Your credit report is a representation of how you use your finances. It reflects how you pay your bills, manage your debt, or have several impending loans.

In your credit report, there is a section reserved for public records, which are primarily entries filed by your local states, county, or federal courts.

A few years ago, three records could be included in your credit report. However, things have changed recently, and the list has grown quite long.

Essentially, if your creditor sues you for severe delinquency and the court rules against you, you'll find that entry in the public record. In some cases, you may find such listings included in your credit report.

Even if you clear the debt, the public record can stay in your report for over a decade. According to a study by the FTC, at least 20% of consumers had a mistake in their report.

A public record can tank your credit score significantly. Luckily, there are ways you can work to have a public record removed from your credit report.