answer: A charge off a debt that the company was declared as a uncollectable debt. They have written the debt off for tax purposes. Normally you have to be very delinquent, like 120-180 days to reach this stage. This hurts your credit terribly. It will stay on your credit report like all other negative marks for 7 years, unless you negotiate come time of deal to remove it. Equifax codes this kind of delinquency as a R9. roni
