The account status code is the field that tells the bureaus where an account stands right now: current, a certain number of days past due, paid, closed, in collection, charged off, repossessed or in foreclosure. It drives the status line you see on each account.
Also called: account status, status code, current status, account condition
What it means
The account status is the furnisher’s one-word summary of an account as of the date it reports. The CFPB describes it as the “current or final disposition of the account.” For a delinquent account, the status shows how far behind it is, such as 30–59, 60–89, or 180 or more days past due. For a closed account, it can show that the account was paid, closed with a zero balance, voluntarily surrendered, repossessed, charged off or sent into foreclosure.
In Seamans v. Temple University, the Third Circuit described the account status as showing whether an account is “open, closed, paid, or unpaid.”
Where it comes from
The status is one of the core fields in the Metro 2 “base segment” that furnishers send for every account, usually monthly. The bureaus translate the code into words like “Pays as agreed,” “Collection” or “Charge-off.” Each bureau words it a little differently, so the same account may read differently on Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
Common errors
- An account you paid or settled still shows as unpaid or in collection.
- A status shows “current” while the payment history or date of first delinquency is missing, or the reverse, giving an inconsistent picture. In Seamans, a school reported a paid-off loan as “current” and paid as agreed while also reporting that the borrower had been more than 180 days late for at least 24 months, and did not report the date of first delinquency.
- An account discharged in bankruptcy is reported as charged off with a balance. The FTC staff report says labeling an account that was open when bankruptcy was filed as “charged off as bad debt” would be inaccurate or misleading.
- A repossession or charge-off is reported when the account was brought current.
How to dispute it
Dispute the status in writing with each bureau. Say what the status should be and attach proof, such as a paid-in-full letter, settlement agreement, bankruptcy discharge or payment records. The CFPB’s list of e-OSCAR dispute codes includes one for disputes of the “present/previous account status.”
When it can be an FCRA violation
A wrong status is inaccurate information. If the bureau or furnisher doesn’t correct it after a proper dispute, or the bureau didn’t use reasonable procedures to get it right, that can violate the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
If a wrong account status stays on your report after you dispute it, request a free case review; there is no fee unless we win.
Related
- Payment rating and payment history grid
- Charge-off
- Late payment (30, 60, 90 days)
- Collection account
- Repossession
- Metro 2 format
- Date of first delinquency
- How to Dispute Credit Report Errors With Equifax, Experian and TransUnion
- How to Remove a Late Payment From Your Credit Report, and When You Can't
- How to Get a Repossession Off Your Credit Report: Disputing Errors and the 7-Year Rule
Sources
- CFPB, Key Dimensions and Processes in the U.S. Credit Reporting System (Dec. 2012)
- Seamans v. Temple University, No. 12-4298 (3d Cir. Feb. 21, 2014)
- FTC, 40 Years of Experience with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (July 2011)
Updated November 2026. This glossary is written by FCRA Attorneys from public sources. It is general information, not legal advice, and is not affiliated with any credit bureau or industry association.