The length of time a negative mark can stay on your credit report starts from the time you were late or the late payment went into collection, not from the last time
you made a payment on the account. Some collection agencies update their reporting status on you to keep the account active with the bureaus to extend the time the account appears on your
report. This is very deceiving of them, because most often the account is updated and the period of time the account is active appears to be extended. You will want to challenge this with the
credit reporting agencies in writing. If you do, bureaus will correctly remove it 7 years from origination.
Our readers keep asking us "If my original creditor sold my account to a collection agency, does the seven year period start over again?" The answer is no. The 7-year period
shall begin, with respect to any delinquent account that is placed for collection (internally or by referral to a third party, whichever is earlier), charged to profit and loss, or subjected to
any similar action, upon the expiration of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the commencement of the delinquency which immediately preceded the collection activity, charge to profit
and loss, or similar action. If a collection agency or creditor does otherwise, challenge this in writing with the credit reporting agencies.