CLEARBORROW · PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 12, 2026
How long negative items stay on your credit report
Most negative information — late payments, collections, foreclosures — can be reported for seven years. Bankruptcies can stay up to ten years (Chapter 7 for ten; the CFPB lists Chapter 13 at seven). Judgments can stay seven years or until the statute of limitations ends, whichever is longer. Accurate items cannot be removed early, but their effect on your score fades with time.
On this page
Time limits by item
| Item | How long it can be reported |
|---|---|
| Late payments | 7 years |
| Collections and charge-offs | Generally 7 years |
| Foreclosure | 7 years |
| Chapter 13 bankruptcy | 7 years (per CFPB) |
| Chapter 7 bankruptcy | 10 years |
| Lawsuits and judgments | 7 years or until the statute of limitations ends, whichever is longer |
Exceptions
The time limits do not apply when the report is used for a job paying more than $75,000 a year or for more than $150,000 of credit or life insurance (CFPB ↗).
Can I get them removed?
Not if they are accurate. You can dispute items that are wrong, duplicated or caused by identity theft (CFPB ↗). The FTC says the seven-year period generally runs from the date the event took place (FTC ↗).
Why the impact fades
Recent negative information has more effect on scores than older information (CFPB ↗). Adding on-time payments now is the fastest way to dilute old problems — see how to raise a low score.
Reporting period vs lawsuit deadline
These reporting limits are federal; the deadline to sue over a debt is set by your state. See statute of limitations on debt.
Questions
Does a late payment fall off after 7 years from when I paid it?
The period generally runs from the date of the late payment or delinquency, not from when you later paid.
Is it true unpaid debt disappears after 7 years?
It can stop appearing on your report, but you may still owe it and could be sued if your state’s deadline has not passed.
Will a credit repair company remove a bankruptcy?
Not if it is accurate. Accurate negatives can be reported for the full period.
Sources and limits
- CFPB: how long does information stay on my credit report? ↗
- CFPB: how to rebuild your credit ↗
- CFPB: can accurate negative information be removed? ↗
- FTC: how to get out of debt (settlement risks, fees) ↗
Sources checked November 12, 2026. This is general information, not legal, tax or benefits advice; rules differ by state. Worked examples are our own arithmetic, not offers. How we use sources.