Legal Removal of Bankruptcy From a Credit Report

Filing for bankruptcy doesn't have to haunt your credit forever. After seven years, steps can be taken to remove the bankruptcy and any related information from your credit report.

Instructions

1. Review your credit reports online for free from the three main reporting agencies: TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. The bankruptcy will be removed from your credit report after seven to 10 years.

2. Call each credit reporting agency that continues to show the bankruptcy on your credit report after seven to 10 years and request that they remove it. Remember that a minimum of seven years must pass before you can make this request.

3. Request that the agency also eradicate any other mentions of bankruptcy from your credit report. This includes past accounts noted as settled after your bankruptcy.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy your FICO score from any of the three credit agencies to see if it increases after the bankruptcy is removed from your credit records.

• If you are having problems getting a bankruptcy removed from your credit report, hire a lawyer to help.

• Close any high-interest rate credit card accounts opened immediately after you filed for bankruptcy. These types of accounts are damaging, particularly if a creditor recognizes them as credit-rebuilding cards.

References

• Faqs.org

Resources

• AnnualCreditReport.com