When you feel that a credit report notation needs to be explained, you can consider adding a "consumer statement" to your credit file. While they are not used in the calculation of your credit score, they don’t always have the positive influence you expect.

Firstly, a credit report has a specific role in lenders’ decision-making processes. They look at credit reports for a factual account of payment history. Explanatory statements, since they cannot change the facts of your credit report, may be viewed simply as excuses.

Your recent payment patterns are usually most important to creditors. Paying your bills on time for just two years from the time of negative notations can make a great difference in your credit worthiness.

Secondly, consumer statements can actually have a negative impact. Although they are not part of the numerical equation that is used to generate your credit score, they can call attention to payment problems that may have already dropped off your credit report. “Consumer statements” are only removed from your credit report at your request or automatically after seven years. Sometimes, the negative notation can drop off after seven years, but the explanatory statement will still highlight the past payment problem. So if you decide to place a statement on your report, be vigilant about making sure it does not stay on there after the negative notation drops off.