Date Reported on a Credit Report: What It Means

Definition

The date reported is when the creditor last sent an update about the account to the credit bureau. It tells you how current the balance and status are. It changes every time the creditor reports and does not reset how long negative information can stay on your report.

Also called: date reported, date of account information, last reported, date of status, status date, as of date, date updated

What it means

Each account on your report carries a date that shows when the information was last updated. Bureaus label it differently: “date reported,” “last reported,” “date of status,” or “status date.” Experian’s glossary describes the date of status as the date the creditor last updated the account. Whatever the label, the balance, past-due amount, and status you see are accurate as of that date, not necessarily as of today.

Where it comes from

The CFPB’s 2012 report explains that furnishers typically send updates monthly, in batch files, with changes in balances, payments received, credit lines, and account status. Each update moves the reported date forward. Furnishers send updates to one or more of the bureaus, and reporting is voluntary, so the date can differ across reports.

What it does not do

A fresh reported date does not make an old debt new. The FTC’s 2011 staff report says the time limit for collections and charge-offs is not affected by when the creditor first reported the item to the bureau. That limit runs from the date of first delinquency. A collector that keeps updating an old account each month is not extending its reporting life.

Common errors

An old date, meaning the creditor stopped updating. A paid account may still show the old balance.
A recent date on a debt that was sold or paid off, still showing money owed to the old owner.
A reported date mistaken for, or substituted for, the delinquency date. That can be a form of re-aging.
Different dates at different bureaus, with different balances.

How to dispute it

If the information is stale, dispute the outdated balance or status, not the date itself, and include proof of the current figures, such as a payoff letter or a recent statement. If you see a newer delinquency date on an old debt, dispute that date with proof of when you first fell behind.

When it can be an FCRA violation

Furnishers that learn their information is not complete or accurate must promptly correct it (15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2(a)(2)). Bureaus must use reasonable procedures for maximum possible accuracy (§ 1681e(b)). Stale information that misstates what you owe, and that is not fixed after a dispute, can support a claim.

If outdated account information stays on your report after you dispute it, FCRA Attorneys offers a free case review, and you pay no fee unless we win.

Sources

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.