How Long Does a Negative Credit Score Last?

The negative items on your credit report that result in a poor credit score may have an expiration date, but the quicker you break bad credit habits, the faster your score will improve.

Identification

A poor credit score is the result of negative items on your credit report. Negative items include payments 30 days or more overdue, charge-offs, accounts reported to collection agencies, foreclosures and bankruptcies. These items can remain on your credit report for seven to 10 years.

Time Frame

When it comes to the length of your negative credit history and poor credit score, the choice is truly yours. The quicker you begin to amend the behaviors that result in a poor credit score, such as making payments late, skipping payments, and allowing accounts to go into collections or become charge-offs, the quicker your credit score will begin to rebound.

Expert Insight

Prevent any further damage to your credit report by paying down credit card debt, refraining from accumulating any new debt, not opening any new accounts and paying bills on time. MSN Money's Liz Pulliam Weston states, "The No. 1 way to raise your credit score? Pay all of your obligations on time. Your payment history constitutes 35 percent of your credit score."

References

• MSN Money: Your 5-Minute Guide to Credit Scores

Resources

• MSN Money: Seven Fast Fixes for Your Credit Scores