After this period of missed payments, the creditor declares your account a loss and writes it off as uncollectible from an accounting standpoint. Your account will be closed for any new charges, however, you still owe the balance. The creditor will continue to make collection attempts on the past due balance and may even enlist the help of a third-party debt collector.
What Happens When You Pay a Charge-Off?
If you pay a charge-off, you may expect your credit score to go up right away since you’ve cleared up the past due balance. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. Paying a charge-off doesn’t remove the account from your credit report. That’s because clearing up the past due balance doesn’t erase the fact that your account was actually charged-off. Paying a charge-off also will not improve your credit score – at least not immediately. Over time, your credit score can improve after a charge-off if you continue paying all your other accounts on time and handle your debt responsibly. However, if you’re late again or you have another account charged-off (or something worse like a foreclosure or repossession), your credit score may drop even lower and can take longer to recover. The charge-off will eventually fall off your credit report whether you pay it or not. The credit reporting time limit for charge-offs runs out after seven years and 180 days from the date of the first delinquency that led to your account being charged-off.
The Benefit of Paying Your Charge-Off
Most people would only pay a charge-off if it meant they’d receive a subsequent increase in their credit score. You may be less inclined to pay your charge-off considering you probably won’t see an instant credit score boost. Even so, there other good reasons to pay your a charge-off. For one, paying a charge-off makes you look better when you apply for credit. Lenders, creditors, and other businesses are less likely to approve an application as long as you have outstanding past due balances on your credit report. It sends the message that you may not pay any new accounts either. Once you pay the charge-off, you improve your odds of having your applications approved. Paying a charged-off balance also reduces your overall debt, which could boost your credit score, since 30% of your score is based on the amount of debt you’re carrying.
Negotiating a Pay for Delete
You may be able to remove the charge-off by negotiating a pay for delete with the credit or debt collector. A pay for delete involves offering to pay the account in full in exchange for having it removed from your credit report. You can explain to your creditor the circumstances that led to you delinquency and ask that for a pay for delete. If you can negotiate a pay for delete (it can be a long shot), you’re more likely to see an increase in your credit score after the item is removed from your credit report.
How To Avoid a Charge-Off
Knowing the timing of a charge-off puts you in a better position to avoid such a serious delinquency. With each missed payment it gets harder to catch up again with fees and interest added to your balance due. If you fall behind, get caught up on any missed payments as quickly as possible. If you foresee problems making your credit card payment, contact your credit card issuer sooner rather than later. You may be able to make a payment arrangement that would allow you to avoid a charge-off. Or, if you’re having financial trouble, your credit card issuer may allow you to enter a hardship payment plan with reduced monthly payments.
