Comment from echo
Time July 26, 2009 at 10:43 pm

Positive info can stay on forever.
Collection accounts, public records, paid tax liens – 7 years
Bankruptcy – 10 years from date filed
Unpaid tax liens – indefinately
For collection accounts, the time starts running from the date of first delinquency that you were 30 days late and never caught up, with the original creditor.
If you paid a collection agency, you should have used a pay for delete letter demanding that they delete anything they place on your reports. If you don’t do that, they may update the account as a paid collection account. Which will stay on for the remainder of the 7 years.
If you have more things to work on, I would suggest going to the site that I’ve listed. There is a massive amount of info on that site. And, many, many members that may be of help to you if you have questions. It is a “free” do it yourself credit repair site.

Comment from Rosie
Time July 27, 2009 at 4:05 am

Generally bad things stay for 7 – 10 years. I was there. Stupid mistakes that my husband and I made when we were young. They are just clearing up now. Keep making your payments on time and be patient. http://www.stopdebtcollectorscold.com/cr…

Comment from linda the buckeye
Time July 27, 2009 at 6:06 am

the company’s normally report for 7-9 years. Even if you have paid off your debts , it will show it charged off , but was paid
It might be a good idea for you not to have credit for a few years
Bad credit sticks like white on rice .
One good way to reestablish credit is pay you phone, electric and and gas bills on time and also your rent, its a small way to start to reestablish credit

Comment from gagrin
Time July 27, 2009 at 9:56 am

Only three years as mostly while applying for freah loan or credit cards they go back three years.

Comment from jenn
Time July 27, 2009 at 2:46 pm

well…i don’t have bad credit….i’m young and just starting credit…what i’ve done is taken out a couple of signature loans and not really spent the money but paid it back that way it shows up something good on your report….as soon as you pay your debts off your score starts improving, you just need something on there to prove that you’re better about paying things on time and stuff, it’s more credible
and it doesn’t take 10 years for it to improve….i think it takes 7 for everything to go off….or that’s what they say for a bankruptcy

Comment from Sassy Redhead
Time July 27, 2009 at 6:02 pm

Unfortunatly bad credit can stay on for at least 7-10 years. They say its only on for 7 but believe me it lasts a whole lot longer. The good thing is you have started at least cleaning up your credit. Now you need to open up a new line and get some fresh credit started. Once you get new credit established your credit score will start to get higher. BE CAREFUL, you don’t want to get back in over your head. Open only one or two accounts with low balances. Your score can be reflected by your debt ratio also.
Good luck, sounds like you are on the right track.

Comment from WhiteHat
Time July 27, 2009 at 9:43 pm

10 years

Comment from Reaper King
Time July 27, 2009 at 11:58 pm

the majority of the answers here are bullsh*it. stuff on your credit report stays there until you die, and then some. it just comes to a point where things on your report stop affecting your score. but things never go away or are removed from your credit report even if you paid off a card and left the company in good standing. regardless of how things were paid or whatever, entries into your report stay there forever. people get the 3/7 year thing confused bcuz after this length of time, 3-7 years, the stuff on your credit, assuming it’s resolved or dormant, no longer have an effect on your score. but things are never removed, even if you request it. I work as a loan officer and I have pulled credit for people a lot of times. I had one where the person was deceased but I could still tell that he made timely payments on his credit card from 20 years ago.

Comment from House, M.D.
Time July 28, 2009 at 4:15 am

I believe it stays with you for life.

Comment from Beach Girl
Time July 28, 2009 at 7:28 am

It usually takes about seven years. I know. It is unfair and a nightmare. You can try disputing the reports. You have to do this w/all three credit unions Experian, Equifax and Trans Union. If the Company that put the negative mark on your credit report does not respond w/in 30 days, the reporting agencies have to remove the mark.
Good Luck!
It is an extensive and time consuming process but may be worth it. Just be patient.

Comment from drubaby3
Time July 28, 2009 at 7:36 am

7-10 years.

Comment from londonha
Time July 28, 2009 at 12:40 pm

7 years from the date it was reported, unless bankrupty or court judgement, that stays for 10 years. Yes, if the creditor is not paid, they can sell off the debt to another company (collector) and if they do not get paid by you in the time specified, they will also report you to the creit burueas, and then it takes up to 7 years for that report to go away .. etc …
If it’s a valid debt, you must pay it, if it’s not valid, you can dispute it. The credit bureaus must validate the debt is accurate within 30 days or they must delete it by law, even if it’s legitimate.
If it’s an old debt, more than 7 years, inform the bureau that it’s been longer than 7 years and they will remove it.
Most companies are only concerned about the last 2-4 years, so if you get some secured credit cards, cary a small balance and make your payments on time, your credit score will improve. It just takes time.

Comment from Cowboy
Time July 28, 2009 at 3:58 pm

forever

Comment from LuckyWif
Time July 28, 2009 at 5:29 pm

Depends, a repo stays on credit for 7 years, and a bankruptcy stays for 11 years, after you have paid off a debt and they have received payment it should be taken of immediately, but you may want to get a free credit report and check and if it is still there call them and ask them about it.