Generally 7 years, starting 180 days after the delinquency that led to the charge-off, or about seven and a half years from the first missed payment you never caught up on. Paying, settling, or selling the debt does not restart that period.
A charge-off happens when a lender writes off an unpaid account as a loss, usually after months of missed payments. The debt is still owed, but the FCRA limits how long the charge-off can be reported.
The time limit
Under 15 U.S.C. § 1681c(a)(4), accounts “charged to profit and loss” generally may not be reported once they are more than 7 years old. Section 1681c(c) says that period begins 180 days after the start of the delinquency that immediately preceded the charge-off. If you first fell behind in March 2020 and never brought the account current, the reporting period would begin around September 2020 and end around September 2027.
The delinquency date is fixed
The lender must report the month and year that delinquency began. If the account is later sold to a debt buyer or placed with a collector, the new entry is tied to the same original delinquency. A payment, settlement, or sale does not restart the period.
Balance and status
While it is on your report, a charge-off must still be accurate. If the lender sold the debt, or you paid or settled it, the lender’s tradeline generally should not keep showing a balance you owe to that lender. Furnishers must correct and update information they learn is inaccurate or incomplete.
Exceptions
The 7-year limit does not apply to reports used for a credit transaction of $150,000 or more, life insurance with a face amount of $150,000 or more, or a job paying $75,000 or more a year (15 U.S.C. § 1681c(b)).
What to check
- The date of first delinquency on the charge-off and on any related collection account
- Whether the balance is accurate after a sale, payment, or settlement
- Whether the account is still showing after the reporting period ended
If a charge-off is reporting past its deadline or with the wrong date or balance, dispute it in writing with each credit bureau. If that does not fix it, a free case review can help, with no fee unless we win.
Related
- Charged-Off Account Still Showing a Balance? When It's Accurate and When It's Not
- Capital One lawsuit guide
- Synchrony lawsuit guide
- Chase lawsuit guide
Sources
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681c(a)(4), (b) and (c) (Cornell LII)
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2(a)(2) and (a)(5) (Cornell LII)
Updated November 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.