Think a Charge-Off Means You’re Off the Hook? Think Again

If an account shows as charged off, does that mean they can't come after me anymore?

Short answer: No. That’s not what it means.

Here’s the real deal:
When a debt goes unpaid for six months or more, banking regulations require lenders to mark the account as charged off on your credit report. This doesn’t mean the debt disappears — it simply means the bank has written it off their books for accounting and tax purposes.

But make no mistake:

• You still owe the money.

• They can still come after you to collect.

• They can still sell the debt to a collection agency.

If they sell it, the original lender won’t chase you anymore — but the debt collector who bought it definitely will.

Charged-off just means it’s been written off for them — not for you.