The following is a list of most of the negative items that could appear on your credit account. They are listed in order of what many creditors would consider as best to worst. Your credit report will reflect the collection activity for seven years from the time the first payment you missed was due that led to the collection. Inquiries are notations in your credit report marking a request by an entity to view your credit report. For example, when you fill out an application for a credit card, the credit card company asks the credit bureau for a copy of your credit report, creating a inquiry notation on your credit report.
Most inquiries remain for two years.
Note that too many inquires on your credit report can reduce your credit rating. Chapter 7,11,12 bankruptcies stay on credit for 10 years from the date of filing. Chapter 13 bankruptcy stays on your credit for seven years after the discharge, which is usually 3-5 years after filing. Creditors are much more interested in your present circumstances than what happened to you 4-10 years ago. Therefore, rebuilding your credit can be done relatively quickly through a systematic plan and little perseverance.