Credit Report Codes and Definitions: A to Z

Sometimes, reading your credit report can feel like translating a foreign language. And that’s not far from the truth – buried in your report's fine print are letter-number combinations that play a major role in defining your creditworthiness. These are known as credit report codes.

They may seem cryptic at first glance, but credit report codes and definitions can give lenders insight into your financial behavior – everything from how consistently you pay your bills to whether an account has been sent to a collection agency.

When you know how to read credit report codes, you're better equipped to catch errors, spot identity theft, and advocate for your financial health. We’ll show you how.

Understanding the Purpose and Significance of Credit Report Codes

Credit report codes are basically shorthand descriptions that the three major credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion – use to define your account status, payment history and account type. Each code gives a glimpse into the status of a credit account, whether it’s in good standing, past due, charged off or under foreclosure proceedings.

Lenders, landlords, insurance companies, and even some employers may rely on these codes when they review your credit report. Credit report codes also directly influence your credit scores, which are calculated using complex risk models that interpret these codes. So they matter. A lot. Here’s how to read them.

Credit Report Terms

Before jumping straight to specific codes, it helps to get familiar with some standard terms you'll see across credit reports. These foundational concepts provide the context for how each code is applied and interpreted. Here are some terms you should understand:

• Account Type: Whether an account is revolving, installment, mortgage, etc. For example, an open (revolving) account lets borrowers choose how much to pay each month (at least the minimum),between multiple payment options each month, such as interest-only or minimum due. On the other hand, an installment account is set up with a fixed number of payments to pay off the debt.

• Account Number: The unique identifier for a credit account

• Outstanding Balance: The amount you currently owe

• Payment History: A record of whether you've made payments on time

• Current Balance: Your amount due as of the most recent report

• Past Due: The total amount you haven't paid by the due date

• Credit Limit: The maximum amount you can borrow on a revolving account

• Collection Account: A debt turned over to a collection agency

• Public Records: Legal filings like bankruptcies or judgments that can impact your creditworthiness.

• Consumer Statements: Notes you’ve added to explain credit report items (like fraud alerts)

• Soft Inquiries: Credit checks that don’t affect your score, like prequalification offers

• Credit Inquiries: Requests potential lenders have made to review your credit information

Once you're comfortable with these basic terms, you’re ready to explore credit report rating codes. Each of the three major credit bureaus has its own coding system, so it's important to recognize how they vary when you review your reports.

Note: Credit report codes vary by bureau and by data furnisher. The examples below are illustrative; always confirm meanings in the specific bureau’s glossary for your report.

Credit Report Rating Codes

Credit report rating codes communicate to lenders whether an account is current, late, in collections, charged off – or in foreclosure or repossession. Here’s a quick guide to how codes vary by credit bureau:

Equifax Example Codes

0: Too new to rate
1: Paid within 30 days of due date
5: Over 120 days past due
8: Repossession occurred
9: Bad debt, collection or charge-off

Experian Example Codes

11: Account in good standing
43: Government claim or insurance claim
45: Foreclosure proceedings started
83: Account 150 days past due

TransUnion Example Codes

02: 30-59 days past due
08: Repossession
09: Charged off
UR: Unrated account

Credit Report ECOA Codes

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act requires that your credit reports clearly communicate your relationship to an account. These ECOA codes – also known as account designators – show whether you’re financially responsible for an account, using it with permission, or involved in another way.

Understanding these codes is important for interpreting who is responsible for the debt and how an account influences your credit score. Here are some sample codes you might see along those lines:

• 1 (I): Individual – You’re solely responsible for the account.

• 2 (J): Joint account contractual responsibility: You and another person share contractual responsibility.

• 3 (A): Authorized user: You can use the account, but you’re not contractually liable.

• 5 (C): Co-maker or Guarantor: You promise to pay if the primary borrower defaults.

• 7 (M): Maker – You’re the primary borrower; a co-maker/guarantor is also liable if you default.

If you see an ECOA code on your credit report that doesn’t describe your actual role – say you’re listed as the primary borrower when you were just an authorized user – it’s worth taking a closer look. These designations help lenders understand who’s responsible for an account, and mistakes can impact your credit score or make you seem riskier than you are.

On the flip side, if you’re responsible for an account and it’s helping build your credit, you’ll want to make sure it’s reported correctly. If something looks off, don’t hesitate to file a dispute with the credit bureau.

Positive Credit Codes

Positive credit codes translate to responsible financial behavior – exactly what you want to see when reviewing your credit report. Here are a few key positive credit report codes and definitions to look for:

• 11 (Experian): This means your account is in good standing, with no missed payments or other issues.
• 1 (Equifax): This code indicates that payments are being made within 30 days of the due date.
• Transfer/assumption comments: May indicate an account was moved to another lender or office. This is generally neutral if the account was in good standing.
• Paid/Closed Status: If you see codes or notes that mention a satisfied judgment, pd cl paid collection, or debts marked as resolved, it means those obligations have been fulfilled. These don’t erase the original issue – but they do show resolution and accountability.

Financial tools like the Juzt Digital Credit Card can help you build this kind of positive history when used responsibly. Juzt reports payment activity to Equifax, which may help reflect responsible account management and support credit-building over time when payments are made on time.

Negative Credit Codes

On the flip side, negative credit codes are the red flags lenders look for. These codes reflect accounts that are past due, in default or involved in more serious financial issues. They can have a lasting impact on your credit scores and make it harder to qualify for new credit, loans, or even housing.

• 9 or 09: This typically means the account has been charged off, or labeled as bad debt or an unpaid collection. The lender no longer expects repayment, and the account may have been sent to a collection agency.

• 71–84 (Experian): These numbers reflect how late an account is, ranging from 30 to over 180 days past due. The higher the number, the more delinquent the account.

• 94: Indicates that a foreclosure has been completed. This is one of the most damaging events that can appear on a credit report. Some reports may also list variations such as “foreclosure proceedings,” “foreclosure process,” or “foreclosure suit,” which indicate different stages of foreclosure rather than the completed action.
  Codes 95–97 indicate different outcomes related to a vehicle or other secured item:

• DF: This means a fraud investigation has been completed. While it may protect you long term, it can complicate the immediate credit picture.

• 78: Reflects a delinquent account that is 60 days late.

• 43: Indicates a government claim or insurance claim has been filed related to the account – often following default.

Neutral or Informational Credit Codes

Not all codes carry a positive or negative weight – some are just informational, like the following:

• 00 (Experian) or UR (TransUnion): These codes mean the account has no current status or is unrated. It may be too new to have reported activity, or the lender hasn't submitted updated information.

• DA: This code tells you the account has been deleted from the report, but not due to fraud. It may have been removed at the lender’s request or after a dispute.

• Status Code “0”: Indicates an account is too new to rate. You've likely been approved, but there hasn’t been enough activity yet to generate a payment history.

• Remarks Fields: These contain helpful notes like original creditor, reason codes or public record codes. Remarks fields may include brief narrative notes from the lender (e.g., original creditor or reason codes).

Credit Code Impact on Credit Scores

Your credit score is built from the details in your credit report, including credit codes. And those little codes carry a lot of weight. Each code, from a missed payment to a paid collection, helps paint a picture of how you manage your credit.

Here’s what risk models typically look at:

• Payment history

• Number of late payments

• Account status codes

• Revolving accounts usage vs. credit limit

• Length and mix of credit accounts

• Recent credit inquiries

Let’s say your report shows a code indicating four payments past due. That’s a red flag, and your score may take a noticeable hit. On the other hand, a code showing consistent, on-time payments on a mortgage or open account sends a strong positive signal.

If you’re just starting to build credit or working to rebuild it, a product like the Juzt Digital Credit Card may help. Because it’s unsecured, there’s no deposit required, and you can prequalify with only a soft inquiry – which doesn’t affect your credit score; final approval still depends on a full review..

In addition, if you're recovering from past credit challenges, you might consider seeking financial counseling. A certified advisor can help you understand your credit report and create a strategy to rebuild your credit scores.

How Lenders Use Credit Report Codes?

Lenders use credit codes to decide whether to extend you credit – and at what terms. For example, a “93” may signal a completed foreclosure, prompting a loan denial, while an “A” for authorized user status shows that you're not contractually obligated. Codes tied to public records – likes bankruptcy or a foreclosure – usually carry the most weight.

Common Credit Report Code Misinterpretations

Credit codes are easy to misinterpret because they’re so complex. Here are a few commonly misunderstood codes:

• Code 09 doesn’t mean your debt is being actively collected – it means the account was charged off.

• Code 8P (TransUnion) may seem positive because of the "P," but it still refers to repossession.

• Status ID “X” is not an error – it confirms that a consumer is deceased.    

It's also important to remember that not all “deleted” accounts are removed because of fraud. Some are removed for reasons like updated information or verified disputes.
Credit report codes might seem overwhelming at first, but once you understand what they mean, they can be a powerful tool for managing your financial life. It’s all about knowing where you stand – and using that knowledge to move forward with confidence.

When you can spot potential issues and understand what lenders see, you're in a much better position to drive your credit future. And if you’re looking for a way to act, don’t forget that the Juzt Digital Credit Card offers a fully digital application and approval process – features that may make it easier to get started; responsible use may help support credit-building over time..

Disclaimer: Credit report codes differ by bureau and data furnisher. This article is educational and doesn’t guarantee approval or credit score changes. Individual outcomes depend on creditor reporting and your credit behavior.