How long does blacklisted last for?

Being blacklisted can have serious consequences and last for different periods of time depending on the context. In this article, we will go over what it means to be blacklisted, the common types of blacklists, how long you may remain on them, and steps you can take if you find yourself blacklisted.

What Does It Mean To Be Blacklisted?

Being blacklisted essentially means you have been placed on a list of individuals or entities that are barred or restricted from accessing or participating in something. Some common examples include:

• Credit blacklists – Being added to a credit blacklist makes it difficult or impossible to obtain loans, mortgages, credit cards, etc. This is usually due to a poor credit history.
• Employment blacklists – Employers may add former employees to an internal blacklist if they were fired for cause or did not leave on good terms. This restricts them from being rehired.
• Email blacklists – Getting added to an email blacklist means your emails will automatically be flagged as spam or blocked from being received.
• Government sanctions – Individuals, organizations, or countries can be added to government blacklists that restrict them from international trade, travel, etc.

In most cases, being placed on a blacklist is not permanent, but it can be difficult to get removed. The next sections go over some of the most common blacklists and how long you may remain listed.

Credit Blacklists

If you have defaulted on loans, missed debt payments, gone bankrupt, or perpetrated credit fraud, you may find yourself added to credit blacklists. The major consumer credit reporting agencies maintain these lists, the main ones being:

• Experian
• Equifax
• TransUnion

When you are added to their blacklists, it damages your credit score and makes it difficult to get approved for new credit products. Lenders checking your credit will see you are blacklisted and consider you high risk.

How Long Do You Stay on Credit Blacklists?

Many factors determine how long you may remain on a credit blacklist, including:

• Type of negative credit event – Bankruptcy can keep you blacklisted for up to 10 years, while late payments may fall off your credit report in as little as 1 year.
• Your credit history – Having a long credit history with positive reporting helps remove negative marks faster.
• State laws – Some states have limits on how long negative marks can stay on your report.
• Credit agency policies – Each agency has their own rules and timelines for removing negative information.

As a general guideline:

• Late payments – Stay on your credit report for 7 years from the date of the missed payment.
• Foreclosures – Up to 7 years from the date the proceedings started.
• Bankruptcies – Up to 10 years depending on the type.
• Lawsuits/judgments – Typically 7 years from the date filed or judgment entered.
• Repossessions – Up to 7 years after the repossession date.

Past due accounts that get sent to collections or charged off as bad debt also stay on your report for around 7 years from the first missed payment. Removing inaccurate information from your credit report can also help get you off blacklists sooner.

Employment Blacklists

Employers frequently maintain internal blacklists of former employees who are ineligible for rehire. Some common reasons you may end up on an employment blacklist include:

• Being fired for cause – e.g. misconduct, ethical violations, poor performance
• Resigning abruptly or without appropriate notice
• Violating company policies or confidentiality agreements
• Engaging in illegal activity while employed

How Long Do You Stay on Employment Blacklists?

There are no set legal limits on how long a company can blacklist former employees. Employers are free to keep former workers on their do not rehire lists indefinitely if they choose. However, some typical timelines include:

• 1-3 years – For resigning without proper notice or minor policy violations.
• 3-5 years – For being fired due to poor performance issues.
• 5+ years to indefinitely – For serious misconduct issues leading to termination.

Factors like your position level, reasons for leaving, and company policies will influence the length of time. Employment blacklists mainly become an issue if you try to return to a former employer or they get contacted for a reference check by other potential employers.

Email Blacklists

Getting placed on an email blacklist means your emails will automatically be blocked or filtered as spam. This happens if an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or email provider determines your emails violate their policies. Common reasons include:

• Sending unsolicited bulk emails (spam)
• Your IP address sending malware or viruses
• Generating a large volume of bounced back or undeliverable emails
• Receiving many spam or abuse complaints from recipients

Some major email blacklist services used by companies to filter spam include:

• Spamhaus
• SpamCop
• Barracuda Reputation Block List

How Long Do You Stay on Email Blacklists?

The duration of email blacklisting varies by provider. But in most cases, you can expect:

• Spamhaus – Typically 1-3 months
• SpamCop – At least 6 months
• Barracuda – At least 1-3 months

However, repeat offenders may find themselves blacklist for 6 months or longer. And in rare cases, chronic spammers get permanently blacklisted with no possibility of removal. To get removed from email blacklists:

1. Correct the behavior that led to blacklisting
2. Request removal from the specific blacklist providers
3. Consult with your email provider or ISP
4. Use services that check and monitor your email reputation

Government Blacklists

Governments maintain a variety of blacklists and sanctions lists of entities deemed risks for illegal or unethical behavior. Types include:

• Terrorist watch lists – Individuals and groups associated with terrorist activities.
• Trade embargoes – Countries, organizations, or persons subject to restrictions on international trade and transactions.
• Asset freezes – Blocking access to financial resources connected with illegal or threatening activities.

Notable government blacklists in the U.S. include:

• OFAC Specially Designated Nationals List
• Bureau of Industry and Security Denied Persons List
• Office of Foreign Assets Control Sanctions Lists

How Long Do You Stay on Government Blacklists?

There are often no fixed terms for removal from government sanctions and law enforcement blacklists. Entities may remain listed indefinitely or until the government agency deems the risk has been mitigated. For example:

• Terrorist watch lists – Often no clear way to get removed even if charges were dismissed or overturned.
• Trade embargoes – Can last decades or until political regime changes.
• Asset seizure – Can remain frozen indefinitely.

Having your name mistakenly added to a government blacklist can be extremely difficult to resolve. Specialized legal assistance is typically required. Government blacklists also tend to have loose, subjective criteria compared to blacklists from private institutions.

Steps If You Are Blacklisted

Here are some general steps to consider if you find yourself unfairly blacklisted:

1. Verify the accuracy – Make sure you are actually on the blacklist and understand the stated reasons.
2. Consult professionals – Speak with credit repair specialists, employment attorneys, civil liberty groups, etc. depending on the situation.
3. Dispute inaccurate information – If the blacklist is based on incorrect data, vigorously dispute it through proper channels.
4. Request removal – Ask the blacklisting entity to remove you if the duration has reasonably passed.
5. Comply with requirements – Meet any criteria for removal the blacklisting agency sets forth.
6. Appeal denials – Keep escalating your removal request through any appeal processes available.

Developing evidence of reform or changed circumstances since your blacklisting often helps with getting removed earlier. However, some blacklists have no formal removal process even if information is inaccurate or listing is unfairly punitive.

Conclusion

Blacklists can temporarily or permanently restrict access and opportunities in areas such as credit, employment, housing, travel, and more. How long you remain blacklisted depends on variables like the reason for listing, company or government policies, laws, and your own efforts to get removed.

Blacklisting often serves legitimate purposes such as reducing business risks, identifying lawbreakers, and stopping harmful practices like identity theft or terrorism. But you should still be informed of your status, rights, and options if you find yourself unjustly blacklisted.