How Long Does it Take to Rebuild a Credit Score?
Money Girl tells you how long it really takes to rebuild a bad credit score.
Laura Adams, MBA
Q. I have old debt that still shows up on my credit report and is hurting my credit. How long will it take to rebuild my credit score?
Answer. Since your credit score is calculated using data in your credit report, the key to improving it is to clean up your credit history. There are some simple, proactive steps you can take, like correcting errors in your credit report and paying your bills on time.
However, in some cases, rebuilding your credit score is a waiting game. Bad debt will drag down your credit until it reaches a certain age and is removed from your credit file.
Delinquencies stay on your credit history for 7 years from the original date they became past due. Certain public records, such judgments and foreclosures, also stay on your credit report for 7 years.
A Chapter 7 bankruptcy is more serious and can remain in your credit history for as long as 10 years. And unpaid tax liens linger in your credit file for 15 years.
So, the length of time it will take to fully rebuild your credit score depends on when and why you had negative changes in your credit history in the first place.
Credit Score Survival Kit – a free multimedia video tutorial with 3 strategies to raise your credit scores!
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About the Author
Laura Adams received an MBA from the University of Florida. She’s an award-winning personal finance author, speaker, and consumer advocate who is a frequent, trusted source for the national media. Money-Smart Solopreneur: A Personal Finance System for Freelancers, Entrepreneurs, and Side-Hustlers is her newest title. Laura’s previous book, Debt-Free Blueprint: How to Get Out of Debt and Build a Financial Life You Love, was an Amazon #1 New Release. Do you have a money question? Call the Money Girl listener line at 302-364-0308. Your question could be featured on the show.