Credit reporting agencies typically report bankruptcy information for a period of ten (10) years. This, however, does not mean that your credit rating will remain low for that entire time. Credit scoring takes into account the age of derogatory information, and discounts the value of that information the older it is. Therefore, the more time that passes the less important the bankruptcy will be to your credit score.
It is important to review your credit reports at least every six months to ensure that no incorrect information appears on the reports. For people who went through bankruptcy, the most common error involves creditors failing to update their reporting to indicate that the debt was discharged in bankruptcy and has $0 due.
These errors can be addressed a number of different ways, the most reliable one being through the provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The requirements for a dispute to be processed properly are very strict, but a failure on the part of the creditor to properly update the report once the errors is brought to its attention can result in a claim for a violation of the bankruptcy discharge, Fari Credit Reporting Act, and a variety of state laws.
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