What Is A Charge-Off? Everything You Need To Know

Charge-offs can stop you from maintaining a healthy financial life. That's why it's so important you understand how they happen and how to avoid them. In this article, we provide a full explanation of this term and shed light on its consequences. We also list how paying them off has benefits for your credit score and overall financial well-being.

What Does "Charge-Off" Mean?

A charge-off is a term used in the context of debt and finance. It occurs when a creditor determines that a borrower is unlikely to repay a debt and considers it a loss or "charged off" on their books. The creditor removes the debt from its active accounts and treats it as a delinquent or uncollectible debt. While the charge-off status does not absolve the borrower from their obligation to repay the debt, it signifies that the creditor no longer expects to receive full payment.

The charge-off status appears on the borrower's credit report and can significantly negatively affect their credit score and creditworthiness.

When Do Charge-Offs Happen?

Charge-offs occur when a creditor writes off a debt as uncollectible. A charge-off typically occurs when you have fallen significantly behind on your payments, usually around 180 days. At this point, the creditor determines that the likelihood of recovering the full amount is low and decides to write off the debt as a loss for accounting purposes.

How Does A Charge-Off Affect Your Credit Report?

Although a charge-off is a serious negative mark on your credit report, it's crucial to understand that the debt itself is still valid.

You remain obligated to repay the outstanding balance, even though the creditor has charged it off.

The presence of a charge-off on your credit report can have significant repercussions. It indicates to potential lenders that you have a history of delinquency and may be a higher credit risk.

As a result, obtaining new credit or loans becomes more challenging, and if you do, you may face higher interest rates and less favorable terms.

How Long Will The Charge-off Stay On A Credit Report?

A charged-off account can typically remain on your credit report for 7 years from the date of the first delinquency that led to the charge-off. This negative information can significantly impact credit scores; however, as time passes and you demonstrate responsible financial behavior, the impact of the charge-off on your credit score will diminish.

Should You Pay Charged-Off Accounts?

Yes. Paying off charged-off accounts is generally a good option.

Although the creditor may have charged off the account and considered it a loss, you still legally owe the outstanding debt.

The Benefits Of Paying Charged-Off Debts

Improves Your Credit

Creditors report charge-offs to the major credit bureaus. Those negative notations on your credit history report can stay there for up to 7 years. At the same time, the creditor may refer your unpaid debt to a collection agency. By paying off those debt payments, the creditor will report the charged-off account as paid. Even though your credit score doesn't go up immediately, paying a charged-off account helps to improve your creditworthiness over time when you pay other accounts on time.

Reduces Your Total Debt

Having less debt has a positive effect on your credit score. The amount of debt you carry represents 30% of your credit score. By improving credit utilization, you won't seem like a considerable financial risk to lenders.

Raises Your Lending Odds

If you don't pay a charged-off account, it's very unlikely creditors will approve credit applications. However, if they see that you paid off incurred debts, they'll be more open to loaning you money. Keep in mind, you will probably pay a higher interest rate even when you've paid off the debt.

You Owe Less Tax

You Learn To Handle Debt

There's nothing quite as eye-opening as finding out you took on too much debt. When you can't pay your creditors, it's a wake-up call to review how you handle your finances. Your goal is to budget your money so you can pay bills on time and make regular deposits to an emergency fund to fall back on should money get tight.

How To Pay Charged-Off Accounts

Set The Goal To Pay Your Debt

First of all, just because a creditor wrote off what you owe doesn't mean you aren't obligated to pay them. They may have stopped trying to collect the debt but haven't given up. Develop a mindset to make a good-faith effort to pay the debt.

Make Sure To Know How Much You Owe

Verify the amount you owe. Ask the lender for a statement detailing charges, including interest and penalties. If you haven't already, be upfront with the lender about why you fell behind on payments. Perhaps your income drastically reduced, or you had a medical emergency in the family. Creditors are usually more willing to work with borrowers when unforeseen circumstances contribute to a financial crisis.

Work Out A Payment Arrangement

Contact the original lender or the collection agency immediately. If it is a collection agency, ask them for proof in writing that they own the debt. Then, work out a payment arrangement with them. If you aren't financially able to repay the debt in full, see if you can negotiate a settlement amount.

Settling the debt is better than not attempting to repay a portion. Most creditors will write off interest charges once you guarantee you can repay the debt.

When you have funds, ask your bank representative to write a letter verifying that they issued a certified check in the original debt amount.

Ensure Your Credit Report Is Up To Date

Request a final payment letter that proves that you paid the debt. Review your credit reports to verify that the account appears paid off. If a credit report continues to show a balance, you can file a dispute with credit agencies and submit proof of payment.

How Do You Remove A Charge-off From Your Credit Reports?

Removing a charge-off from your credit reports can be challenging, if not downright impossible. The charged-off account will stay on your credit report, but it's up to you if it appears as "settled" or still "existing." You can attempt to negotiate a settlement with the creditor, offering to pay a portion of the outstanding debt in exchange for them updating the account status on your credit report. Additionally, you can review your credit reports for any inaccuracies related to the charge-off and dispute them with the credit bureaus. If the creditor fails to respond or cannot verify the information, the credit bureaus may remove it from your report. If you're having difficulty navigating the process, seeking professional help from a reputable credit repair agency can also be an option.

How To Avoid Charge-Offs

1. Budget and track your expenses. Create a realistic budget to ensure you live within your means. Track your costs regularly to avoid overspending and prioritize your financial obligations.
2. Make timely payments. Set up automatic payments or reminders to help you stay organized and avoid missed payments.
3. Communicate with creditors. Don't ignore the situation if you are facing financial difficulties. Reach out to your creditors and explain your circumstances. They may be willing to work out a payment plan or offer alternatives to help you manage your debt.
4. Reduce your debt. Minimize your outstanding debt by creating a repayment plan. Prioritize paying off high-interest debts first, and consider consolidation or balance transfer options to simplify your payments and potentially reduce interest charges.
5. Monitor your credit. Regularly review your credit reports to identify any potential issues or errors. Address inaccuracies promptly and ensure that all reported information is accurate and up to date.

Charge-Off vs. Collections: What's The Difference

The main difference between a charge-off and collections is that a charge-off occurs when a creditor writes off a debt as uncollectible and removes it from their active credit accounts. On the other hand, collections refer to the subsequent stage when the creditor or a third-party debt collector actively pursues the repayment of the delinquent debt. A charge-off signifies the acknowledgment by the creditor that the debt is unlikely to be fully repaid, while collections involve ongoing efforts to recover the debt through various means.

Both charge-offs and collections negatively impact a person's creditworthiness and financial standing.

Keep Growing Your Business

Charge-off accounts can have a significant impact on your financial well-being, affecting your credit score and future loan prospects. However, it's important to remember that all hope is not lost. Strategies and options are available to address charge-off accounts and rebuild your credit history. By educating yourself about charge-off accounts and implementing sound financial practices, you can take proactive steps to avoid falling into this situation and safeguard your financial health. If you're interested in accessing valuable resources and tips that can help improve your financial situation, we invite you to subscribe to our newsletter. Through our newsletter, we regularly share insightful information on how to avoid charge-off accounts, manage debt effectively, and overall enhance your financial well-being.