what is the difference between default and delinquency 
debt becomes delinquent when you have failed to make a single on time payment default occurs after a series of delinquent payments the number of which can vary by type of loan and lender both are best avoided but default has worse consequences for your credit history the bottom linelenders and investors use various measures to determine the likelihood than an individual a company or a government will default on debts the greater the odds of default the more that the lender or investor will expect be compensated in terms of higher interest rates 