with form 982 and was declared insolvent. How can they still be claiming the account as being open and delinquent on my credit report? I filed a dispute with TransUnion and they investigated only to report that BOA says its within the FCRA act. Again, what can I do to get this taken care of. .
A debt does not extinguish once the SOL to sue and show on your credit reports expires. It can still be collected. If you want to stop hearing from debt collectors on those really old accounts you will want to send a cease communication letter, and will have to repeat that to each new debt collector. Use certified mail to send letters and keep a copy for your records.
The credit card with BofA that did not get paid will typically stay on your credit report for 7 and one half years from when you stopped paying. That is normal. You really cannot get it off earlier.
i also have some similar inquiries. I had a bank account i believe when i was 17 or 18 years old. I had over drafted the account and never paid anything as a irresponsible young adult.. Now at the age of 26 and trying to get my credit together i have had this debt in collections. I live in Washington state. If it has been over the 7 and a half years what would be my best options? The debt collector has sent me notifications to either pay the balance in full or pay a amount at 40% off for the amount to be paid for less than the balance. What would be the best option for me to pursue at this point?
Any info helps, Thanks!
Are you having any trouble opening bank accounts?
Is the collection still appearing on your credit reports?
What is the name of the collection agency trying to make a deal with you?
Hi Michael. I live in Florida and I have a Chase credit card account that was closed in 1/24/2010 with the last reported date of 5/11/2009. The account is a charge off (now shows a $0 balance) and was sold to a collection company that’s showing an open date of 5/27/10 with the last reporting date of 1/22/2016 with a balance of $1449. These should be the same account, so they should BOTH drop off in 7 years from the original account date of last payment and not the collection company’s date, correct?
Correct, only it is normal for your Chase account (and the debt collector) to fall off your credit after 7 and 1 half years, and not just 7, from the date your payments stopped.
Hi Michael,
I have recently applied for a mortgage and although I got approved, I have a collection that appeared when my credit was checked. It appears to be a charge for a library book that I incurred just about 7 years ago (March 2009) and the collection agency is Unique Collections. My loan officer said she recommended I take care of the balance through the collection agency, but I was under the impression that after 7 years it will no longer be on my credit report. She said this wasn’t true. I also had heard that if I pay it now or try to resolve it through the company, it can re-start the 7 year timeline that it appears on my credit history, I’m not sure what to do as if I decide to purchase a house, I don’t want my final approval to be denied because I did/did not take care of this fine. Thank you for your help!
How much is the collection account now? What was the original fine amount?
Hi Mike
Is it possible to have your mail id or number so that I can give more details. Need your guidance. Thanks much.
My email address is the same one you get comment notifications from. You can also submit a “talk to Michael” request in the right side bar on any page of this site.
Hi Mike
I had a good credit history from 1999 to 2009 in CA. In 2009 I was laid off and since I was on h1b I had to leave the country. Before I left, I had debt on my credit card which I couldn’t pay. It’s going to be 7 years by this March from the last payment. Now the company for which I am working is ready to offer employment in USA but I do have the following questions. Please help taking right decision.
Will the debt create any problem in leasing apartment or car etc.,
Do we need to get scared of collection agents?
Will there be any summons or notices from any one as SOL of 4 years is already passed?
How can I check my credit report as I am living outside US?
Is it OK to start living all over again?
An old unpaid debt can cause issues with renting an apartment. Do you have a set date that you are planning to move back?
It can depend on who the debt collector is, but generally no, you would not have to be overly concerned with debt collectors being aggressive with a debt this old. They will have figured the debt is passed the SOL.
You can check your credit report for free once every 12 months at http://www.annualcreditreport.com (I recommend checking one of the three credit reports every 4 months as a way to monitor your credit 3 times a year).
If you know the name of the current debt collector, or debt owner, post an update and I may have more feedback.
We are planning to move around first week of April. Will my credit report be clean right after seven years. If this is the case still renting be a problem? Please advice.
Also please let us know what other problems we can foresee with the move.
Negatives stuff like you have on your credit can often stay on for 7 and a half years. You could have difficulty because of this. Read the article I linked to in my prior comment about renting a home or apartment with bad credit.
When it comes to collections, I had one debt (same creditor and amount) which had been handed off twice to its final resting place with ERC, with whom I settled. TU still showed the debt as unpaid and the same original creditor/debt/amount as open/unpaid with the previous collection agencies. I filed a dispute with TU to clear the redundant information and update the balance to zero, and they indicated they would investigate and let me know within 30 days. I even received an email link to log in and check the status of the resolution (1 of 3 items resolved) is the type of information you get, no specifics until everything else is taken care of. The other collection agencies for with whom I settled have removed their entries from Experian and Equifax, so they are gone, despite not being scheduled to age off until 2018-2019. I was not told when settling they would be deleting the entries, and I am certainly not complaining!
Nice on the deletions!
I am not sure what happened with TransUnion. Are you still waiting for the investigation to complete?
Yes, they still have some time, a few more weeks, but given that I am got a “settlement confirmed and your account is paid in full” letter from ERC today this should rapidly be cleared up. ERC just gave me the documentation I need in the event TU has an issue, which I don’t think will happen.
Things appear to be moving along nicely!
Thanks for posting Jason. The details of your situation, and the updates you share, will all help later readers, and even current subscribers to this page.
Just a quick update. I filed a dispute with the credit agencies soon after and all the collection records were pulled from my records on all three of the credit bureaus. Several of the creditors chose to delete the record themselves, others did not validate and were deleted. My credit report is now collection free!. This combined with the secured credit card has brought my score up from the 521-581 range a month ago (early Feb) to a range in the high 680s to near 700 depending upon which agency you pull a score from. -March 12, 2016
Hello Michael,
I noticed recently on my credit report that an account that I had in collections on my Equifax report shows, “This agency did not report an open account to this bureau.”but on my Transunion report it shows that this same collections agency last reported to them on Feb. 5, 2016 that I still owe an outstanding balance. Can you possible clear this up for me as to why they are showing it still in collections and Equifax is not? This account was last paid in 2008. Not sure exactly what month.
P.S. I live in Florida.
It sounds like the collection fell off your Equifax report from age. TransUnion may have a different month set for it to fall off. Try to determine from the report when 7 and one half years is from when you stopped paying on the account. That is when most collections should fall off all of your credit reports.
If Equifax got it right, but TransUnion shows the collector longer than it should, you can dispute the account with TU.
Mike,
Your awesome and very knowledgeable. I appreciate the response. I really hope this collection’s account comes off Transunion so my credit score jumps up further. I’m trying to buy a house after my terrible divorce and my credit now is sitting at 750 on Transunion and 763 on Equifax. I”m getting there. Thanks again for the response.