Even if you have never filed for bankruptcy, I suggest you bookmark this. You never know when tragedy may besiege your innocence.
Removing a chapter 7 bankruptcy from your credit report can be a very painful process (as you would imagine), but it is possible to do if you follow these steps. First, keep in mind that this may or may not work. As I have stated in previous articles, your individual situation will ultimately be the main determinate. Nonetheless, if you didn’t just file, this has a much better chance of working.
The first thing you need to do is dispute the bankruptcy with ALL 3 of the credit reporting agencies. See my article on the best way to do this here. If you’re lucky (extremely lucky), they will be unable to verify it and the bankruptcy will be removed. This is the best case scenario, but unlikely to happen.
If the bankruptcy is verified by the credit reporting agencies, you will need to send a procedural request letter asking them who they verified the bankruptcy with. See my example letters here. They will then respond, claiming that it was verified by the courts. No it wasn’t –the courts do not verify.
Next, as you might have guessed, you will need to contact the courts that were specified by the credit agencies. Ask them how they went about verifying the bankruptcy. They will say they didn’t verify anything. Ask for that statement in writing. After you receive the letter, mail it to the credit reporting agencies, and demand that they immediately remove the bankruptcy as they knowingly provided false information and therefore are in violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Hopefully this should do the trick and the bankruptcy will be removed promptly.
(19 votes, average: 4.16 out of 5)
11 Responses to “How to Remove a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy From Your Credit Report”
By devin on Nov 26, 2007 | Reply
WOw..i almost want to file bankruptcy just so i can do this
By Ross on Dec 2, 2007 | Reply
I haven’t had to ever file bankruptcy, but I’ll bookmark this just in case. I really didn’t know you could do stuff like this.
By beth on Dec 2, 2007 | Reply
I just stumbled upon this page and really like everything I am reading. Thanks for all of this useful information.
:)
By J.D on Dec 2, 2007 | Reply
I waited 10 years for my bankruptcy to get off my credit report.
By Bill on Dec 2, 2007 | Reply
Swell. So this is an effort to misrepresent your history and capability of honorably paying for things you want to buy?
I can see all the people who want to preserve this information are presumably not printing it out to save it for people who owe THEM money.
By Ryan on Dec 2, 2007 | Reply
Bill -
Individual situations vary. I’d say almost half of the people I talk to that have filed bankruptcy had to do so because of a reason that was not their direct fault (except maybe skewed judgement –a mistake we all make from time to time). In particular, people who have co-signed on large loans for children, spouses, etc.. and the other person split. They are then burdened with loans they cannot pay and have to file bankruptcy. Credit reporting agencies have no official status, bare in mind. Furthermore, these creditors aren’t going to get their money either way. I do not advocate that people ought not honor their commitments, I merely try to keep in mind that most people with bad credit tend to be not only more happy, but more productive once they find a way to get through all of the outrageous hurdles that are currently in place.
By Keewook Song on Dec 23, 2007 | Reply
I was wondering if anyone has tried this process and succeeded.
By Yolanda on Apr 1, 2008 | Reply
Hi all! Personally an employee of Trans Union for over 8 years as a business analyst not in consumer relations I do agree with the information passed on here. Credit agencies donot call bankruptcy court houses which is very true. Which opens the door to start your dispute as a consumer with FCRA rights as your defense. In my opinion this is very likely to accomplish with tremendous efforts. I would agree if you follow his/her instructions that chapter 7 judgement is very likely to fall off in the public record area. It may take 60-120 days to succeed. How the Chapter 7 debt is revised? I am not sure about from a credit scoring aspect. Which is very important concerning your scores/debt to ratio. Because we have to keep in mind every creditor added to your bankruptcy is indicated individualy on the credit report. How is the debt listed under the bankruptcy concerning the $0 owed verses the balances originally owed? Anyone who has succeeded with positive results disputing the bankruptcy off thier credit report? Please share your experience here with us. Thanks!
By madalyn on Apr 17, 2008 | Reply
My husband and I are currently looking to purchase a home and althought the income is there, we have a problem with his prior bankkruptcy in 2002. We are looking into having his credit repaired, but i am worndering if this has worked for anyone before we start soeone else to repair it.
By juan on Apr 26, 2008 | Reply
Hi. My bankrupsy is over seven years old. My credit has been perfect since I filed back in 2007.
I am considering doing this, but can’t find the procedural letters in your article when I go the link.
Can you post the procedural letter you are refering to?