Advertiser Disclosure
Closed Accounts

How Long It Takes for a $0 Balance to Show on Report

The Experian Team
By
A lady, facing away from the camera, sitting on a boat floating in clear blue water surrounded by 5 other boats and the mountain
Dear Experian,

How frequently is one's credit record updated? If I paid off an old debt and want my credit report to reflect a $0.00 balance, how long does it take to show up? How can I speed along the process?

- SAL

Dear SAL,

Lenders typically update account information once a month. The length of time it will take for the zero balance to appear will depend on how close the payment is made to the reporting date.

If you make the payment right after information has been updated, it could be 30 days or more before the balance is reported. If you make the payment just before the reporting date it could be just a short time before the update is made.

Credit Card Balance May Not Show Zero Even If You Pay In Full Every Month

However, the amount reported to Experian is the balance on your billing statement. To be certain that a zero balance appears in your credit report you must pay off any existing balance and then not make any charges for a full billing cycle. That will ensure that the lender's records show a zero balance and that the zero balance is subsequently reported to Experian.

Thanks for asking.
- The "Ask Experian" team

Related Articles:
How Can I Update the Balance On My Credit Card?
When to Close Credit Cards with Zero Balance
Should You Close Paid Off Credit Cards
How Often Is a Credit Report Updated?
Closed Credit Card Accounts Showing on Credit Report
Updating Balance Information on Your Credit Report

The purpose of this question submission tool is to provide general education on credit reporting. The Ask Experian team cannot respond to each question individually. However, if your question is of interest to a wide audience of consumers, the Experian team may include it in a future post and may also share responses in its social media outreach. If you have a question, others likely have the same question, too. By sharing your questions and our answers, we can help others as well.

Personal credit report disputes cannot be submitted through Ask Experian. To dispute information in your personal credit report, simply follow the instructions provided with it. Your personal credit report includes appropriate contact information including a website address, toll-free telephone number and mailing address.

To submit a dispute online visit Experian's Dispute Center. If you have a current copy of your personal credit report, simply enter the report number where indicated, and follow the instructions provided. If you do not have a current personal report, Experian will provide a free copy when you submit the information requested. Additionally, you may obtain a free copy of your report once a week through April 2022 at AnnualCreditReport.

Resources
Latest Research
Latest Reviews