How to Get a Debt Off Your Credit Report After 7 Years

Not all debt on your credit report is bad. Any accounts for which you have a good payment history are positive items. Accounts that have zero account balances because the creditor charged it off and all collection accounts are negative items. Negative items don't always automatically drop off your credit report in seven years, but you may be able to remove them after that time has passed.

Instructions

1

Obtain a current copy of your credit report from all three bureaus, TransUnion, Equifax and Expeian, at AnnualCreditReport.com (see the Resources section). To know the exact age of your accounts, you need the most current copy of your credit report.

2

Note the outdated accounts. To get debt off your credit report after seven years, you need to verify the age of the delinquency.

3

File a dispute. Because the accounts on your credit report can be different, you need to file your dispute with each credit bureau (see the Resources section). You may dispute errors on your credit report online, by phone or by mail.

4

Check back with the credit bureaus after 30 days. After you file a dispute, the credit bureaus must investigate and respond within 30 days, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). If it is over seven years old, the creditor will submit its findings to the credit bureaus, who will then remove the account from your report.