How to remove a satisfied judgement from credit report

Credit reports in the US are maintained by 3 major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Effective July 1, 2018, the 3 major credit bureaus no longer maintain records of civil judgments as part of your credit history. However, it's possible that a judgment you paid slipped through the cracks. If you find a paid judgment on your credit report, you can file a dispute to have it removed.[1]

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   Look for "public records" entries using a free credit report service. The 3 major credit bureaus no longer include civil judgments on credit reports. If it's been a while since you checked your report, use a free online service, such as Credit Karma or Credit Sesame, to see if the judgment you're worried about is even still there.[2]

   • If you don't already have an account with one of these services, you can open one for free. To verify your identity you will need to answer questions based on information contained in your credit report.

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   Get copies of your credit report from all 3 credit bureaus. If you do find a judgment on your credit report using a free online service, get the official copy and check that as well. You are entitled under federal law to get one free copy of your credit report from each of the 3 credit bureaus once every 12 months. Go to https://www.annualcreditreport.com/ to get started. You can also order your credit reports by calling 1-877-8288. If you use this service, you do not have to contact each of the 3 credit bureaus individually. However, if you're not eligible for a free report, you can still buy reports by contacting the 3 credit bureaus:[3]

   • Equifax: 1-800-685-1111 or www.equifax.com.
   • Experian: 1-888-397-3742 or www.experian.com.
   • TransUnion: 1-800-916-8800 or www.transunion.com.

   Tip: When you order a copy of your credit report, you will need to provide your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. You may also be asked some security questions based on information contained in your credit report.

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   Gather court documents related to the judgment. When you pay a judgment in full, the creditor typically files an "Acknowledgment of Satisfaction of Judgment" with the court where the judgment was entered. If you don't have a copy of this document, you can request one from the clerk of court.[4]

   • Sometimes creditors don't file the acknowledgment with the court. If this happened, the judgment would still show up on your credit report, but the status may not be listed as "satisfied" – even though you paid it. Send the judgment creditor a letter through certified mail with return receipt requested. Remind them that under the law, they must file an acknowledgment within 15 days of payment.
   • Credit bureaus will include information about judgments on your credit report only if the creditor visits the applicable courthouse at least once every 90 days to update the public record with your name, Social Security number, and date of birth. If the judgment is paid, it is highly unlikely that the creditor is going to this effort.[5]

   Tip: If the creditor didn't file an acknowledgment, you can file a declaration yourself. You'll have to show the court proof that you paid the judgment in full.

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   Write a dispute letter to each of the bureaus that reports the judgment. If you found the judgment reported, send a letter to the credit bureau and let them know that you would like the judgment removed from your credit report. Include a statement to the effect that civil judgments are no longer included on credit reports.[6]

   • The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has a sample letter you can use to draft your own letter available at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0384-sample-letter-disputing-errors-your-credit-report. Make sure you adjust the language in the letter to suit your situation.

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   Include copies of documents that support your claims. It may be enough simply to remind the credit bureau that civil judgments are no longer included on credit reports. However, including a copy of the acknowledgment or declaration of satisfaction of the debt adds weight to your argument that the judgment should be removed from your report.[7]

   • State the date the judgment was entered and the date you paid it in full in your letter. Reference the acknowledgment or declaration that you've included.

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   Mail your letter using certified mail with return receipt requested. Certified mail with return receipt requested requires someone to sign when your letter is received. You will receive a green card in the mail that shows the date the credit bureau received your letter. The credit card company is required to investigate your dispute and resolve it within 30 days from receipt. Use the following addresses to mail your letters:[8]

   • Equifax, PO Box 740256, Atlanta, GA 30374-0256
   • Experian, PO Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013
   • TransUnion, Consumer Dispute Center, PO Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016

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   Confirm that the entry has been removed. You may get a letter from the credit bureau stating that the paid judgment has been removed from your credit report. Check your credit report after the 30 days have elapsed to confirm that the judgment is no longer on your credit report.[9]

   • After a dispute, you are entitled to a free copy of your credit report. Check the official copy of the credit report, not the information on a free online service.

   Tip: If there has been a recent filing in the case and your information was updated, you may have to wait up to 90 days before it will be removed from your credit report.

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• This article covers how to remove a paid judgment from a credit report in the US. If you live in another country, the process may be different. A finance professional or someone at a local consumer agency may be able to help.

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