What Is Delinquent Debt & How to Fix It on a Credit Report?

Introduction

Most businesses today purchase goods on credit, and at some point, they fail to pay the loan on time. When that happens, the debt becomes delinquent, significantly impacting a business’s financial health and creditworthiness. 

Delinquent debt doesn’t just affect a business’s relationship with the lender—it sends ripples through its entire financial standing. It will appear on a business credit report, impacting its ability to secure future credit and potentially increasing borrowing costs.

Understanding the implications of delinquent debt from a business perspective is crucial. In this article, we’ll explore what delinquent debt means for your business, how it affects a business’s credit score, and what steps a business can take to mitigate the damage and get back on track.

What Is Delinquent Debt?

Delinquent debt refers to financial obligations that have not been paid by their due dates. These obligations can take various forms, like unpaid invoices, overdue loans, or neglected credit card bills. Delinquent debt significantly impacts a business’s financial health and creditworthiness.

Business credit reports details late payments as DBT. For example, if a business has net-30 terms with a supplier and pays the invoice on day 33, this is recorded as 3DBT.

While minor delinquencies might not severely damage your credit history, significant or frequent delinquencies can lower your business credit scores. This can make your business appear riskier to potential creditors and lenders.

Maintaining timely payments is crucial for preserving your business’s creditworthiness. A pattern of delinquencies can lead to higher borrowing costs, reduced credit limits, and difficulty in securing financing.
neglected credit card bills. Usually, the lender assesses a late fee when a borrower misses a payment deadline. 

When Does a Debt Become Delinquent?

Time Since Last Payment	Consequence
Less than 30 days	Likely to incur a late fee, depending on the loan amount.
More than 30 days	Late fee plus a report to the three major credit bureaus, negatively impacting your credit score for seven years.
More than 60 days	Additional late fees and notifications via phone calls and collection letters about the delinquent payments.
More than 90 days	Account is severely delinquent. Services or credit lines may be suspended, and legal actions may be considered.
More than 120 days	Account is seriously delinquent. Debt is transferred to a collection agency, resulting in aggressive communication and potential legal action. The business’s assets could be at risk.

Delinquency Timeframe in Business Credit Report

Days Beyond Terms (DBT) refers to the average number of days a firm pays its bills past the invoice due date. In business credit reports, the DBT is a key indicator of payment behavior. For example, in the Experian Business Credit report, the color-coded DBT is based on observed norms of all U.S. businesses and is categorized as follows:

• Green: 15 days or less beyond terms, indicating timely payment.
• Yellow: Between 16 and 50 days beyond terms, signaling moderately late payments.
• Orange: Between 51 and 90 days beyond terms, reflecting significantly late payments.
• Red: Beyond 90 days, denoting severely delinquent payments.

The DBT norm for all industries is 7 days, providing a benchmark for assessing a firm’s payment practices. By monitoring DBT, businesses can identify potential delinquencies and address payment issues promptly to maintain a healthy credit profile.

How Does Delinquent Debt Affect Credit Score?

1. Lower credit score

   
   

   Delinquent debts are reported to credit bureaus, leading to a decrease in the business credit score. Lenders and creditors view these delinquencies as a sign of financial instability and increased risk.

   
   

2. Higher interest rates

   
   

   With a lower credit score, businesses may face higher interest rates on loans and lines of credit. Lenders compensate for the increased risk by charging more for borrowing.

   
   

3. Difficulty obtaining credit

   
   

   Businesses with delinquent debts may find it harder to obtain new credit or loans. Financial institutions are less likely to approve credit applications when they see a history of missed payments.

   
   

4. Damage to business relationships

   
   

   Suppliers and vendors may be less willing to extend credit terms to businesses with poor credit scores. This can strain business relationships and impact operations, as the company may need to pay upfront for goods and services.

   
   

5. Negative Public Records

   
   

   Severe delinquent debts can lead to legal actions such as judgments or liens, which are public records. These records can further damage a business’s credit score and reputation.

   
   

6. Impact on business insurance premiums

   
   

   Insurance companies may also view a poor credit score as a sign of higher risk, leading to increased premiums for business insurance policies.

   
   

How to Find Delinquencies in Your Credit Report?

Finding delinquencies in your business credit report is crucial for maintaining a healthy credit profile and securing future financing. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you identify any delinquencies on your business credit report:

1. Obtain Your Business Credit Report: Request your business credit report from major credit bureaus such as Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, and Equifax. Carefully review each report for accuracy and completeness.
2. Understand the Report Structure: Look for key sections like trade lines, credit scores, public records, and collections, focusing on trade lines where delinquencies are most likely to be listed.
3. Look for Delinquencies: Identify any negative marks, such as late payments, accounts in collections, charge-offs, and bankruptcies. Check the payment history for each account, noting any late payments marked as 30, 60, or 90+ days past due.
4. Verify the Accuracy: Cross-check reported delinquencies with your records to identify any discrepancies. If you find inaccuracies, contact the credit bureau to dispute the errors, providing supporting documentation to back up your claim.
5. Monitor Regularly: Set up alerts with the credit bureaus to notify you of any changes or new delinquencies on your report. Regularly check your business credit report to stay on top of your credit status and address any issues promptly.

How to Fix Delinquency on Credit Reports?

When facing delinquencies, businesses should meticulously review their credit reports to pinpoint any discrepancies, such as late payments or delinquencies. This ensures they have sufficient documentation to support their claims. This step sets the foundation for the next actions to be taken.

Following identification, the next step involves direct communication with the creditor reporting the delinquencies. By reaching out to the creditor, businesses can gain insights into why the account is being reported as delinquent and explore potential avenues for delinquency resolution. Establishing open lines of communication with creditors can often lead to swift resolutions, mitigating the need for further escalation.

In cases where direct communication with creditors fails to yield satisfactory results, disputing the inaccuracies with the credit bureau becomes necessary. Despite the absence of a legal requirement for credit bureaus to investigate disputes within a specific timeframe, most strive to resolve disputes promptly. Businesses should provide comprehensive documentation to support their dispute, facilitating a thorough review by the credit bureau.

It’s essential for businesses to be aware of potential outcomes when disputing delinquencies. Disputing an account may result in the removal of the entire account from the credit report, including any positive payment history associated with it. This consideration underscores the importance of carefully weighing the decision to dispute and understanding the potential ramifications.

How to Avoid Delinquency?

1. Maintain accurate financial records 

   
   

   Keeping your financial statements up-to-date and monitoring them regularly is essential for staying aware of your financial position. Utilizing modern accounting tools can help automate and streamline your financial tracking processes, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.

   
   

2. Establish clear payment terms

   
   

   Understanding and negotiating payment terms that align with your cash flow capabilities is crucial. Make sure all payment terms are documented and mutually agreed upon to avoid misunderstandings. Clear agreements prevent disputes and ensure smoother transactions.

   
   

3. Establish clear payment terms

   
   

   Understanding and negotiating payment terms that align with your cash flow capabilities is crucial. Make sure all payment terms are documented and mutually agreed upon to avoid misunderstandings. Clear agreements prevent disputes and ensure smoother transactions.

   
   

4. Prioritize timely payments

   
   

   Request invoices promptly and schedule payments to avoid delays. Setting up reminders and scheduling payments ensures they are made on time, helping you maintain a good credit standing with your suppliers. Timely payments build trust and reliability.

   
   

5. Communicate with suppliers

   
   

   Keeping your suppliers informed about any potential delays or issues that might affect payment schedules is vital. Transparency about your financial situation builds trust and allows for negotiation of flexible terms if needed, strengthening supplier relationships.

   
   

6. Manage cash flow effectively

   
   

   Regularly forecasting your cash flow helps anticipate potential shortfalls and plan accordingly. Maintaining an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses or payment delays ensures you can meet your financial obligations even during challenging times.

   
   

7. Foster good supplier relationships

   
   

   Maintaining open lines of communication with your suppliers allows you to discuss any concerns or issues transparently. Showing respect and understanding to your suppliers builds strong, positive relationships, which can be beneficial during challenging times.

   
   

8. Regular audits and reviews

   
   

   Conducting regular internal audits ensures financial processes are followed, and payments are up-to-date. Engaging third-party auditors to review your financial health provides unbiased feedback and helps identify areas for improvement.

   
   

9. Foster good supplier relationships

   
   

   Maintaining open lines of communication with your suppliers allows you to discuss any concerns or issues transparently. Showing respect and understanding to your suppliers builds strong, positive relationships, which can be beneficial during challenging times.

   
   

10. Regular audits and reviews

    
    

    Conducting regular internal audits ensures financial processes are followed, and payments are up-to-date. Engaging third-party auditors to review your financial health provides unbiased feedback and helps identify areas for improvement.

    
    

    By implementing these practices, you can avoid delinquencies and maintain a strong credit profile for your business.

    
    

Conclusion 

Delinquent debt poses significant risks to your business’s credit profile and overall financial health. Understanding what delinquent debt is and its impact on your credit report is essential for maintaining a strong credit score. The significance of managing delinquent debt extends beyond immediate financial stability; it impacts your ability to secure favorable terms and financing for future growth. Looking ahead, businesses should continuously seek to improve their financial practices and remain vigilant in monitoring their credit reports.

FAQs

1) How to remove delinquent accounts from credit reports?

Businesses can contact the creditor to negotiate, and if the delinquency is resolved, they can request a “pay for delete” agreement, where the creditor agrees to remove the account from the credit report in exchange for a fee. Alternatively if the delinquency is inaccurate, it can be disputed.

2) What is an example of delinquent debt?

An example of delinquent debt could be unpaid invoices or overdue payments to suppliers or vendors. Suppose a business fails to make timely payments for goods or services received, resulting in outstanding balances. This delinquent debt can negatively impact the business’ creditworthiness.

3) Can you remove delinquency on your credit report?

Yes, it is possible to remove delinquencies from a business credit report, by disputing errors with the credit bureau, if it’s inaccurate. But, disputing results in the entire account being removed from the credit report, eliminating both positive and negative payment history.