Can Consumer Reports include information older than 7 years?

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), consumer reporting agencies are generally prohibited from including adverse information in a consumer report after seven years from the date of the event. This rule primarily applies to negative information, such as bankruptcies, late payments, and other derogatory marks. The intent of this regulation is to ensure consumers are not overly burdened by outdated negative information that could unfairly affect their creditworthiness and opportunities.

While some types of information, such as criminal records or certain civil judgments, may be reported beyond the seven-year time frame, consumer reports specifically focus on the impact of financial histories on credit assessments. Therefore, the assertion that consumer reports can never include information that is older than seven years aligns correctly with the primary guidelines under the FCRA regarding adverse information.