 TITLE: Does Your Credit Score Go Up When a Default Is Removed? CONTENT: Rebuilding Your Credit\n----------------------\nNegative information, including defaults, on your credit reports can bring down your credit scores. Defaults naturally are removed from credit reports after seven years, but can be removed earlier if they are determined to be inaccurate. The removal of a default can improve your scores, but if you want a strong credit file over the long haul, you'll need to add positive information too.\nSteps you can take to build strong credit include paying bills on time every month, keeping your debt balances low and taking care of any past-due accounts or charge-offs. Reviewing your credit report and scores can also help you find other opportunities for improvement. END