Expert: Michael Brotherton - 12/27/2007

Question
I was handed a child support order in 1994 that had a lump sum of arrearage dating back to the birth of my daughter, that I was taking care of at the time. My order for support is for $121.36 and an addition al $5.00 toward arrearage, so it is never entirely paid off. I am current on my payments now, although I had nearly a year where I was unable to pay. I read that " a consumer reporting agency may not report negative information that is more than seven years old..." (experian website). Child Support just added themselves, after ten years, back to my report claiming the entire balance, including arrearage older than ten years, as past due as of November 07. Doesn't this violate the Fair COnsumer Reporting Act? Is there anything that I can do, other than prove that I am curent on my support since August of 07? I am trying to buy a larger house for my family and this is draatically lowering my score. I know that I still owe it, but anything over seven years old should not show. And then it is showing as a collection account, but it is a standard order with the child support bureau, not a collection agency, which makes it look worse. PLEASE HELP!!!

Answer
an item may be reported for 7 years from the date of last payment or other activity so they may be justified in reporting this information. If you have never actually caught up your support it is still a collection account and may be reported. Any kind of government or court ordered payments may be reported and this is one way to motivate people to pay their support or other obligations. There may not be anything you can do but write a consumer statement and add it to your credit reports explaining your hardship or other issues to explain your situation.