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Consumer reports (aka “credit reports”) should only report accurate information about you and your financial history. Account re-aging rewrites that history by applying a newer “date of first delinquency” (DOFD) to an old debt. The practice keeps negative info alive beyond the FCRA’s general seven-year reporting limit, it harms scores, and it violates federal law. Below we explain how re-aging happens, why it’s illegal, and what you can do to spot it (and stop it).

What Is “Account Re-Aging”?

• Definition. Account re-aging happens when a furnisher reports a newer DOFD than the real one, making the debt appear recent and resetting clock for reporting that negative information, which is generally 7 years under 15 U.S.C. § 1681c. When a consumer reporting agency (or “credit reporting agency”) reports the “re-aged” debt, it has the potential to violate several different sections of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, including 15 U.S.C. § 1681c, 15 U.S.C. 1681e(a), and 15 U.S.C. § 1681e(b).
• Who does it? Debt buyers, collection agencies, or even original creditors during portfolio sales. CFPB examiners repeatedly cite “inaccurate DOFD transfers” as a supervision finding.
• Why it matters. A re-aged debt lingers, drags down scores, and gives collectors the appearance of fresh leverage.

The FTC warns that furnishers must supply the true DOFD within 90 days or risk enforcement. Meanwhile, the CFPB calls re-aging an “unfair practice that can mislead consumers and violate the CFPA.”

How to Spot a Re-Aged Debt

1. Pull copies of your reports from the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union) at AnnualCreditReport.com. Only obtain copies of your credit files from this website. Do not go to the website of Equifax, Experian, or Trans Union. (The only way to get a “no strings attached” copy of your credit file from any of these three companies is to go through the Annual Credit Report service.)
2. Look for an account whose DOFD is newer than your own records—especially if the open date or last payment date was recently updated.
3. Compare any collection account’s open date to the original date of first delinquency. A new open date is OK, but the DOFD never moves, even after the account is purchased by a collection agency (and even if the consumer files a bankruptcy).
4. If a collector suddenly appears after years of silence, check that they didn’t quietly extend the negative mark on your credit report by re-aging.

Re-Aged Debt Dispute Process

Step 1 – Prepare your dispute to CRAs

Write to each bureau citing “illegal re-aging of old debts” and attach proof (old bills, charge-off notices). Reference the FCRA prohibition on reporting obsolete debts found in 15 U.S.C. § 1681c. CRAs have 30-45 days to reinvestigate.

Step 2 – Send your dispute in a way that you can track

Mail your disputes via USPS certified mail, return receipt requested. Keep your receipt in a safe place. Once your letters are delivered, each CRA has 30-45 days to do a “reinvestigation” of your dispute. Set a reminder in your calendar to revisit and reassess the issue after 60 days.

Step 3 – Pull updated copies of your credit files

If you have not heard back from the CRAs within 60 days of mailing your letters, pull updated copies of your credit files from AnnualCreditReport.com and review them to determine whether the issue was fixed.

Step 4 – Escalate to the CFPB (optional)

If the inaccuracy was not corrected in response to your disputes, file a report with the CFPB (optional). The CFPB has fined collectors for DOFD misreporting. Alternatively, you can skip to step four.

Step 5 – Legal Action

If the consumer reporting agencies and furnishers are still reporting inaccurate, obsolete information on your credit, talk to a credit reporting lawyer. Most attorneys who specialize in the Fair Credit Reporting Act, like those of us here at CLA, work on a contingency basis. That means that we can help without you having to pay any attorneys’ fees out of pocket.

If inaccurate, obsolete information is reporting on your credit, Consumer Litigation Associates can help. Call (757) 930-3660 or Click Here to Start a free case review.

• Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1681c(a), 1681i, 1681n, 1681s-2(a)(5) (2022).
• Fed. Trade Comm’n, Consumer Reports: What Information Furnishers Need to Know (Jan. 2018)

• CFPB, Supervisory Highlights: Issue 30 (July 2023) 14-15
• CFPB, Understand How the Debt Collection Rule Impacts You (Nov. 2021)
• Experian, What Is Account Re-Aging? (May 2020)
• Experian, Can a Collection Agency Change an Account’s Open Date? (Jan. 2020)
• NerdWallet, What Can Re-Age an Account, and How Does it Affect My Credit? (Aug. 2024)
• Investopedia, When a Debt Is Sold: What Happens? (Oct. 2014)

Legal Disclaimer: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes. If you have questions about your specific situation, contact Consumer Litigation Associates for more information or assistance (757) 930-3660.