[neil5623]

Some ten years ago, I read a credit repair book that said OCs kept records of charge-offs in their computers for only two years, then it was deleted. That was back when memory was still relatively expensive, and it appeared to be true with the results that I received.

So now I'm wondering with computer memory dramatically cheaper than it was back then, if that two-year rule still holds? March is two years for some items that I have, and I'm holding off until next month to dispute. I know that some items that disappeared were about four years after last activity.

[Hedwig]

It depends on the OC. AMEX and Citi tend to keep records for a long time. I'm not sure about the others.

[centex]

CrapOne has produced records on accounts that were nearing 7 years of age. They also can produce images of any checks used to pay the account. Citi was also one that was noted for producing stacks of statements.

Basically, when accounts moved to the internet and the age of instant approval was upon us, so to was the increased storage space that allows them to retain documents far longer and in a much more accessible manner than in years past. I remember the days of those statements being stored on microfilm...you could tell it came from film or fiche when you needed to get an extra copy of a statement.

The bigger issue now is with the portfolio sales. Closed accounts may be purged when the sale is consumated, which is why store cards may or may not have media available after a few years...