 TITLE: What Is a Charge-Off? CONTENT: How to Dispute a Charge-Off\n---------------------------\nIf your credit report contains an inaccurate listing of a charge-off account, or if a legitimate charge-off entry remains on your credit report for more than seven years after the account first went delinquent, you can contact Experian to dispute the entry. Once you've provided necessary documentation, Experian will correct the entry and notify the other national credit bureaus (Equifax and TransUnion) to correct their records as well.\nThe best way to handle charge-off accounts is to pay your bills on time every month and avoid getting them in the first place. But if you get a charge-off on your credit report, it'll likely take several years for your credit report to fully recover. You can use that time to work on improving your credit score in other ways. Be patient and persistent, and your credit should improve. END