The Fair Credit Reporting Act establishes maximum reporting periods for every type of negative information. These aren't guidelines — they're hard legal limits. Once an item exceeds its maximum reporting period, it must be removed from your credit report, and you have the right to dispute it with the credit bureau if it hasn't been.
The 7-Year Rule for Most Negative Items
Most negative credit information is subject to a 7-year maximum reporting period, measured from the "date of first delinquency" — the date you first missed a payment that led to the negative status. This applies to:
- Late payments (30, 60, 90 days)
- Collection accounts
- Charge-offs
- Repossessions
- Foreclosures
- Chapter 13 bankruptcy
Exceptions: Longer Periods
Chapter 7 bankruptcy stays on your report for 10 years from the filing date. Unpaid tax liens have historically been reportable for 7 years, but the major bureaus voluntarily removed most tax liens from credit reports in 2017–2018. Certain employment-related reports (positions paying over $75,000) may have extended lookback periods.
The Date of First Delinquency Is the Key Date
The 7-year clock starts at the date of first delinquency — not the date the account was charged off, not the date it was sold to a collector, and not the date a collector started reporting it. If a collector is resetting this date to make an old debt appear newer, that is illegal re-aging and is disputable. This tactic is common with zombie debt on credit reports.
How to Check Whether an Item Should Be Removed
Look at each negative item on your report and find the date of first delinquency. Add 7 years. If that date has passed, dispute the item citing FCRA § 605(c), which mandates the removal of obsolete information.
ScoreVera Flags Expired Items Automatically
ScoreVera compares the date of first delinquency for each negative item against the FCRA reporting window and flags any items that should already be off your report — making this one of the easiest disputes to win.