Credit Report Abbreviations Explained: Complete Guide

Understanding Credit Report Abbreviations: A Complete Guide

Your credit report is filled with abbreviations and codes that can seem like a foreign language to the average consumer. These symbols and acronyms represent important information about your credit accounts, payment history, and financial standing. Understanding what these abbreviations mean is essential to interpreting your credit report accurately and identifying any errors or areas for improvement. Whether you’re applying for a loan, refinancing a mortgage, or simply checking your credit health, knowing how to decode these abbreviations can help you make informed financial decisions.

Credit bureaus use standardized abbreviations to convey complex information in a compact format. Each code tells a specific story about your credit accounts and how you’ve managed them over time. This guide will help you decode the most common abbreviations you’ll encounter on your credit report.

Account Type Designations

One of the first sets of abbreviations you’ll encounter on your credit report describes the type of account you have. These account type codes indicate the nature of the credit relationship and how the account is structured.

Your credit report uses specific letters to denote different account ownership structures. Understanding these designations is crucial because they explain who is responsible for the account and how liability is distributed:

• B: Individual Account belonging solely to the borrower
• I: Individual Account belonging to the borrower, used in specific circumstances
• C: Individual Account belonging to the co-borrower
• J: Joint Account where both borrowers share contractual liability
• U: Undesignated Account where liability has not yet been established
• A: Authorized User with no contractual responsibility for the account
• P: Participant in a Shared Account whose contractual liability is undetermined
• M: Maker, a borrower primarily responsible for an account with a co-signer
• S: Shared Account where the borrower is a co-signer with joint liability
• X: Indicates the borrower is deceased
• T: Terminated, meaning the borrower is no longer associated with a joint or co-signed account

Account Type Codes

Beyond ownership structure, credit reports also classify accounts by their type. These codes describe the nature of the credit product and how repayment is typically structured:

• MTG: Mortgage Account
• INST: Installment Account with set monthly payments
• AUTO: Auto Loan Account
• CRCD: Credit Card Account
• COLL: Account in Collections
• REV: Revolving Account allowing repeated borrowing
• OPEN: Open Account requiring full payment upon receipt
• EDU: Education Account or Student Loan
• COSI: Co-signer Account
• LEAS: Leasing Account

Payment Status Codes

Among the most important abbreviations on your credit report are those that indicate your payment status. These codes reveal whether you’ve paid your bills on time and how current your accounts are:

Current Account Status:

• AS AGREED: The account is current with all payments made on time as per the agreement
• NO STATUS: No status information has been provided by the creditor
• CURRENT: The account is up to date with no past-due amounts

Delinquency Codes:

• CUR WAS (30/60/90/120/COLL/REPO/BK/FORE): The account was previously delinquent but is now current, with the number or code showing the previous delinquency status
• 30: Account is 30 days past due
• 60: Account is 60 days past due
• 90: Account is 90 days past due
• 120: Account is 120 days past due

Account Closure and Resolution Codes:

• PAID: The account was closed and paid off in full
• CLOSED: The account was closed by the consumer or creditor
• SETTLED: The account was settled for less than the full amount owed
• CHARGE OFF: The account was charged off by the creditor as a loss
• COLLECTION: The account has been placed with a collection agency
• REPOSESS: The creditor repossessed collateral due to non-payment
• FORECLOS: The creditor initiated foreclosure proceedings
• VOL SUR: The account was voluntarily surrendered

Special Status Indicators

Your credit report may also include several special status codes that indicate unusual situations or account modifications:

• INACTIVE: The account is not currently active but remains open
• DELETED: The account was deleted from the credit report by the credit agency
• TRANSFERRED: The account was transferred to another creditor or servicer
• PD WAS (COLL/REPO/CHG OFF/FORCLO): The account was paid while delinquent in the manner specified
• CO NOW PAY: The account was charged off and is now being paid
• CLOS NP AA: The account was closed but not paid as agreed
• GOV CLAIM: A claim was filed with the government for the insured portion of the loan balance
• SCNL: The account was skipped and the consumer cannot be located
• CRCDLOST: The credit card has been reported as lost or stolen

Tradeline Information Abbreviations

Each tradeline on your credit report contains detailed information about individual accounts. Understanding these abbreviations helps you review the accuracy of your account information:

Key Tradeline Data Points:

• H/C: High Credit or Credit Limit – the maximum amount you can borrow or the highest amount you’ve charged
• BAL: Balance – the amount owed on the account at the time it was last reported
• P/D: Past Due – the amount past due at the time the data was reported
• TRM: Terms – the monthly repayment amount or the number of months or years for loan repayment
• OPND: Date account was opened
• RPTD: Date the item was reported to the credit bureau
• DLA: Date of Last Activity on the account

Understanding Your Payment History Codes

Payment history codes provide a numerical rating of how consistently you’ve paid your bills on different types of accounts. These codes typically range from 1 to 9, with variations depending on the account type:

R-Codes (Revolving Accounts):

• R1: Account is current or paid within 30 days of due date – good payment history
• R2: Account paid 30-59 days past due date
• R3: Account paid 60-89 days past due date
• R4: Account paid 90-119 days past due date
• R5: Account is 120+ days past due
• R9: Poor payment history – account severely delinquent

I-Codes (Installment Accounts):

• I1: Account is current or paid within 30 days of due date
• I9: Poor payment history on installment account

These codes are crucial because payment history accounts for approximately 35% of your credit score calculation. Accounts marked R1 or I1 demonstrate responsible credit management.

Credit Bureau Comment Codes

Credit bureaus also use two-letter comment codes to provide additional context about your accounts and any special circumstances:

• AW: Account affected by natural disaster
• BL: Credit card lost or stolen
• AP: Credit line suspended or temporarily unavailable for use
• AB: Additional specific circumstances affecting the account

Equifax-Specific Abbreviations

While many abbreviations are standardized across the three major credit bureaus, Equifax uses some specific terminology worth noting:

Equifax maintains detailed records in their ACRO (Automated Credit Report On-Line) database. Key Equifax-specific terms include:

• ACRO: Automated Credit Report On-Line – Equifax’s consumer credit database
• ACROFILE: Standard Equifax credit file
• ACROFILE PLUS: Enhanced Equifax credit file with additional information
• SINCE: Date the credit file was established
• FAD: Date of most recent account activity
• FN: File number for internal use by Equifax
• FIRM/ID CODE: Name and customer number of the reporting company

How to Use These Abbreviations When Reading Your Report

Understanding these abbreviations in isolation is helpful, but learning how to use them together to read your complete credit report is essential. Start by reviewing your personal information, then examine each tradeline systematically. For each account, note the account type designation, the account classification (credit card, auto loan, etc.), the payment status code, and any special status indicators. Cross-reference the date reported with the date of last activity to ensure the information is current. Look for any accounts marked with negative status codes like “CHARGE OFF” or “COLLECTION” and verify they’re accurate.

Common Abbreviations Comparison Table

Frequently Asked Questions About Credit Report Abbreviations

Q: What does “AS AGREED” mean on my credit report?

A: “AS AGREED” indicates that your account is current and you’ve been making all payments according to the original agreement. This is a positive status that demonstrates responsible credit management and is favorable for your credit score.

Q: How does a “CHARGE OFF” affect my credit score?

A: A “CHARGE OFF” indicates the creditor has written off your debt as a loss after extended non-payment. This is one of the most damaging notations on your credit report, significantly lowering your credit score and remaining on your report for seven years.

Q: What’s the difference between “COLLECTION” and “CHARGE OFF”?

A: “CHARGE OFF” occurs when the original creditor gives up collection efforts and writes off the debt. “COLLECTION” means the account has been transferred to a collection agency. Both are negative, but the sequence typically involves a charge-off first, followed by collections if the debt remains unpaid.

Q: Can I dispute abbreviations or codes I don’t recognize on my credit report?

A: Yes, you have the right to dispute any information on your credit report you believe is inaccurate. Contact the credit bureau in writing with documentation supporting your dispute. They have 30 days to investigate and respond.

Q: What does “CUR WAS” mean on my credit report?

A: “CUR WAS” indicates that your account was previously delinquent but is now current. The code following it (like “30” or “60”) specifies how many days past due it previously was. This shows you’ve caught up, but the history of delinquency may still affect your credit score.

Q: How long do negative abbreviations like “FORECLOS” stay on my credit report?

A: Negative items like foreclosure, repossession, and charge-offs typically remain on your credit report for seven years from the date of first delinquency. Bankruptcies may remain for seven to ten years depending on the chapter filed.

Q: What does “TRANSFERRED” mean and does it hurt my credit?

A: “TRANSFERRED” means your account was moved from one creditor or servicer to another. This is typically a neutral action and doesn’t directly damage your credit, though it may result in temporary reporting delays.

Q: Should I be concerned if I see “INACTIVE” on my credit report?

A: “INACTIVE” means the account is no longer being used but remains open. This is neutral from a credit perspective. Inactive accounts with positive payment histories can actually be beneficial as they contribute to your credit history length and available credit.

This article is general information, not personal financial advice. Consider your own situation, or speak with a licensed adviser, before acting on it.