Bankruptcies are not fun. Often we’ve gone through a long, gruelling ordeal that got us to the point where we felt no option but to settle. There were 544,463 bankruptcy filings in the USA in 2020 – proof that you’re not going through this alone. It’s important to arm yourself with all the necessary information you need, so you reduce stress and know your rights when going through bankruptcy.

Can I get a bankruptcy removed from my credit report?

Bankruptcies are likely the hardest thing to get removed from your credit. If the bankruptcy is true, finalized, and accurate, then there really is no way to have it removed without waiting the necessary time period. If it were easy, it wouldn’t be such a difficult decision to make. 

However, ff the bankruptcy appearing on your credit report is NOT yours or it has misinformation or other errors on it, you can apply to have it removed from your credit.

If the bankruptcy on your credit report is not yours or there is an error.

In the instance that a fraudulent bankruptcy has been filed onto your credit report or if it has been put there in error, you need to file a dispute with the Credit Bureau. From there, an investigation will be opened and they will look into the file to prove whether or not it is yours. If it is not, then it will simply be removed from your score and any harm done to your credit will be reversed. If you do not have the expertise to read your credit report or if you need support to file a dispute with the Credit Bureau, you can opt for the best Credit Building Agencies.

If there are errors in your credit report, you will follow the same procedure. Be sure to keep an eye on your bankruptcy and ensure all the information on it is accurate. Any type of error could negatively affect your score even further, although it is possible to delete a bankruptcy from your report based on an error. 

If there is a false bankruptcy report on your credit – as in it’s been filed by a lender/creditor instead of being handled by a Federal court. Then you can dispute its presence altogether (even if you technically owe a debt to a creditor). 

• Send a letter to the credit bureau asking them to verify the information on your credit report that relates to the bankruptcy.

• Use that verification to write a letter to the court clerk of the judicial office letting them know that there is a public record on your credit report saying that a bankruptcy has been verified by that court. Let them know that you’ve disputed it with all of the credit bureaus that are listing the bankruptcy and that you would like to know their process for verifying. They will respond by saying they do not report to credit bureaus.

• From there, you send that response to the credit bureaus letting them know about the dispute, the public record name, and that although the bureau has said that they have verified that the court was the one who filed the bankruptcy, it is clear from your letter that this is not the case. Remember to then request that the bankruptcy be immediately removed from your credit report and all damages to your score are reversed.

How long will a bankruptcy stay on my credit?

How long a bankruptcy remains on your credit report depends on the type of bankruptcy filed. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy (when none of the debt has been repaid) will be removed in 10 years. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy is removed in 7 years because some or a portion of the debt has been repaid. 

IMPORTANT:

• If the allotted time of your bankruptcy has passed and it still remains on your credit report, there may be an error. You must file a dispute immediately with the Credit Bureau to have it removed. 
• If an improper involuntary bankruptcy has been filed on your credit report which you did not ask for (this is usually done by a nasty creditor who files you for bankruptcy because of an unpaid debt), you can also dispute it. 

Remember, just because it appears on your credit report does not mean it’s accurate. Always stay on top of whatever is being reported on your credit at all times to ensure proper financial health.

Not sure how you’re credit looks? We can help. Reach out for a conversation with a member of LEAF Credit Solutions for a free initial consultation.

AAZIM SHARP
CEO & FOUNDER
Aazim Sharp is the founder and CEO of Leaf Credit Solutions, a national credit restoration company. He has invested the last twelve years of his life learning everything that he could about the American credit system – from how to remove negative accounts from credit reports to credit score optimization. Aazim is the author of The Ultimate Credit Repair Guide and he teaches continuing education classes on credit. When he is not busy helping clients resolve credit issues, Aazim enjoys weekend getaways with his wife and kids.