Public Records & Credit: Why Some Items No Longer Appear
Some public records—like most civil judgments and tax liens—no longer appear on U.S. consumer credit reports. This major shift has improved many credit profiles and relieved millions of Americans from unfair blemishes. But, why did reporting standards change? What’s excluded now, and how can you make sure your credit history tells the right story?
Here in this post, we will break down everything you need to know, from regulatory changes to tips for safeguarding your credit score.
Public Records & Credit Reports: The Basics
Public records are government-filed documents. As far as credit reports are concerned, public records have traditionally included:
Bankruptcies
Civil judgments (like lawsuits for debt)
State and federal tax liens
For decades, these items showed up on credit reports and influenced credit scores. But recent years brought dramatic changes.
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Credit Reporting Standards Have Changed
The New York Times reported on June 26, 2017, that starting July 1, the bureaus would eliminate these records unless they included complete identifying details, which most did not, resulting in mass removal from consumer credit files.
Thus, three major credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion - stopped reporting most civil judgments and tax liens.
This was part of the National Consumer Assistance Plan (NCAP), an industry initiative prompted by pressure from regulators like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The reason: too many errors and shoddy record-keeping.
Before the change, a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) study had found that one in five American consumers had an error on at least one of their three credit reports; these errors could affect their credit standing or cause them to pay more for products like car loans or insurance.
This study was mandated by Congress under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT Act) and included detailed analysis of how consumers identify and dispute errors on their credit reports.
Earlier, many judgments and liens were linked to consumers incorrectly; these errors were damaging scores unfairly. To fix this, the bureaus imposed stricter requirements—if they couldn’t verify an item with at least three key identifiers (name, address, date of birth or Social Security number), it got removed.
What Public Records Still Show Up?
Bankruptcies are the only major public record type that reliably appears on credit reports today. Yes, bankruptcies are hard to miss—they’re reported for up to 10 years, depending on the chapter filed.
A legitimate credit restoration service provider like AMERICA CREDIT CARE can help you manage bankruptcies on your credit report primarily by focusing on accuracy and legal dispute processes.
While credit repair specialists cannot erase a valid bankruptcy before it legally falls off your report, they can assist by meticulously reviewing your credit reports for errors or inaccuracies related to the bankruptcy filing.
If any information is incorrect, such as wrong dates, discharged debts still reported as unpaid, or identity errors, these services can file disputes with the credit bureaus to get those errors corrected or removed.
At times, reputable credit restoration companies may negotiate with creditors or debt collectors involved in the bankruptcy to seek goodwill removals or debt validation.
This can also impact how the bankruptcy is reported.
Some credit restoration services use legal expertise to examine procedural errors in the bankruptcy filing that might justify challenge or early removal.
They guide you through preparing documentation and communicating with credit bureaus and creditors to improve your credit standing while ensuring compliance with laws.
Be sure to avoid companies that promise to remove a bankruptcy immediately or create a “new credit identity,” as those claims are false and potentially illegal.
Instead, legitimate (CROA-compliant) providers emphasize transparency, realistic timelines, and focus on repairing your credit profile through verified disputes and negotiations.
Experienced specialists increase your chances of improving your credit report accuracy; this way, you can better position yourself for financial recovery after bankruptcy.
Why Are Some Public Records Missing?
Errors were rampant.
As mentioned above, civil judgments and tax liens often lacked full Social Security numbers or dates of birth. That created mix-ups—one person’s records showed up in another’s file.
After multiple lawsuits and government scrutiny, the industry realized that accuracy was nonnegotiable.
The bureaus now require:
Accurate, complete personal identifying information
Direct verification with the courts or government agencies
Consistent and regular updates
If the data doesn’t check out, it doesn’t go on your report.
The Impact on Consumers
The removal of civil judgments and tax liens led to an immediate score boost for many consumers.
A 2017 study found that about 12 million Americans had at least one public record wiped from their files almost overnight.
While that didn’t erase debts owed or legal obligations, it meant scores looked better to lenders.
According to the CFPB, when the NCAP’s stricter reporting standards took effect, approximately 80 percent of consumers who had civil judgments or tax liens had these public records removed from their credit reports.
This amounted to millions of consumers experiencing the removal of public records, with about 6 percent of consumers having a civil judgment or tax lien before the change and only 1.4 percent having a tax lien after.
FICO estimates for affected consumers showed an average jump of 10-40 points. Fewer “negative” marks meant less stigma in lending decisions, though lenders may look elsewhere for risk warnings.
Some critics argued that removing public records hides real risk, but regulators and consumer advocates maintain that accuracy outweighs this concern.
What About Your Other Debts?
Just because a lien or judgment is off your credit report doesn’t mean the underlying debt disappears.
Yes, creditors can still collect, and public records may follow you in court documents or employment background checks.
Do keep in mind that mortgage lenders often run public record searches outside the major bureaus.
How to Clean Up Your Credit Report
Be sure to check your credit report regularly—mistakes still happen, and bankruptcies will definitely show if filed. Under federal law, everyone is entitled to a free annual report from each bureau (visit AnnualCreditReport.com).
Carefully review each report for errors, such as incorrect personal details, outdated accounts, or misreported debts.
You can submit disputes online or by mail with supporting documents like payment confirmations.
Removing derogatory items like inaccurate late payments, charge-offs, collections, and other errors can raise your credit score and open up better financial opportunities.
For step-by-step instructions, you can read our comprehensive guide on credit repair.
You may also consider hiring a reputable credit restoration service provider. These professionals save you time and hassle by managing the dispute process and negotiating with creditors on your behalf.
Book a FREE Personal Credit Consultation Today!
They have in-depth knowledge of credit laws and effective strategies and systems to identify inaccuracies and challenge unfair items.
With tailored plans, credit repair experts accelerate the cleanup process and help build positive credit habits for the long term.
