Q16: How long does information, such as making a late payment, stay on your credit report?

Demographic and experience categories Yes No Do not know
All respondents 46.8 ( 1.5) 27.4 ( 1.3) 25.8 ( 1.3)
AGE GROUP      
18 to 24 39.1 ( 5.1) 31.1 ( 4.7) 29.7 ( 4.6)
25 to 34 50.8 ( 3.6) 29.2 ( 3.3) 20.0 ( 2.8)
35 to 44 56.6 ( 3.4) 18.5 ( 2.7) 24.9 ( 3.0)
45 to 54 49.8 ( 3.3) 23.2 ( 2.8) 27.0 ( 3.0)
55 to 64 48.1 ( 3.7) 22.0 ( 2.9) 29.9 ( 3.5)
65 and older 30.4 ( 3.0) 40.9 ( 3.2) 28.8 ( 3.0)
INCOME      
Less than $25000 41.0 ( 2.3) 33.1 ( 2.1) 25.9 ( 2.1)
$25000 to $49999 47.4 ( 3.1) 27.9 ( 2.8) 24.7 ( 2.7)
$50000 to $74999 46.7 ( 3.5) 20.8 ( 2.9) 32.4 ( 3.4)
$75000+ 54.8 ( 3.4) 21.6 ( 2.9) 23.6 ( 2.9)
EDUCATION      
Less than high school 26.9 ( 3.4) 50.9 ( 3.7) 22.2 ( 3.0)
High school 43.1 ( 2.5) 28.9 ( 2.3) 28.0 ( 2.4)
Some post-secondary education 53.2 ( 2.9) 25.5 ( 2.6) 21.3 ( 2.4)
BA or more 51.3 ( 2.8) 19.5 ( 2.2) 29.2 ( 2.5)
ETHNICITY      
White 47.4 ( 1.9) 25.2 ( 1.7) 27.4 ( 1.7)
Black 56.8 ( 3.0) 25.1 ( 2.6) 18.1 ( 2.4)
Hispanic 34.3 ( 3.0) 40.7 ( 3.1) 25.0 ( 2.7)
Other 48.2 ( 6.4) 26.4 ( 5.6) 25.4 ( 5.5)
SEX      
Male 42.0 ( 2.3) 27.4 ( 2.1) 30.6 ( 2.1)
Female 51.4 ( 1.8) 27.1 ( 1.5) 21.5 ( 1.5)
EMPLOYMENT STATUS      
Actively employed (FT or PT) 51.0 ( 2.0) 21.8 ( 1.6) 27.2 ( 1.8)
Student 44.1 ( 8.6) 34.3 ( 7.8) 21.6 ( 6.5)
Not employed (homemaker, retired, unemployed) 38.6 ( 2.3) 36.9 ( 2.3) 24.5 ( 2.0)
Other 49.3 ( 6.4) 30.2 ( 6.3) 20.5 ( 4.8)
GEOGRAPHIC RESIDENCE      
Resident of a free report state (CO, GA, ME, MD, MA, NJ, VT) 49.0 ( 3.1) 19.1 ( 2.3) 31.8 ( 3.1)
Resident of another state 46.5 ( 1.6) 28.6 ( 1.4) 24.9 ( 1.4)
FINANCIAL AND CREDIT REPORT EXPERIENCE      
Obtained a credit report 59.1 ( 1.9) 17.8 ( 1.5) 23.2 ( 1.6)
Did not obtain a credit report 30.0 ( 2.1) 40.6 ( 2.2) 29.4 ( 2.1)
       
Obtained credit score 64.1 ( 2.4) 14.9 ( 1.8) 21.0 ( 2.1)
Did not obtain credit score 38.3 ( 1.7) 33.5 ( 1.7) 28.2 ( 1.6)
       
Disputed information on credit report 68.6 ( 3.1) 10.7 ( 2.1) 20.7 ( 2.7)
Did not dispute credit report information 42.0 ( 1.6) 31.1 ( 1.5) 26.9 ( 1.4)
       
Had an auto or mortgage loan 51.7 ( 1.7) 23.1 ( 1.4) 25.2 ( 1.5)
Did not have an auto or mortgage loan 30.4 ( 2.7) 41.8 ( 2.9) 27.8 ( 2.7)
       
Was a victim of identity theft 60.8 ( 4.3) 17.9 ( 3.3) 21.3 ( 3.7)
Was not a victim of identity theft 45.3 ( 1.5) 28.4 ( 1.4) 26.3 ( 1.4)
       
Obtained credit report due to an adverse action 61.1 ( 5.3) 14.9 ( 4.4) 24.0 ( 4.5)
Did not obtain credit report due to an adverse action 45.5 ( 1.5) 28.5 ( 1.4) 26.0 ( 1.3)

Percent estimates totaling 100% within each demographic and experience category, with standard errors in parentheses
 
GAO-05-411SP Credit Reporting Literacy Survey Data
Full Report: GAO-05-223