Hầu hết các tiền án, tiền sự, chẳng hạn như thông tin về bản cáo trạng hoặc bắt giữ, có thể được báo cáo chỉ có bảy năm. Tuy nhiên, các hồ sơ tiền án hình sự có thể được báo cáo vô thời hạn. Tài khoản gửi đến bộ sưu tập (nội bộ hoặc cho một cơ quan bộ sưu tập), | CLEANING UP YOUR CREDIT FILE 4 11 ing statute of limitations has expired whichever is longer. Paid tax liens from the date of the last activity for up to seven years. Most criminal records such as information about indictments or arrests may be reported for only seven years. But records of criminal convictions may be reported indefinitely. Accounts sent to collection internally or to a collection agency accounts charged off or any other similar action may be reported from the date of the last activity on the account for up to seven years. The date of last activity is no later than 180 days from the delinquency itself. Creditors must include the date of the delinquency when they report past due accounts to credit bureaus. The clock does not start ticking again if the account is sold to another collection agency. Bankruptcies lawsuits paid tax liens accounts sent out for collection criminal records and any other adverse information may be reported beyond the usual time limits if you apply for 150 000 or more of credit or insurance or if you apply for a job with an annual income of at least 75 000. As a practical matter however credit bureaus usually delete all items after seven or ten years. Laws Regulating Credit Bureaus Credit bureaus are regulated by the Federal Trade Commission under the provisions of the 1971 Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act FCRA 15 . 1681 and following . The FCRA is designed to bar inaccurate or obsolete information from appearing in credit reports and it requires credit bureaus to adopt reasonable procedures for gathering maintaining and distributing information. The FCRA also regulates who can access credit reports. Most states have passed similar laws some imposing more limitations on creditors and credit bureaus. Appendix 2 contains the text of the FCRA. To get a copy of your state law governing credit bureaus contact your state consumer protection agency listed in Appendix 1 Section F . 3. Review Your Report As you read through your
