How long will an unpaid cell phone bill affect your credit?

Past due accounts that become collections or charge-offs are usually reported adversely to the consumer's credit file for 7 years plus 180 days from the start of the first collection activity.

Pull your credit history for review for free once per year at www.annualcreditreport.com

If you apply for credit, banking, insurance, or housing and are denied based on credit, you have the right to obtain a free copy of your report.