In the vast and expanse of the digital world, where information spreads faster than wildfire, a peculiar post has recently captured my attention.
“Congress passed a law that allows you to permanently remove any negative debt from your credit report that is over two years old.”
I was alerted of this propaganda originally by a friend of mine through Instagram. He originally shared the story of a pretty influential figure. After I saw this story, I noticed that the idea that Congress passed a law to permanently remove 2-year-old debt started to percolate throughout my feed from various credit repair influencers. As someone who deals with personal credit and consumer laws on a daily basis, I felt I must have overlooked some vital information. Plainly stated,
I WAS OUT OF THE LOOP!
After this, for weeks I delved into the depths of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (EOCA), and even the Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA), in search of this law.
To my dismay and honestly disappointment, my quest revealed that is no such magical law exists. This revelation was not just a mere assumption; even David Silberman, a former acting deputy director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, echoed my findings in 2023, confirming the absence of such a law in an article.
This journey into the heart of credit legislation reinforced a timeless adage: “Don’t believe everything you see on the Internet.” While the myth suggested a mere two years for the disappearance of negative credit information, reality paints a different picture. The truth, as outlined by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, is that most negative information lingers for seven years on a credit report, with bankruptcy and other significant blemishes remaining for up to a decade.
The FCRA does, however, offer a beacon of hope for those wanting to remove negative information from their credit reports. It provides avenues for disputing inaccurate information, enabling individuals to challenge discrepancies directly with credit reporting companies like Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion. These entities, upon receiving a dispute, must investigate and verify the accuracy of the reported information. Should they fail to confirm its validity, they are obligated to cease reporting it, ensuring the integrity of the credit reporting process. Consumer reporting companies and information providers wield significant influence over our financial landscapes, and it is imperative that they adhere to their legal responsibilities, safeguarding the accuracy and fairness of credit reporting.
In conclusion, it is always important to verify the information you see and do your own research and remember, laws can be interpreted differently based on the language and circumstances.