Forbearance

The CFPB describes forbearance as an arrangement in which your servicer lets you pause or reduce payments for a limited time, and the missed amount still has to be repaid. A forbearance isn't a late payment by itself, but no federal rule now dictates exactly how it's reported, so the agreement and the lender's practice decide what lands on your report.

The CARES Act rule that required lenders to report accommodated accounts as current covered only accommodations made during the pandemic period, which ended in 2023. Today, ask for the reporting terms in writing before you agree, and check your reports for the months the forbearance covered. A late mark in a month when no payment was due is an error you can dispute.