Most negative items come off your credit report after seven years. The exact date depends on the type of item, and for collections the clock starts when you first fell behind on the original account, not when the collector got it.
How long each item stays
| Item | How long it can stay | Clock starts |
|---|---|---|
| Late payment | 7 years | The month of the late payment |
| Collection account | 7 years, plus 180 days | The date you first fell behind on the original account |
| Charge-off | 7 years, plus 180 days | The date you first fell behind |
| Foreclosure | 7 years | The first missed payment that led to it |
| Chapter 13 bankruptcy | 7 years | The filing date |
| Chapter 7 bankruptcy | 10 years | The filing date |
| Hard inquiry | 2 years | The date of the inquiry |
| Closed account in good standing | Up to 10 years | The date it closed |
The seven-year limits come from the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The bureaus also apply their own policies, such as removing Chapter 13 bankruptcies after seven years and positive closed accounts after about ten. Civil judgments and tax liens no longer appear on credit reports.
Can a collector "re-age" an old debt?
No. When a debt is sold to a new collector, the original date of first delinquency stays the same, so the removal date doesn't move. If a collection shows a newer date than it should, or appears as a brand-new account, dispute it with the credit bureau. This is one of the most common reporting errors.
Does paying it make it come off sooner?
No. Paying changes the status to paid, but the removal date stays the same. Some newer scoring models ignore paid collections, and some collectors agree to delete an account in exchange for payment. See our pay for delete letter generator.
What if it's still there after the date?
The bureaus usually remove expired items automatically. If one is still on your report after its removal date, dispute it with each bureau that shows it. They must investigate and remove information that can't be reported.
How long does it take to fix credit?
Errors can come off within about 30 days of a successful dispute, because the bureaus generally have 30 days to investigate. Accurate negative items stay until their removal date, but their effect on your score fades over time, especially once you have a run of on-time payments.