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Date of First Delinquency

The Date of First Delinquency tells the credit bureaus when an account first went delinquent. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, it starts the clock on how long negative information can stay on a consumer’s credit report. Getting it wrong can keep old negative information on a report too long, or take it off too soon.

Which date to report

Recheck the date every time you report, working down this list. Stop at the first rule that applies.

1. The account is delinquent, in collection, charged off, or paid after being delinquent (Account Status 61–65, 71, 78, 80, 82–84, 88–89 or 93–97). Report the date of the first 30-day delinquency that led to this status: 30 days after the missed due date. If the account is brought current, zero-fill the date. If it goes delinquent again later, start over with the new date.
2. The account is paid or closed, and the Payment Rating shows it was late (Account Status 13 with Payment Rating 1–6, G or L). Report the date of the first 30-day delinquency that led to that Payment Rating.
3. The account is current, but the consumer is in bankruptcy or personal receivership (Account Status 11, or 13 with Payment Rating 0, plus a bankruptcy, receivership or reaffirmation-rescinded indicator). Report the date of the bankruptcy or receivership petition or notice. The account isn’t delinquent, but the bureaus need this date to know when to remove the information.
4. None of the above. Zero-fill the date.

Example 1: Late, brought current, then late again

Payments are due on the 1st, and the lender reports at month end. The date resets when the account is brought current, and a new date starts with the next delinquency.

Example 2: Never brought current

The January 1 payment is never made. The account rolls through each stage, is charged off, and is later paid. The date never changes.

Example 3: Paid after being late (rule 2)

A payment due March 10, 2026 is missed, and the consumer pays the loan off in full on July 20, 2026, when it was 132 days past due. Report Account Status 13 with Payment Rating 4 (120–149 days past due) and a Date of First Delinquency of 04/09/2026.

Example 4: Current account in bankruptcy (rule 3)

The consumer is current on the account but files Chapter 7 on May 12, 2026. Report Account Status 11, Consumer Information Indicator A, and a Date of First Delinquency of 05/12/2026, the petition date. On a joint account, report this only for the consumer who filed; the other consumer’s date follows the normal rules.

What the FCRA says

• Seven-year limit. Accounts placed for collection or charged off, and most other negative information, can’t be reported once they are more than seven years old.
• When the clock starts. For collections and charge-offs, the seven years begin 180 days after the start of the delinquency that led to the collection or charge-off.
• Furnisher duty. If you report an account placed for collection or charged off, you must report the month and year the delinquency began within 90 days. Collection agencies and debt buyers should use the original creditor’s date when it’s available.

Read the full text of the Fair Credit Reporting Act on the FTC website (Sections 605 and 623).

Based on the CDIA Credit Reporting Resource Guide^® (2026), Exhibit 9. Descriptions and examples are M2 Reporter’s; see the CRRG^® for complete reporting guidelines.