Definition
Delinquency is being late on a loan payment, from the day a payment is missed until the account is brought current. Prolonged delinquency can lead to default.
Delinquency describes an account on which a scheduled payment is past due but has not yet reached default. An account is typically considered delinquent once a payment is missed, and it is often tracked in stages such as 30, 60, and 90 days past due. The longer an account remains delinquent, the more it can affect your credit report and the account itself, and continued delinquency can progress to default. Bringing the account current by paying the overdue amount generally ends the delinquency. Delinquency is the earlier stage that can precede default.
