How long does a negative report stay on Datacrédito?
Calculate when your negative report on Datacrédito or TransUnion Colombia should be removed under Law 2157 of 2021 (the “clean slate” law). All you need is two dates.
Calculate your report’s removal date
The due date of the first payment you missed. If you don’t know it exactly, enter an approximate date.
The day you caught up on the overdue payments or paid off the full debt.
Enter the date your delinquency started to see the result.
Everything is calculated in your browser: the dates you enter are never sent or stored. This is an estimate based on the law; each lender and credit bureau applies the exact date.
Get out of debt and stay current
Dineri reminds you before every payment, tells you how much you need to catch up and calculates when you’ll come off the credit bureaus.
Meet DineriWhat does Law 2157 of 2021 say?
Colombia’s Law 2157 of 2021, known as the “borrón y cuenta nueva” (clean slate) law, amended Law 1266 of 2008 on financial habeas data. These are the rules for how long negative information can stay on credit bureaus such as Datacrédito (Experian) and TransUnion (formerly CIFIN):
| Your situation | How long the negative report lasts |
|---|---|
| You paid and were delinquent for less than 2 years | Twice as long as you were delinquent, counted from the day you paid. |
| You paid and were delinquent for 2 years or more | 4 years from the day you paid (the maximum). |
| You never paid | 8 years from when the delinquency started. After that it must be removed even if the debt is still unpaid. |
Examples
- 3 months delinquent: if you pay, the report lasts 6 more months from the day you pay.
- 1 year delinquent: if you pay, the report lasts 2 years from the day you pay.
- 3 years delinquent: if you pay, the report lasts 4 years from the payment, not 6, because 4 years is the maximum.
That’s why paying as soon as possible is what shortens the report the most: every extra month in delinquency adds two more months of reporting after you pay.
They must notify you before reporting you
The lender you owe cannot report you without telling you first. It must send you prior notice, and the report can only be made once at least 20 calendar days have passed since it was sent. If the debt is small (up to 15% of a monthly minimum wage), the law requires them to notify you twice, on different days, before reporting you.
What if the date has passed and you’re still reported?
- Check your credit history. You have the right to check it for free on Datacrédito and TransUnion at least once a month.
- File a claim with the lender that reported you or with the credit bureau, explaining when the delinquency started and when you paid. Keep your proof of payment.
- Wait for the answer: they have 15 business days to respond, extendable by 8 more business days.
- If they don’t respond or don’t correct the data, you can file a complaint with the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC) or the Financial Superintendence, depending on who reported you.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a negative Datacrédito report last if I already paid?
Twice as long as you were delinquent, counted from the day you paid, up to a maximum of 4 years. For example, if you were 6 months delinquent, the report lasts 1 year after payment.
What happens if I never pay the debt?
The negative data can stay for up to 8 years from when the delinquency started. After that it must be removed from the credit bureaus, even though the debt still exists and the lender can keep trying to collect it.
Can they report me without notice?
No. The lender must send you prior notice and wait at least 20 calendar days before reporting you. If the debt is up to 15% of a minimum wage, they must notify you twice.
Do Datacrédito and TransUnion follow the same rules?
Yes. Retention periods are set by law and apply to all credit bureaus, such as Datacrédito (Experian) and TransUnion (formerly CIFIN).
Does paying the debt remove the report immediately?
No. Once you pay, the report shows you’re current, but the delinquency record stays for the time the law sets: twice the delinquency, up to 4 years. That’s why it pays to settle as soon as possible.
Updated October 4, 2026 · By the Dineri AI team. General information based on Colombian Law 1266 of 2008 and Law 2157 of 2021; it does not replace advice from a lawyer.