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Do Credit Bureaus Report Public Records? What Consumers Should Know.

For many years, public records like court judgments and tax liens had the power to ruin a credit score. These “public records” were routinely gathered from court systems and government agencies and published onto consumer credit reports—often with disastrous consequences.


But today, most consumers are surprised to learn something important:

Most public records no longer appear on credit reports.


This post covers what has changed in recent years —and why it matters to you.

What Are “Public Records” in the Context of Credit Reporting?

Public records are legal matters made part of the court or government record, such as:

  • Civil judgments

  • Tax liens

  • Bankruptcies

  • Foreclosures and repossessions (through separate reporting)

  • Lawsuits and court filings


Historically, the three nationwide credit reporting agencies—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion (aka, the “Big 3”)—collected and reported certain public records as part of your credit file.


The Big Change: Civil Judgments and Tax Liens Are Gone

Beginning in 2017, the Big 3 credit bureaus voluntarily stopped reporting:

  • Civil judgments

  • Tax liens


These changes followed years of pressure from state attorneys general and regulators who identified widespread problems with accuracy, particularly:

  • Records showing up on the wrong person

  • Duplicate or outdated filings

  • Insufficient personal identifiers

  • Errors that were extremely difficult for consumers to correct


Rather than fix systemic failures, the credit bureaus chose a simpler solution:

They stopped including most public records altogether.


What Public Records Still Appear Today?

As of now, bankruptcy remains the primary public record that is still reported on credit reports by the major bureaus. That’s it.


Judgments and tax liens no longer appear on reports from Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion as a matter of policy.


Does That Mean Public Records “Don’t Matter” Anymore?

No. While judgments and liens may not show up on your credit report, they are still part of the public record and may appear in other types of consumer reports or accessible via other means, such as:


So while the consumer reports used most frequently (those from the Big 3), this information can still affect other specialty consumer reports and ultimately real-world decisions behind the scenes.


Simply put, your public footprint still matters.


The Catch No One Tells You

Even though public records may not be reported by the credit bureaus:


In a nutshell:

The Big 3 credit bureaus stepping away from most public record reporting does not erase the court file, and doesn’t remove the underlying credit trade line.


What You Should Do If You’re Concerned

If you’re worried about how public records impact your life, here are smart steps to take:

  1. Review your credit reports and confirm what’s actually showing

  2. Check court records independently (not just credit reports)

  3. Dispute inaccuracies immediately when discovered

  4. Demand written verification for debts tied to lawsuits

  5. Consult a consumer-protection attorney if records appear incorrectly


If you believe your credit file contains public records that don’t belong to you—or background information that’s inaccurate—you do not have to accept it.


Mistakes can be challenged. Errors can be corrected. Your record is not set in stone.


Worried About What’s On Your Credit Report?

If your credit file includes inaccurate public records, bankruptcy information that doesn’t belong to you, or third-party background data that’s harming you, or other errors — you have legal rights under federal law.


At Wells Law – Chicago, we help consumers challenge:

  • Incorrect public records

  • Mixed credit files

  • Mistaken bankruptcies

  • Background report errors

  • Identity-related inaccuracies



If something on your report isn’t right, don’t ignore it.


Be Informed. Be Empowered. Be Protected.

 

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