Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in North Carolina

Unpaid debts, medical or otherwise (except tax debts) can stay on a credit report approximately 7 /12 years from the date of last payment. Date opened does not make sense in the context of a medical debt - this is not like a credit card you opened. Assuming that you were treated by the doctor in June of 2005, then the debt can stay on your credit file until near the end of this year.

Some reports indicate when the negative item will be removed. Does your report say anything? I would check your credit file after January 2013 and make sure its not there. If it is still there, then I would dispute this item on the grounds that its stale under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. You dispute first with the credit bureaus. If they refuse to remove it, then send a certified letter to the healthcare provider to remove it from your file.