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How to remove a bankruptcy from your credit report
To remove a bankruptcy from your credit report, you’ll need to find evidence that the bankruptcy was reported incorrectly. Otherwise, it will only come off after seven or 10 years depending on the type of bankruptcy.
Many people see declaring bankruptcy as hitting financial rock bottom. But if that’s the case, they’re certainly in good company down there. In fact, more than 767,700 people filed for personal bankruptcy in 2017 alone.
Beyond the stress, heartache, and inconvenience that comes with filing for bankruptcy, one of the biggest and longest-standing impacts is to your credit report and score.
Fortunately, that negative impact can be mitigated with the right help.
You have the will, we have the way. Let us help you fix your credit. Call today to get started
How long does a bankruptcy stay on my credit report?
According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), a Chapter 7 bankruptcy can remain on your credit history for up to 10 years from the filing date and a Chapter 13 bankruptcy can remain for a maximum of seven years.
The FCRA states only the legal maximum amount of time bankruptcies can appear on your report and not the minimum. This means a bankruptcy can be removed earlier than the legal maximum, but it must be proven that it is misreported, unsubstantiated or otherwise found inaccurate. A bankruptcy cannot be removed simply because you do not want it there.
How does bankruptcy affect my credit score?
The impact of bankruptcy on a credit report can be devastating and entirely depends on your credit score prior to filing.
According to FICO’s published Damage Points guidelines, the effects range from 130 to a 240 point drop. For example:
- A person with a 680 credit score would drop between 130 and 150 points.
- A person with a 780 credit score would drop between 220 and 240 points.
You have the will, we have the way. Let us help you fix your credit. Call today to get started
Can I rebuild my credit after bankruptcy?
You can rebuild your credit after bankruptcy, but it’s a long process. Your options will be limited at the start, but it is key to not get discouraged. As time goes on, if you consistently pursue a credit rebuilding strategy, your reports and scores can improve.
Here are some recommendations to start with:
- Understand the cause: Identify, accept, and learn from the root causes of your bankruptcy so you won’t find yourself in the same position down the road.
- Stick to a budget: Re-evaluate your finances and see where you can cut expenses and save more money if you can.
Start establishing a new credit history: No, this does not mean using an alias (which is something unethical credit repair companies may recommend). It means starting fresh with whatever credit you can obtain.
This may mean settling for an extremely high-interest rate, taking on a co-signer, depositing cash into a secured credit card, or other options that have been designed specifically to help you re-establish a positive credit record.
Use these credit options sparingly and never put more on a card than you can pay off by the end of the month so your credit improves over time.
When can bankruptcy come off my credit report?
A legitimate bankruptcy record cannot be removed from your credit report simply because you don’t want it, but a bankruptcy can come off your report if it is inaccurately entered or otherwise incorrect.
The FCRA makes provisions for challenging anything on your credit report that is incorrect, has remained on your credit report beyond the maximum time allowed, or cannot be substantiated by the creditor who reported it.
In the case of bankruptcies — especially because they remain on the credit report for so many years — it’s not uncommon for errors to creep in.
Some of the most common errors we find include:
- Debts that were discharged in the bankruptcy are still showing a balance.
- Individual accounts included in the bankruptcy are still appearing on the report after seven years. In both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies, the individual affected accounts can only impact your report for seven years starting from original delinquency date, not the filing date of the bankruptcy in which they were discharged.
- The bankruptcy is still showing up on a report more than 10 years after the filing date.
- Any sort of material error in how the bankruptcy was reported, from the spelling of names to accurate addresses, phone numbers, dates, etc.
If any of these or other errors appear on your credit report, you have the right to challenge those errors. The reporting agency must remove them if the reporting agency cannot substantiate the item.
Another possibility, although it is rarer, is that the bankruptcy on your credit report isn’t your responsibility. These include clerical errors, mistaken identities, or identity theft that could all result in a bankruptcy showing up on your credit report when it shouldn’t be there.
If there is an error, your first step is to contact the U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee’s Office to file a report. The case is typically referred to the F.B.I., then reopened. You’ll need to defend your claim in court in order to prove that the bankruptcy is fraudulent.
While the government is often understanding of those in a faulty bankruptcy predicament, the legal process for removing it from your records can be long and drawn out. The help of a trusted advocate can be essential.
Can I remove a bankruptcy from a credit report on my own?
It is possible to pursue removing a bankruptcy from your credit report on your own, and some people have managed to do so. However, it is a time-consuming, labor-intensive process that many people find complicated, confusing, and frustrating.
We encourage you to learn as much as you can about credit report disputes and credit repair processes, then count the real cost of DIY credit repair before committing to handling this important task on your own.
People who have needed to remove a bankruptcy from their credit reports have achieved success by working with a credit repair services provider like Fast Credit Repair Solutions. If other questionable negative items are affecting your credit report and score, we can help you challenge those as well.
Contact us today for a free personalized credit consultation to find out how we can help you through your fraud crisis so that you can move on to a financially stress-free future.
You have the will, we have the way. Let us help you fix your credit. Call today to get started
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