Learn · Credit glossary
What Is Date of first delinquency in Credit? Definition and Why It Matters
Date of first delinquency: the short version
In credit, date of first delinquency is the date an account first went late and never recovered.
Why it matters
This date starts the seven-year reporting clock and cannot legally be reset.
An example
Say you review your reports and run into date of first delinquency for the first time. Check how it appears on each bureau, note the dates, and use the resources below before deciding what to do; small misunderstandings about date of first delinquency cause many avoidable mistakes.
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Educational information only. Not financial, legal or credit-repair advice, and no outcome is promised. Verify current rules with the official sources linked below before acting.
Official sources: annualcreditreport.com (free weekly reports), consumerfinance.gov, ftc.gov.