Negative Credit History Timeline
If you have seen (or heard) the recent commercials about getting a free credit report, then you know it’s important to have good credit and to monitor your credit line. This is the only permanent record that you need ever be worried about. Having a negative credit report can affect your borrowing ability, your interest rates, and even your employment.
The good news is that if you have negative credit, all is not lost. This record is not really permanent. Most of the bad information will be removed from your credit history after seven years from the last infractions.
This is why it is so important to manage and care for your credit history. Although mistakes can be repaired, it will take at least seven years to make those repairs.
Late payments on any loans or rotating credit will be a negative mark on your credit history. Make a point to pay your debts on time. If that is a problem for you because of organization then pay your bills early. Before you go to talk to a lender you want to have at least a year’s worth of on time payments so they can see the new trend in your finances.
Some credit card companies and retails stores that distribute credit cards will allow you to make a special payment arrangement with them if you are unable to pay off the debt that you have incurred. This could be a wise decision, but it will put a negative mark on your credit history. This effect will only be short term, though.
Filing for bankruptcy causes serious negative repercussions to your credit history. Doing so will remain a part of your credit history for more than the standard seven years.
When lenders are trying to decide whether or not you can be trusted to pay back the money you wish to borrow, they will judge you by your credit history. Bankruptcies filed under chapter 13 stay on your credit history for seven years, much like other negative information. If you file for chapter 7 bankruptcy and thus do not have to pay back debts you have racked up, that information will remain a part of your credit history for ten years.
Having a negative credit history could mean adding 3 or 4 percentage points to any loans that you might be interested in getting. It could mean that you will be turned down altogether. What you do right now with your credit can affect your financial situation for seven (or even up to ten) years. Take care that you don’t do damage to something so valuable.
