The 7-year rule: when negative items fall off.

One of the most useful facts in credit reporting: most negative information cannot be reported forever. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. § 1681c), the reporting period for most negative items is about seven years.

It starts at the Date of First Delinquency

The seven-year clock runs from the Date of First Delinquency (DOFD)—the first missed payment that was never brought current—not from when the account was opened, charged off, or sold to a collector. That single date determines when the item should age off.

Why the date is worth checking

Because the DOFD drives the whole timeline, an inaccurate or missing DOFD is a serious reporting problem. If a negative item is older than the reporting period, it is obsolete and should be removed. If the date looks wrong, it is worth investigating.

A few exceptions

Some items follow different timelines—certain bankruptcies can report up to ten years, and rules can differ for very large loans or specific situations. When in doubt, check the dates carefully and ask your consultant.