Delinquency
Missing a scheduled payment by 30 days or more. Reported to credit bureaus and a major negative factor in credit scoring.
Full definition
Delinquency is the state of being past due on a loan payment. Most lenders report a delinquency to the credit bureaus after 30 days past due, at which point it appears on your credit report and can sharply lower your FICO score (often by 60 to 100 points). Delinquencies remain on your report for up to seven years from the date of first delinquency.
- Written by
- Get Advance Loan Editorial Team
- Reviewed by
- Compliance Review
- Published
- January 15, 2026
- Last reviewed
- May 22, 2026
- Installment loanA loan repaid in fixed monthly payments over a set term. Personal loans, auto loans, and mortgages are all installment loans.
- Revolving creditCredit you can repeatedly draw on up to a limit, with a minimum monthly payment based on the current balance. Credit cards and HELOCs are revolving.
- Prepayment penaltyA fee some lenders charge if you pay off the loan before the scheduled end of the term. Most U.S. personal loans do not have one.
- Late feeA fee charged when you don't make a loan payment by its due date. Typically $15 to $40 depending on the lender and state.
- DefaultFailure to repay a loan according to its terms. Usually declared after 90 to 120 days of missed payments, depending on lender and product.
- Charge-offAn accounting action a lender takes after concluding a debt is unlikely to be repaid. Doesn't erase the debt; it stays on your credit report.
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