Most of the information in your consumer credit report comes directly from the companies you do business with. Credit reports generally contain four types of information:

1. Personal identifying information such as name, address, social security number, year of birth, current and previous employers, and, if applicable, spouse's name.
2. Credit information such as the credit accounts you have with banks, retailers, card issuers, and other lenders.
3. Public record information such as from court records related to bankruptcies, tax liens, judgements, and in some states overdue child support payments. Bankruptcy information can remain on your credit report for up to 10 years, and other public record information for up to 7 years.
4. Inquiries, which are the names of everyone who obtained a copy of your credit report for any reason. The inquiries section contains a list of everyone who accessed your report for up to two years.

COLLECTION ACCOUNTS, CHARGE-OFFS, PAST-DUE ACCOUNTS: 7 YEARS FROM THE DATE OF OCCURRENCE (WHEN ACCOUNT BECAME NEGATIVE)

TAX LIENS (UNPAID): 7 YEARS FROM DATE FILED (EXPERIAN & EQUIFAX); INDEFINITELY ON TRANS UNION (RCA)

TAX LIENS RELEASED (PAID): 7 YEARS FROM DATE FILED; TRANS UNION (RCA) IS 7 YEARS FROM DATE PAID

JUDGMENTS: IF PAID, 7 YEARS FROM THE DATE FILED; IF NOT PAID, 10 YEARS AND CAN BE RENEWED TWICE.

BANKRUPTCY CHAPTER 7, 11, 12: 10 YEARS FROM DATE FILED

BANKRUPTCY CHAPTER 13: IF COMPLETED, 7 YEARS FROM DATE FILED
BANKRUPTCY CHAPTER 13: IF NOT COMPLETED, 10 YEARS FROM DATE FILED. [ONCE WE FILE, IF WE CHANGE OUR MINDS AND CHOOSE NOT TO DO THE BANKRUPTCY, IT REMAINS ON THE REPORT FOR 10 YEARS!]

It is now illegal for credit repair services to request payment until six months after they have delivered the service. Avoid companies that want you to pay BEFORE they provide services.

1. The company wants you to pay BEFORE delivery of service.
2. They do not tell you your legal rights and that you can do it for yourself for free.
3. They recommend that you do not contact a credit bureau directly.
4. They advise you to dispute all information in your credit report or take any action that seems illegal such as creating a new credit identity. If you follow any illegal advice, or commit fraud, you also may be subject to prosecution.

1. Bankruptcy can be reported for up to ten years.
2. Information reported because of an application for a job with $20,000 or more per year salary has no time limit.
3. Information reported because of an application of more than $50,000 worth of credit line or life insurance has no time limit.
4. Default information concerning a US government insured or guaranteed loan can be reported for seven years after certain guarantor actions.
5. Information concerning a lawsuit or judgement against you can be reported for seven years or until the statute of limitations runs out, whichever is longer.