[meta-description: Information on your credit report tends to be public record, but this doesn’t apply to all information. We answer – what are public records on credit reports?]
Credit reports contain information about you that’s been reported to major credit bureaus like TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. This information is then useful for lenders to determine if you’re a good fit for a new credit card, personal loan, or even a home loan.
However, sometimes they go beyond this. For example, some credit checks will be used to determine if someone is a good fit for a specific job or relationship. Credit reports can also contain some criminal financial records in some cases as well, which can be used during investigations or the interview process.
For these reasons, it’s important to understand what shows up in a credit report, so we answer – what are public records on credit reports?
Public Records That Show Up on a Credit Report
A handful of public records will show up on a credit report. Typically, you’ll end up with records that include information sent to credit bureaus, loans, and even liens. Learn more about what types of public records show up on a credit report below.
Bankruptcy
First and foremost, bankruptcy is a public record, so it will show up on your credit report. Lenders can view a bankruptcy for up to seven years or ten years, so it tends to stick around. Bankruptcies happen when individuals or businesses don’t have the money to repay debt.
Credit Score
When someone runs a credit check someone’s credit score will become available. This includes the score at all three credit bureaus, although most checks only look at one or two like Experian or TransUnion. These reports tend to include a numerical score, information about debt, how much someone owes, total available credit, open credit lines, and much more.
Wage Garnishment
Wage garnishment can happen due to failure to pay taxes or sometimes even civil lawsuits. In fact, the result of some criminal cases can result in wage garnishment, which is a portion of your wages going to repay a debt. This information is public and will show up on most credit reports.
Liens
A lien will appear on a credit report as a public record when someone enters into one. These are public for seven years and anyone running the check can view how much is owed, what the lien is on, and how the lien was created. Foreclosures based on failure to repay a lien will also appear on a credit report, along with other housing or property-related debts.
Court Judgements
Depending on the type of court case, information about any judgments will appear as a public record on a credit report. This is common when someone has a lien they have to repay or if wages are being garnished. Not all court judgments are available because some can be sealed or expunged, so keep this in mind.
How Long Do Public Records Stay on Credit Reports?
Based on laws outlined in the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), information can only remain on someone’s credit report for seven years. This applies to defaults, liens, and other debt that has been settled like Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. That said, there are some exceptions, and Chapter 7 Bankruptcy can last for 10.
There are some exceptions to this rule, especially with court judgments and wage garnishment, but typically seven years is a good rule of thumb to follow for most credit-related public records.
Check Public Records on Your Credit Report Today!
When you want to check your public records or see what shows up on your credit report, we recommend using an online public records search like this one here. All you need is your first and last name, city, and state to get started. Then, we’ll compile all relevant public records into a comprehensive full report that you can view. Not only does this include credit history, but it also covers all additional public records, including criminal records, civil court records, and even things like social media profiles.
PublicRecord.com also allows you to run these searches on others, so it’s not limited to yourself. Whether you want to run a background check for someone at work or you’re preparing for a home loan, PublicRecord.com has you covered.
To get the full picture, make sure you check someone’s records with the major credit bureaus as well.
Lynn Martelli is an editor at Readability. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University and has worked as an editor for over 10 years. Lynn has edited a wide variety of books, including fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, and more. In her free time, Lynn enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her family and friends.
