Overview

Re-aging is a courtesy some lenders offer to borrowers who fall behind but then make a sustained series of on‑time payments. Rather than reporting the account as still delinquent, the creditor begins reporting the account as “current” again. This can stop further negative reporting and often improves credit-score models that weight recent payment status more heavily. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) note that how and whether re‑aging is offered is determined by the creditor and the account contract (CFPB, FTC).

When lenders typically consider re‑aging

  • After you bring the account current and make a consecutive series of on‑time payments. The required number varies by creditor (commonly 3–12 months).
  • When a borrower has documented hardship followed by resumed payments.
  • Sometimes as part of a workout, loan modification, or loss‑mitigation agreement.

What re‑aging does — and doesn’t do

  • Does: change the account’s current status on future reports, which can raise scores that emphasize recent behavior.
  • Does: stop further late‑payment status updates if you keep paying on time.
  • Doesn’t: erase or delete previously reported late payments from the credit file. Most negative entries remain on file under the Fair Credit Reporting Act timelines (typically up to seven years) (FTC).

How to request re‑aging (step‑by‑step)

  1. Review your credit reports from all three bureaus using AnnualCreditReport.com or your preferred monitoring service. Note the delinquent accounts and the dates reported.
  2. Bring the account current and make the consecutive on‑time payments required by the creditor’s policy.
  3. Contact the creditor’s customer service or loss‑mitigation team. Ask specifically about their re‑aging policy and the exact payment requirement.
  4. Get any agreement in writing (email or letter) stating the re‑aging terms and the date the creditor will update reports.
  5. Monitor your credit reports for the update (allow one billing cycle — 30–60 days). If the creditor fails to update, follow up and, if necessary, file a dispute with the credit bureaus and keep copies of your communications.

Common scenarios and examples

  • Mortgage: Lenders may re‑age a mortgage after a borrower completes a trial payment plan or loan modification and then makes the agreed payments.
  • Credit card or installment loan: Some issuers will re‑age after several months of on‑time payments; others rarely do and may require a formal reinstatement.

Practical tips from practice

In my experience working with borrowers, getting a written agreement is the most important step. Verbal promises often do not get reflected in reporting. Also, ask whether re‑aging will remove late payment markers that continue to be reported each month — many creditors will stop updating the delinquent status going forward but will not delete the months already reported as late.

When to use alternatives

  • If a creditor won’t re‑age, consider negotiating a goodwill deletion (small chance, typically with banks you have a long history with) or request a pay‑for‑delete only where legally permissible. If a reporting error exists, file a dispute; see our guide on disputing errors for a sample letter and timeline (Disputing Errors on Your Credit Report: A Step-by-Step Letter Template).
  • If delinquency is tied to a modification or forbearance, review how the arrangement will be reported; see our comparison of loan modification vs forbearance.

How re‑aging interacts with credit report aging

Re‑aging changes the current status but does not accelerate the statutory timelines that govern how long negative items stay on a report. For more on how old debts age off your report, see our piece on credit report aging.

Expected timeline and monitoring

Expect the creditor to take one or two billing cycles to update bureau reporting. Check your reports 30 and 60 days after the agreed re‑aging date. Keep written proof of on‑time payments and any written re‑aging agreement.

Bottom line

Re‑aging can be a useful tool to restore an account to current status and improve near‑term credit scoring, but it’s creditor‑dependent and does not magically erase past delinquencies. Ask for written terms, maintain on‑time payments, and monitor your credit reports.

Sources and further reading

Disclaimer

This article is educational and not individualized financial advice. For guidance about your specific accounts, consult a certified financial counselor or attorney.