A fuller guide to this term is on the way. In the meantime, the related terms below explain the ideas around it.
Related MoneyPedia terms
- DefaultThe failure to repay a debt as agreed after an extended period, which can lead to collections, legal action, or repossession.
- CollectionsThe process of a creditor or a hired agency pursuing an unpaid debt, which appears as a negative mark on your credit report.
- DelinquencyThe status of an account when payments are past due, which worsens the longer the debt goes unpaid.
- Credit ReportA detailed record of your borrowing history, including accounts, balances, and payment behavior, kept by the credit bureaus.
- Debt SettlementNegotiating with a creditor to accept less than the full amount owed to resolve a debt, often for accounts already in default.
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Plain-English education — not personalized legal, tax, or investment advice.