“This default is destroying my credit score – how do I get rid of it?”
This is a very common question!
It’s sometimes asked when people’s finances have improved and they are trying to clean up old problems on their credit history as fast as possible. Or sometimes the default feels unfair for some reason.
I will look at various cases to see what – if anything – can be done for each of them.
But first, there is no magic trick that an “expert” can use to do this:
- don’t ever pay a firm that says they can sort this for you;
- their claims are often exaggerated, they can’t do anything that you couldn’t do yourself.
Contents
When debts drop off your credit record
How long a debt stays on your record depends on whether the record shows a default date or not.
The two rules are:
- a debt without a default date stays on your record for six years from the date when it is settled. This applies whether it was settled in full or partially;
- a debt with a default date stays for six years from that date. You may have paid it in full, made a full and final settlement, not paid anything to it, or still be making payments… none of these matter, the debt is still going to drop off after six years.
So the default date is an important piece of information for you to know.
Don’t guess! Check your records with all three CRAs so you know exactly what they say.
Having a debt drop off your record because the default was over 6 years ago is the same in practice as having the default deleted.
Situations where the default should be removed
I am not saying these will be easy, but these are the most likely cases to succeed.
“I never owed this money”
If the debt isn’t yours, you should tell the lender and ask them to remove it from your credit record. It’s not just your credit record that matters here, you don’t want to be chased for money by the creditor or be taken to court for a CCJ.
“I was never in arrears”
If you recognise the debt but you don’t think you were ever in arrears, ask the lender for a statement of account. That may show where the problem is. You can then check against your bank statements to see if you made other payments that weren’t recorded.
“The lender stopped taking the money”
Sometimes the lender stopped taking the monthly payment by direct debit or by continuous payment authority. You may have assumed the debt was repaid and only found out later a default had been added to your credit record.
Here it is the fact that the lender stopped taking the payments that matters. You may be able to get evidence from your bank that you did not cancel the DD or CPA until months later. If it was the lender’s error, you should not have a default and you can ask for this to be removed.
“It’s not fair – I only missed one payment”
In this case, no default should have been added as you were never three months in arrears!
Write to the lender, then appeal to the Financial Ombudsman if the lender refuses to correct it, see the above article about what the default date should be for details.
“A debt collector has added a later default”
They shouldn’t have done this. A debt collector can add a new record, but it should have the same default date as the original lender.
Write to the debt collector and ask them to correct it, and then appeal to the Financial Ombudsman if necessary.
“The default was added very late”
The rules say that a default should normally be when you are 3-6 months in arrears compared to what your normal payments would have been.
If a creditor has added a default later than this, it should be changed to be earlier. That means it will drop off sooner, and your credit record will be clean sooner.
See “What should the default date for a debt be?” which describes how to get your record corrected. For many people this is just as good as getting the default deleted and it can be a lot easier.
Cases where you have to win the argument to have it removed
“The loan was unaffordable”
Lenders should have checked you could afford to repay a loan before they gave you the loan. A loan is only “affordable” if you can repay it without hardship and without having to borrow more money.
If a proper check would have shown that the credit wasn’t affordable for you at the time you applied, ask for a refund of the interest you paid and for any defaults or late payment markers to be deleted from your credit file.
You can also win complaints against credit cards and catalogues if your credit limit was increased stupidly high when you were only making minimum payments. And against overdrafts when you are in the overdraft for all or almost all of the month and this has been going on for more than a year.
See Affordability refunds for how to make these complaints. There are different articles for car finance, large loans, credit cards (including catalogues and store cards) and overdrafts. There is a free template in each article that you can use.
Hundreds of thousands of these complaints have worked.
Sometimes the lender will only remove “negative information” such as defaults and missed payments. Sometimes the whole credit record will be deleted.
Here is a comment from a reader who made a successful complaint against a payday lender:
I accepted Satsuma’s offer on 2nd January and received the refund on 17th January. The negative information was removed from my credit file as well which made my credit score jump by 100 points :)
“I was never properly informed about the debt or the arrears”
You may feel the creditor didn’t explain what the debt was or how much interest would be added.
Perhaps you moved house and the creditor carried on writing to your old address even though you notified them you had moved. That is an error by the creditor.
If you paid the debt promptly as soon as you know about it, you could ask the lender to remove the default. Point out that you previously had a good history of paying their bills on time and that you don’t have other credit record problems. This can support your argument. You may have more luck going to the relevant Ombudsman if the creditor refuses.
“The debt isn’t enforceable”
This may not be easy.
Sometimes a lender will agree a debt isn’t enforceable because it is statute-barred. In this case a default should probably have been added to the debt more than 6 years ago. So you can ask for the default date to be changed so that it is earlier and then the debt will drop off your record.
When a creditor cannot produce the CCA agreement for a consumer credit debt it isn’t unenforceable in court. See Debts – why, how & when to ask for the CCA agreement for details – this does not apply to all types of debt. But here the debt still legally exists and you owe it even though you do not have to pay it. As a result, the default will not normally be deleted.
“I was in an abusive relationship”
Many women have been pressured to take out credit for a partner or had a joint account with an abusive partner. Financial abuse is now recognised as a serious problem and most banks now subscribe to the 2018 Financial Abuse Code of Practice.
If you feel the debt and the default resulted from an abusive relationship, I suggest going to your local Citizens Advice and asking for their help to see if the debt could be written off and the default removed.
When it is very unlikely a default will be removed
“The lender is adding a new default every month!”
This may make your credit report look dreadful but it is normal and it doesn’t matter:
- the later defaults don’t make your credit rating worse because lenders’ scoring systems only look at the first one;
- the debt will drop off 6 years after the first default, the later ones don’t affect this.
“The lender agreed to reduced payments but still added a default”
This can feel very unfair, but legally they can do this when the arrears reach 3-6 months.
This applies if you have payment arrangements with one or two lenders or a debt management plan through a DMP firm.
And although you may hate that default, it may be better for you than an Arrangement To Pay (AP) marker on your file! A defaulted record disappears after 6 years, an AP marker stays for 6 years after the debt is settled.
“Six years is too long!”
If you just had a temporary problem it can seem very hard for this black mark to stay on your credit file for so long.
But there is legally nothing you can do to make the default go away sooner.
You can add a Notice of Correction to your credit file to say why the problem happened.
As the default gets older, some lenders will be less worried about it. But for some creditors, eg many high street mortgage lenders, any default, even five years ago, may result in a rejection unless it has been settled for several years.
Usually the best you can do is settle the debt as soon as possible. This doesn’t improve your credit score, but more lenders may be willing to give you credit.
When the lender has gone bust and can’t be contacted
This is a special case.
If the lender will not respond to the Credit Reference Agencies, then you can ask the CRAs to “suppress” the credit records. If this happens, although the records are still there, they will not be shown to any other lenders making a credit check on you.
Read How to correct credit records if the lender has gone under in detail and see if you think it can help you.
Do NOT try to do this if the lender is still going. Or if it is the early stages of an administration – then it is better to put in a claim for unaffordable lending. If your claim is upheld, the default will be deleted, and often the administrators just delete the credit record as it is simpler.
Options when cards are maxed out
Is an unknown debt on your credit file?
Improve your credit score for a mortgage
James says
After six years do I need to contact the debtor to ask them to delete the default/my data? Or will it be done automatically?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
if will be done automatically.
Emm says
I had a dro in April 2018. There is still 2 debts showing as default from this time. They won’t remove them will it be removed April this year as will be 6 years?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
if the default date on the dates is on or before your DRO date, yes they will drop off by April when your DRO goes.
G Svr says
I have a default date of 31/1/18, so the default is due to drop 31/1/24. I am due to get a new Employer Credit Check in early Feb. Can there be a week/month lag to drop of will it drop from records on 31/01/24?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
there shouldn’t be a lag.
Ryan B says
I have an outstanding debt with MyJar, this was passed to Lantern to collect.
It’s only £80 and has a default date of October 2018.
If I pay it off in full now, will this stay on my credit report for a further 6 years?
I want to get a mortgage at some point this year but I am worried that paying it off now would extend the time the mark stays on my file.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
The debt will drop off on Oct 2024, 6 years after the default date whatever you do.
You will probably be unable to get a mortgage at an OK rate until the debt has dropped off – high street mortgage lenders do not like payday loans. Or recently satisfied defaults or defaults that have not been satisfied.
Nat says
Good afternoon
I took out two loans in 2017 with lending stream. My last repayment for the 1st loan was in July 2017 (default date registered as June 2018)
The second loan payment was made in July 2017 and then one payment in January 2018 (default date registered as august 2018) both loans are paid off in full. Are these default dates correct? I believe that it should be recorded after 3-6 missed payments but I can’t find anywhere that gives me this information. The reason I ask is my Lanlord is selling the home I’m living in and I would like to get a mortgage. However with these two defaults still recorded this may be difficult. Any advice is greatly appreciated!
Sara (Debt Camel) says
When were these two defaults repaid?
Nat says
The fist one was paid by Feb 2019 for the June 2018 default date (although this was passed on to debt agency and they have my default recorded as January 2018 so due to drop of this month). But with lending stream due to drop of august 2024.
The second one was paid by January 2023 for the august default date.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
The first one on own its probably wouldn’t be a problem for a mortgage as it was repaid such a long time ago, but the second loan will be. So you may as well try to get them both corrected.
The second loan case is made more complicated by the January 18 payment. What does your credit record curently show for Dec 17 – Jul 18 for this debt?
Nat says
Thank for your your response. This is what it says below on my report.
June 17 – US
July 17 – ✅
Aug 17 – ✅
Sep 17 – 1
Oct 17 – US
Nov 17 – ✅
Dec 17 – 1
Jan 18 – ✅
Feb 18 – 1
March 18 – 2
April 18 – 3
May 18 – 4
June 18 – 5
July 18 – 6
However my only payments were made on 26th July 2017 on 26th and January 2018. I’m just really confused as to what the default dates should be recorded as. Thanks again!
Sara (Debt Camel) says
“US” means unknown status.
How large was your payment in January 18 compared to the normal monthly payment on the loan?
Nat says
payment of £38 was made in January 2018.
Compared to £46 in July 2017.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Then I suggest you complaint to LS saying that they have nor updated your credit record accurately, that you didn nto make any payments in Aug 17, Oct 17 or Nov 17 so by Dec 17 yuopur account was 5 months in arrears. Then you made a payment in Jan 18 but it was less than the nomral payment so your credit record should have shwed 5 months in arrears again. Then after that you did not make any payments, in Deb 18 you were 6 months in arrears and a default should have been added in March 18.
June 17 – US
July 17 – ✅
Aug 17 – 1
Sep 17 – 2
Oct 17 – 3
Nov 17 –4
Dec 17 –5
Jan 18 – 5
Feb 18 – 6
Mar 18 – D
Ask them to correct this.
Nat says
Thanks very much for your help. I have asked them numerous times and I am getting the same response below from them.
I’ve checked your credit reporting for both of your loans and identified that despite the arrangement that was in place, you’ve missed the first repayment in December 2017 for your both loans and we reported late payment on 31st December 2017.
After that you made one repayment of £38.00 for your loan id **** and this loan was up to date. However, you haven’t made any repayment on your other loan id ****. Consequently, we have considered the first missed payment date in December 2017, and the default has been reported in June 2018.
Upon reviewing your other loan id ***, we have observed that you’ve missed your first repayment in February 2018. As a result, we have considered the first missed payment date in February 2018, and the default has been reported in August 2018.
We told the credit reference agency that your loan was seriously overdue because you did not fully repay us. It’s important that the information that credit reference agencies hold is accurate and that’s why we are obliged to report it to them. This means we won’t be able to make any changes in the record that indicates that you didn’t pay us or make any amendment to the default date.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Is what they have said correct about the payments you made?
Nat says
Yes, this is what they have said about 5 times when I have explained when my payments were made to them and the records they hold on this are incorrect. I could be wrong but I believe the defaults dates should leave my record earlier than recorded. Unsure what to do next so thought I would look and try and seek some guidance else where.
Thank you for your help!
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Can you supply your bank statements for all of this period? And these will show that for most of those months you made no payment at all?
Nat says
Yes I can! I checked all my statements before I raised it with them.
Thanks
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Send them copies of your statements and suggest that their records are inaccurate. Sa the case will be going to the Ombudsman unless LS agree to backdate the defaults.
Nat says
Perfect, thank you so much for all your help and time with this. I will let you know the outcome!
Nat says
Good morning Sara,
I am just giving you an update following contacting lending stream continuously! Please see email below from them this morning! Do you think I need to ask for anything to be confirmed or just agree for them to be removed? Will they just delete off my report all together and then no show the missing payments also? Thanks so much for all your help with this :)
”Thanks for getting in touch again.
You raised this issue with us in January 2023 and we sent our final response on 18th January 2023. When you contacted us again, we considered it as continuation to your complaint.
As we wrote previously, the information that we’ve reported to credit reference agencies is correct. However, considering your time and effort, we’re offering to remove your loans ***** and ***** from your credit report. If you accept, please let us know by responding to this email.
If you have any further questions or would like additional information, please reply to this email. Alternatively, get in touch by visiting our Contact Us page.
Regards,
Lending Stream Complaints Department
Sara (Debt Camel) says
having the loans removed sounds good. If they are gone there is no where any missed payments can be shown. Double check in a month or two that this has actually happened.
If you may ever make any affordability complaints, you need to down a copy of your statutory credit records NOW while these loans are still shoiwng. See https://debtcamel.co.uk/best-way-to-check-credit-score/ fior how to do this.
Daniel says
Hi Sara
I have a question regarding debts passed on to debt collection agency.
I had an account with RBS in 2018 that had an unauthorised overdraft eventually go into default, which was then passed on to Cabot management, with whom I then settled the balance.
Ok my credit rating both RBS and Cabot appear as defaults – they’ll expire next year anyway but was wondering if it should just be one of them, as it’s the same debt?
I contacted RBS and they basically said they’d follow correct process so nothing they could do – Cabot haven’t got back to me.
Cheers
Daniel
Sara (Debt Camel) says
This is normal. Only one of these defaults is counted in credit scoring.
Daniel says
Okay cool.
Thank you 🫶
Dominique Oldham says
The default was added very late”
The rules say that a default should normally be when you are 3-6 months in arrears compared to what your normal payments would have been
Which rule does this link to please as I want to be specific when I raise my complaint and quote the correct rule to my lender
Sara (Debt Camel) says
See https://debtcamel.co.uk/debt-default-date/
Ian Cassidy says
I’ve had a debt on my credit report since 2014 to BMW. Experian contacted them on my behalf as I was under the impression it was time barred. BMW stated they aren’t actively pursuing the debt but they’re not going to remove it from my report as in their opinion I’m still liable to pay
Sara (Debt Camel) says
You agree you did owe this money? (I’m not saying you should pay it, I just want to make sure you aren’t going to say that you have never had a BMW on finance and know nothing about this!)
Ian Cassidy says
No BMW said I owed it for loss of value to a vehicle when I handed it back – I told them at the time I disagreed with this and refused to pay what they were asking.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Ok so you are not disputing the amount, just that it shouldn’t be on your credit record.
This is on your credit record because there is no default date – it would have dropped off 6 years after a default.
You have three options at the moment.
1) live with it forever
2) talk to National Debtline on 0808 808 4000 about whether it is statute barred – if they agree it is, they have a template letter you can send BMW
3) just send BMW a complaint asking them to add a backdated default in 2014 or 2015.
If 3) works that will be the quickest and simplest. But if they say no, it may be clearer how to challenge this if the issue of statute barring is already settled
Let me know what happens!
Ross says
Hi, after a long-drawn fight, a debt collection agency have sent me a cheque and have agreed to remove the default from my credit report. (I paid a debt I knew I didn’t owe to avoid a CCJ threat) However, they are incredibly vague with when this will be done. Are there any FCA regulations that force a time scale for them to act? It’s almost amusing how vague they are when comparing their tone to when they were chasing me!
Sara (Debt Camel) says
It can take a month or two. After that tell them your complaint goes to the Ombudsman is they can’t get your credit record sorted quickly.
Michael Foster says
I was working abroad during COVID in 2020/21 and the final bill from a cancelled phone contract was sent to my house instead of collected by direct debit. I could not return to the UK because of Covid and only saw the bill on my return. I paid the debt collecting company immediately but then noticed I had incurred a default.
It is now impacting my ability to borrow money having returned to the UK full time and need to have it removed in order to get a loan or
re-mortgage in order to refurbish my home
The final bill was 58GBP and my credit file previous to that was clean with top marks. I feel this is very unfair as I had no knowledge of the outstanding bill. There were no emails or phone calls and I was unable to enter the UK for over 7 months.
Do I have a strong case to get this default removed? I
I called the debt company and they said they could not do anything for me, even after I explained the situation, all they said was ‘you only have a few years left with bad credit’ which was a terrible attitude. I really need this to be removed and the former status of an excellent credit score restored.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
When was the default date? When did you pay it?
Michael Foster says
Hi Sara,
The default date was recorded on 07.12.2021. This date I can see on my credit report.
I paid the outstanding when I returned back to the UK, I think it was March 2022 and as I mentioned previously I (and the rest of the world) was forbidden to travel due to lockdown and flight restrictions.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
did you cancel the direct debit? or did they fail to collect the final amount that way?
Michael Foster says
Hi, I did not cancel the direct debit and was surprised that the final payment was not collected the same way as the others.
For some reason the final payment (58GBP) was not collected and when I returned to the UK I saw numerous letters from the phone company for the outstanding amount to be paid and then saw the debt had been moved onto a debt collecting company at which time I paid it immediately
Sara (Debt Camel) says
if you did not cancel the direct debit and there was money in your account to pay it, then you should ask the mobile company to remove the default. Supply a copy of your bank statements at the time.
Michael Foster says
Ok, but will the phone company be responsible even though they sold the debt?
I will double check with my bank to make sure I didn’t cancel it, but I don’t recall doing that.
Also, I can foresee it being a nightmare trying to get through to customer services to explain my case.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
presumably the phone company registered a default on your credit record as well? If not, then they incorrectly sold a debt as defaulted when it wasn’t.
which phone company was it?
Michael Foster says
The debt has been registered on my credit report by Lowell Portfolio LTD, but the phone company I had the account with is 3 mobile.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
ok, which credit report are you looking?
Michael Foster says
I’m looking at TransUnion
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Well check Experian and Equifax as well to see if Three (or Hutchinson 3G UK) has also registered a default.
Michael Foster says
Ok, but I think I will need to subscribe and pay a fee to see my report from those two agencies.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
No just the free statutory credit reports will do, see https://debtcamel.co.uk/best-way-to-check-credit-score/
Michael Foster says
I subscribed for free 14 day with Equifax and I see the Default date is 07.12.2021 and date satisfied 18.07.2022. This is when I came back to UK. However, my score is better with Equifax (702/1000) than TransUnion (571/700) and with Equifax they say it is very good. But still when I try to see if I can get a loan I am not given a pre approval
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Unsubscribe from the Equifax straight away!
I was asking if there was a record from Three/hutchinson showing on the other reports.
Your Transunion score is actually better than the Equifax one – the Equifax is out of 1000. The band labels the CRAs use are not consistent and they are meaningless – lenders don’t use them.
Michael Foster says
Only 2 CRA show my details. Experian does not show anything (which is strange as I used to subscribe to them a few years back), It’s all very strange tbh! It says they will show my report when they retrieve my details/data.
Both Equifax and Transunion show Lowell as the company, not Three/Hutchinson.
Also, I have noticed when loans in principle are applied for it says not eligible. Maybe because they company is using Experian.
BTW I unsubscribed from Equifax but have a one month trail with Checkmyfile, which show all 3 CRA’s
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Experian hasn’t found you.
Most lenders won’t lend with a recent default.
unsubscribe from Checkmyfile too! There is no need to pay for this information.
Dan says
Hi Sara,
Just wanted to give a quick update, I posted a while ago about a default from Arrow Global in 2021 that was due to an outstanding unpaid balance on a Vanquis card after a DMP that I was unaware of. I took your advice on raising a complaint with Vanquis to register a default which would force Arrow Global to then move their default date back. Vanquis originally rejected my complaint so I went to the Financial Ombudsman and they have now agreed to register a default in 2017.
Thanks for your help, this has made a huge difference as now the last of my adverse credit history will drop off by June this year, rather than in 2027.
Mrs O says
My husband and I are currently trying to buy a house but are struggling to get a mortgage due to a large default on my credit record from our energy company (Shell). The default was for over £3000 when we struggled to pay our bill several years ago when my husband was made redundant. We had asked Shell to support us in this several times to set up a payment plan which they failed to do. They registered the default in July 2019 and we cleared this last month.
I took this to the energy ombudsman as I felt the default had been registered unfairly as they didn’t support us in setting up a direct debit with affordable amounts and the ombudsman said they upheld my complaint as they could see the failings in customer support but couldn’t tell them to remove the default as the account was in default. As part of their evidence Shell stated that no payment was made on the account between 2017 and 2019. I have now opened another case with the ombudsman as I believe the default date should be 2017 based on what Shell have said and not 2019. Do you think it’s likely that I will be able to have the date changed? Shell are point blank refusing to help saying it would put them in breach of their data reporting terms and conditions with the CRAs to change the date, however the date should be 2017 as that is when the account went into default by their own admission surely?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
I hope this can be sorted for you. But energy companies can be very obstinate.
MrsO says
I just wanted to give an update. After reading all of the advice on here and going through the energy ombudsman, quoting the ICO and SCOR guidelines regarding dates that you have on here, the ombudsman found in my favour and the energy company have amended the date to March 2018 which means it will drop off my credit record next month. It took having to go through the ombudsman but it was worth it.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
very good news for you.
Miss W says
Hiya
There are 2 defaults on my file that were registered as defaulted in February & May 2021.
Both are with Santander, one for a credit card and one for an overdraft.
Since they defaulted I have been paying a token payment of £1 per month on each.
Because of this the accounts show as last updated January 2024.
What is the best thing to do in this scenario. Am I right to believe that as they were recently updated, this exempts them from the 6 years statute barred rule?
Would it be best to try and offer a partial settlement figure on both of them? If I did this, when would they drop off my credit file?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
A debt only becomes statute barred when you haven’t paid it for 6 years. As you are making token payment, that will never happen with these debts.
How large are the balances? Neither of them have been sold to a debt collector?
Do you have any savings to use to make settlement offers?
Dominic says
Hi
I’m self employed and during civid my business took a huge hit. I took some debts during the successive lockdowns. Afterward, I thought my business would start again quickly amd I would be able to pay my debts back.
After I realised that it took longer than planned, I contacted a DMP.
I took 3 jobs to be able to get ride of those debts and having a fresh starts. My business also get back to a good level.
I did 10 months with the DMP and last August I managed to repay all my creditors in full. Never missed a payment with the DMP.
One of my creditor put a default of payment last July. I realised that in September.
Apparently I was… £2 a month under the minimum repayment in order to avoid the default!!
I wasn’t aware, they sended me a letter saying that they would suspended my card and my account and threatening of putting me in default but the DMP told me that it was a normal procedure and I shouldn’t worry too much.
I discovered about the £2 in September after I contacted the creditor. Obviously, if I was aware, I would have paid the £2 extra a month and avoid the default!
I’m thinking about contacting the CEO of the company that pur me in default and explain my situation. I have worked so hard to be able to repay this and I had to sacrifice so much! My business before Covid was viable, I didn’t expect a pandemic to happen.
Is there a chance that the company will remove the default?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
What sort of debt was this?
How much was this creditor getting paid in the DMP and how much would the normal minimum payment be when the DMP started?
Who was the DMP firm?
What did your other creditors in the DMP do – record payment arrangements?
David Craig says
I have a default from a mobile phone provider. It was because the phone stopped working and they failed to remedy the situation. They admitted they were in breach of our agreement and did not remedy the situation within 30 days. At that point I stopped paying them as I was unable to use the phone. Can they genuinely register that as a ‘default’ when they had breached the agreement in the first place?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
I suggest you talk to the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/if-you-need-more-help-about-a-consumer-issue/
Tina Burton says
I have two credit card with the same provider; I cleared the balance on both, but then the company added interest and fees as follows: £7 for one and £18 for the other. I didnot pay these, and now I have a credit score with three missed payments (even though I thought i had closed the accounts). I have tried to get them to remove this from my credit report, but to no avail. Is there anything else I can try to get them to remove them? many thanks
tina
Sara (Debt Camel) says
How did you close the accounts? Over the phone?
Jack says
I stated everything in a email and now they are asking for 3 months worth of bank statements as it’s an irresponsible lending complaint, would you advise on this. Can’t they just look at my credit report ?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
It is common for lender to ask for bank statements – they show how unaffordable a limit would be. And the Ombudsman always does.
Joanne Patterson says
Hi Sara,
I have completed an IVA successfully and all accounts etc have been removed from my credit reports except one which I have only just become aware of as its TransUnion and I havent used them before. There is a default logged from Feb 2020 for £300 which was updated as settle to £0 in 2022. The name of the entry is IFA Finance Designated Activity Company (I cant find any real info about this company) which I think is related to an old H&M mail order account.
I was absolutely sure this account was included in my IVA but I have got that paperwork and its not on there, I remember receiving a letter from H&M saying the account had been redressed to £0 and thinking back I must have just thought it was because it was part of the IVA.
I have sent an SAR to H&M who have come back and told me that if the account was closed in 2022 then they wouldnt have any info because of GDPR is that correct? Not sure how to get this resolved, Many Thanks Joanne
Sara (Debt Camel) says
H&M must still have details if the account was closed in 2022. I suggest you send them a complaint, asking if the account was sold and who to.
You could also send a complaint to TransUnion saying you have no idea what this debt is as you have never had any communication from that creditor. Ask them to suppress the debt from your record.
joanne patterson says
I’ve managed to find a letter for Arvato from 2018 (my IVA started in 2018) and contacted them and they have confirmed that IFA Finance Designated company are a debt purchaser and the debt was purchased from H&M – who have no record of me apparently when I contacted them.
IFA are no longer a partner of Arvato he didn’t know why, so it looks like it was registered as a default by IFA (not H&M) as they became the debt owner in 2020 but the account was redressed and waivered in 2022 by H&M. So I am guessing that as H&M didnt register the default they cant remove it and the only info I can find for IFA Finance Designated Activity company limited is a companies house address and I don’t know if this is relevant but they haven’t filed accounts since 2022 so are they even still active.
Should I query this with TransUnion?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
was the H&M debt included in your IVA?
foes the H&M debt show on your current credit record with a default date?
joanne patterson says
I’ve checked the original paperwork It wasn’t but it was waivered and I am not sure why, I remember getting a letter saying it was redressed. Looking at my IVA now there were a few smaller debts that were not included in the final agreement I never even noticed that at the time.
H&M came back to me this morning and replied: “If your account was closed and cleansed in 2022 sadly we will no longer hold any data for you for GDPR reasons. I apologise for any disappointment this may cause”
The default that is on my credit file was made by the company IFA Finance who I have been advised bought the debt.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
so the H&M debt does not show on your credit record?
and is there a default date for the IFA Finance debt?
?
when did you last make a payment to this debt?
joanne patterson says
H&M have not recorded anything anywhere regarding this debt,
This entry on my credit file was made by IFA.
this is what it states:
Default of £306, recorded 10 February 2020
Default satisfied May 2022
Updated 19 June 2022
Balance was waivered to £0
Sara (Debt Camel) says
when did you last make a payment to the debt?
what date did your IVA start in 2018?
joanne patterson says
I am guessing last payments would have been before my IVA started in 2018.
March 20th2018…I think I first contacted StepChange in September 2017.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
your IVA was with StepChange? or was this debt in a DMP with stepChange?
joanne patterson says
I was in an IVA with Stepchange from March 2018 to April 2023 (successfully completed) its just fallen off my credit file on 20th March this year. I have checked the list of creditors included and H&M isn’t even on the list.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
oh so as the balance showing is zero, that means you shouldn’t get chased for this – it’s just a question of getting rid of the default.
I suggest you send a complaint to TransUnion saying that you have never been contacted by IFA about this debt, you have never paid them anything, and you have no way to contact then.
Say it may have been an old H&M debt but you have asked H&M and they don’t have any records.
Say that you haven’t made a payment to this debt since before your IVA started in Match 2018, so the default date should have been before then. Ask for the record to be suppressed from your credit file.
joanne patterson says
Thank you Sara, I will write to them today.
Sam Jones says
Morning Sara. I had a voluntary bankruptcy Order in Feb 18, discharged Feb 19, no IPA. Lloyds Credit card put a default date on my credit file 5mths later in July 18. One of my questions is when it is this late, should they even have recorded it as in default? Is that part legal? (I hadn’t defaulted on payments to Lloyds by point of Order) I’m suspecting it is, I’m aware Lloyds
can backdate to date of Order but my second question is Lloyds then kept reporting a live default balance for 6yrs so it kept showing in my current utilisation for all that time affecting my finances throughout 6yrs. Surely that’s not right? Other creditors reflected balance correctly. Lloyds said this happened because they never got told about a discharge from OR or me. Again, no issue re this with other creditors. How exactly is the discharge info related to their incorrect reporting to CRA’s from the start? I’m really trying to get my financial health back now and address my debts properly (my current debts being 2 credit cards totalling 3.5k all up to date). Its taken myle 6yrs to work on my credit file. Thank you.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Yes Lloyds should backdate the default to the date of the bankruptcy, and then show it as satisfied or partially satisfied when you were discharged a year later.
Just tell them to correct both of those things.
Jane says
Hi sara amigo loans are still reporting late payments and i did not enter the scheme i know horrible mistake as they have said the account has defaulted in nov 2018 and opened in march 2018 can i get it backdated to 2018 and it be dropped off my file or wait till novemeber but by then debt collection will have it i want to do all i can to get rid of them i also went to ombudsman about affordability but said it was covered my scheme so feel like im running out of options
Sara (Debt Camel) says
You can no longer make an affordability complaint. And the Ombudsman will not consider a complaint.
Yes you should be able to get a default added, but Amigo won’t do it so you will have to argue with the debt collector it is sold to. And then it’s more important to get a payment arrangement in place, not your credit record.
Jane says
Thankyou for your response yes i understand about making a payment offer and will do so going forward but how would i get the debt collectors to put the default in place backdated would amigo stop reporting late payments
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Amigo is going into liquidation at the end of the year.
The problem for you is that a debt collector will normally use the default date the lender set, or add a default date when they buy the debt.
I doubt you can get Amigo to backdate a default now – you should have complained to the scheme about your credit record. So you will face a possibly difficult take of getting the debt collector to do this. There is nothing you can do to start this now when your debt hasn’t even been sold.
Jane says
Amigo as the lender havent issued a default and told me that they dont which is why i was enquiring if i could get the debt collectors to backdate it if they get a small payment arrangement from me surely i could argue my case yes im deeply regret i didnt do the scheme but dealing with them to begin really affected my mental health
E says
Hi,
I’d be so grateful for advice. Three of the four default dates reported on my credit files I believe are incorrect. The accounts defaulted in early 2018 and I contacted Step Change Debt Charity in May of 2018 setting up a re-payment plan to each of the four lenders at that time.
As I understand it, defaults should have been applied when the payment plan began, or earlier when there were several missed or underpayments made?
One bank has said it agrees my default date of May 2019 (one year after starting the payment plan) is incorrect; they have offered me £50 compensation and agreed to amend my default date to December 2018, but not to May 2018 as I have requested. Is this fair ? I can prove I broke my contractual agreement with them as early as February 2018? I don’t want to respond to them until I’m clear on the rules. Can you kindly advise, please?
When writing to the original lenders asking them to amend the dates, is there particular wording I should include?
Thank you for your time.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
See https://debtcamel.co.uk/debt-default-date/ which says when a lender should add a default
Maria says
Hi, this is the current status on my credit report, I checked today and it is still there, what do I do? I have been making payments, trying to buy time til it drops off, but it has not dropped off.
Default Date, 30/04/2018, Current Balance £5,110, Default / Delinquent Balance £5,142
Sara (Debt Camel) says
what credit report are you looking at?
what sort of debt was that – card, loan, what?
when did you last make a payment to it?
Maria says
Thank you for the speedy response Sara,
I am looking at Equifax, it is for a Natwest overdraft, last payment was made yesterday.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Well I would look again in a couple of weeks.
But you do realise you will have to carry on paying even when the debt has dropped off your credit record? It wont be statute barred and a creditor to take you to court for a CCJ which would be on your credit record for another 6 years
Maria says
Thanks for the advice Sara, I do intend to continue paying, I just want it to drop off my report. I will check again. If it’s still there, what do I do?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
come back here
RS says
Hi,
I would be grateful if you can help with below please:
I had a hire purchase with BMW finance which I took out in June 2014. Had financial difficulties in Nov. 2015 and tried to end it but they weren’t having any of it as I never missed a payments. booked a service with local dealership and never went to pick it as I couldn’t even afford insurance and fuel cost at the time. they added a voluntary termination in aug 2016 but never put a date of default on credit file. I never paid anything or contacted them untill april 2023 when I made a complaint to them to put a retrospective default date, which they refused to do so. complained to Financial ombudsman but they sided with them saying BMW wasn’t able to put a default date due to voluntary termination.
Then BMW sent a letter asking for money in july 2023and I sent them a statue barred letter to which they never responded. Then I raised a complaint with Financial ombudsman . in Dec. 2023 ombudsman again sided with BMW saying that ombudsman can’t decide if a debt is statue barred only court can and bmw is right to send me letters.
Now BMW has changed the status of my debt to Closed (settled) but it keep showing on my credit file as Missed payment every month with a balance of £5351.
How do I get rid of this from my file. Any help and guidance will be much appreciated.
Kind regards
RS
Sara (Debt Camel) says
That was a very poor decision from the Ombudsman. Was it from an adjudicator or a second level “ombudsman” decision?
Now BMW has changed the status of my debt to Closed (settled) but it keep showing on my credit file as Missed payment every month with a balance of £5351.
Where does it show as closed (settled)?
RS says
Hi Sara,
Thanks for getting back. Both complaints were dealt by the same investigator at the ombudsman. It shows closed(settled) on the credit file itself, under the status of account.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
I am sorry, you should have asked for the decision on the default to go to an Ombudsman.
So it shows as closed/settled with a balance of zero?
RA says
I did complaint to the financial ombudsman. Do you mean I should have complained to financial ombudsman against their decision?
That is he confusing bit, it shows settled but still shows a balance.
Is there a way I can send you a screenshot?
Thnx
Sara (Debt Camel) says
The Ombudsman is a 2 stage process. When you got the decision from the adjudicator/investigator you could have asked for this to go to an Ombudsman for a Finak Decision. It is now too late to do that.
My guess is that the debt may have been sold to a debt collector. I suggest you ask BMW what the status of the debt is.
RA says
Ok understood. In my past experience with them, BMW don’t respond well to communication. I don’t think it’s sold to any debt collector as the last letter from BMW didn’t mention any third party.
Is there any way to get it removed from my credit file ?
Thanks
Sara (Debt Camel) says
you could complain to the ICO. But they may reject as you already lost the case at the Ombudsman.
RA says
Thanks for all your help.
J says
Hi Sara I’ll try and keep this brief. In March 2018 I agreed a DMP between Step Change and my creditors (2 Barclays credit cards, 1 HSBC credit card, 1 HSBC current account overdraft and 1 HSBC flexi-loan). Defaults were added to the 3 credit cards which were expected. There was a monthly DD from the HSBC current account to the HSBC flexi-loan set-up prior to the DMP plan and this continued for the first two years of the DMP. For some reason HSBC stopped the DD to the flexi-loan in July 2020 which then resulted in a default being added to the flexi-loan. I admit I didn’t realise the implications of this at the time and didn’t raise with HSBC until 2022 but they refused to alter the date of the default for the flexi-loan. It was my understanding that all accounts would be “frozen” once I entered into the DMP but HSBC say this is not the case. But it was them who stopped the DD to the flexi-loan, not me. Had this DD continued there would have been no default on the flexi-loan. Or had the DD been stopped at the time of activating the DMP the default would have dropped off by now. The three credit card defaults have all dropped off but I’m still left with the flexi-loan default for another two years. Is there anything I can do? Or is it too late? All debts were paid off early in full in Feb 2022. The annoying thing is the flexi-loan was the smallest debt with about £110 left on it before it defaulted. Any help appreciated. Not so brief after all – sorry!
Sara (Debt Camel) says
HSBC didnt close your account with the overdraft in the DMP?
J says
No. Part of the DMP was that I open another current account with a different bank. The HSBC account with the overdraft remained open until just recently (29th April). It’s now been closed due to inactivity. The flexi-loan account is also now closed but I can’t seem to find out when it was closed.
This is part of the reply I got from HSBC back in 2022 when I queried the default date;-
“ Having looked into things I see both your accounts had fell into arrears. Your Credit card would fall into arrears first followed by your Flexi Loan. You were seeking assistance from Step Change Debt Charity and they had sent us repayment offers for your accounts. Any repayment offers won’t stop the default process unless the arrears are being cleared.
You mentioned your Flexi Loan should have been frozen. Please note we do not freeze accounts as payments are still required and arrears would continue to build if no payments are received.
Although you were seeking help from Step Change Debt Charity both, the accounts were at different stages of the Collections and Recoveries process hence, your Credit Card was defaulted first followed by your Flexi Loan.
Having considered the above regrettably, I can’t agree to moving the Flexi Loan default to match the Credit Card as no Bank errors were established. I’m sorry if this isn’t the response you’d hoped for and please see below how you can escalate your concerns. ”
HSBC stopped the DD from the account with the overdraft to the FLexi Loan over two years after the DMP was activated and I don’t know why. When renegotiating my DMP each year it took me a while to realise why there were differences in balances between accounts but not in the overall total owed. Basically my FLexi-loan was being paid off quicker due to the DD. But my current account was taking longer – again due to the DD. StepChange didn’t query these changes as the overall total owed wasn’t changing.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
in 2022 when you queried the default date, did HSBC tell you of your right to go to the Ombudsman?
J says
Yes they did and I didn’t follow it up which I know now was a mistake. I’ve recently replied to the email they sent in 2022 but haven’t had a response yet. Could I raise as a new query?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
no, you had 6 months to go to the Ombudsman and you can’t start a new complaint. Sorry, you have lost this one.
Joe says
Hi, I was in a dispute with Virgin Media over a final payment to settle my broadband account. My argument was their service was so poor that they should waive this.
Whilst correspondence was ongoing (and frustratingly terrible on the part of VM) I found they had registered a default on my credit file. I still refuse to pay out of principle and they have subsequently sold the debt on and I am being hounded by the new debt collection company. Is there anything I can do?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
how long ago was the default? did you take this to the ombudsman?
Joe says
The default was recorded about 3 and a half years ago. Didn’t know the ombudsman would deal with it.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Well the Ombudsman wouldn’t deal with the default as such – but if the Ombudsman decided that the Virgin’s Service was so poor you didn’t owe the bill, then the default would go away.
You can try to resurrect this complaint against Virgin, but this may be hard. It is much easier dealt with at the time, not hoping it will just go away when you stop paying
Joe says
I was in the thick of dealing with it when VM decided to register the default. I have refused to pay the default because I don’t think it’s fair or reasonable and once it’s registered, it makes no difference if it’s settled or not, if I understand correctly.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
but you need to challenge that you owed them money. If you did , then the default is fair as you stopped paying…
Joe says
Ok, thanks. How would you suggest I take this further? What would be my next step? As I said, I was trying to get then to accept that the small balance due should be waived, due to the very poor service. Unfortunately I have since found out that VM have a poor record of dealing with customer complaints and just slapped the default on me while I felt I was still in negotiation with them. Perhaps I’m a bit too stubborn for my own good, but I have a very strong view about people/companies dealing fairly and reasonably.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
You can send VM a complaint saying why you think the default is unreasonable and ask them to remove it. This would have been much easier earlier – your stubbornness has not done you any good at all here.
Joe says
My stubbornness was based on the fact that I don’t feel that VM should be getting paid in full for not providing the service they should. As this has been taken over by a debt collection agency do they have the power to remove the default? I’m concerned about trying to deal with VM’s complaints dept again. That’s how this problem came about in the first place.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Is the debt collector collecting for VM? Or have they bought the debt from VM?
Joe says
Good question. I need to find that out. If they have bought it from VM? They are both showing as defaults but although my credit file shows shows 2 I understand that only one is effective and the other ignored ( although I’m not sure how a computer check could pick that up?). Could you explain what the consequences of each possibility are, please?
BTW you’re advice is very much appreciated. It’s the first time I’ve had honest reliable advice and feedback since this started.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
If the debt collector has registered a default, they have bought the debt. They wont be able to change the default unless VM do. And they will be useless in trying to get VM to change it.
You need to complain again to VM. I am not optimistic that this will work but there is nothing else you can try
Joe says
Ok, thanks for all the advice.
All the best
Steve says
Hi Sara,
I hope you can help. I made an affordability complaint with Moneyboat for a loan that I defaulted on in 2022, which they didn’t uphold. Shortly after, they e-mailed to say that they have reviewed their lending policies and that the initial loan would have been unaffordable. They’ve waived most of the interest and the debt was removed from my TransUnion report this week.
Moneyboat have sent an e-mail today demanding the initial loan amount and say that if I don’t pay, they will add any defaults to my credit report.
Can they do this after removing the original debt from my report?
I’m not in a position to pay in full and I’m trying to understand my position before arranging a repayment plan proposal.
Many Thanks
Steve
Sara (Debt Camel) says
There are no clear written rules about this sort of thing. But legally you owe this money and can be taken to court for a CCJ of you don’t pay it, whether or not it is on your credit record.
I suggest you set up an affordable payment arrangement – if you really cant afford anything except a token payment, talk to a debt adviser about your options eg National Debtline on 0808 808 4000
Steve says
Thanks Sara,
I intend to offer them a repayment plan proposal. Just to be clear- are you saying there are no clear rules on them adding the defaults again?
I’m working hard to rebuild my credit score and would hate to go back to square one.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
There are no hard rules written down anywhere about removing defaults when an affordability complaint it upheld, let alone whether they can ever be reinstated.
But clearing a credit record is normal after a complaint. And later adding a default is not. If you set up a repayment arrangement for a sensible amount I would be surprised if they do this and you could then complain it wasn’t treating your fairly.
Fernanda says
Hi,
Sorry if this has been asked before. I have a 2 defaults on my credit file that was first defaulted back in 2018. However payments were finished one was early 2023 and the other February 2022. My question is will this stay on my credit file until this year as the first default was 2018 or is it from when it was last updated/settled?
Thank you
Sara (Debt Camel) says
It will drop off 6 years after the default date
Fernanda says
Thank you Sara
Paul Doherty says
Hi
My son is 31 years old and has applied for a mortgage and they have come back to him and said there is a default from Lowell from 14 years ago
It is not showing on his credit report but the mortgage company say it is there he called Lowell who said it was paid after the default but they are refusing to remove it and it is now affecting his chance of a mortgage as there is no other detrimental information on the file
Sara (Debt Camel) says
“they have come back to him and said there is a default from Lowell from 14 years ago”
is this in writing? because to point out the obvious, 14 years ago your son was under 18 and could nopt legally have taken out a debt
who is the lender / creditor with the default?
has your son checked reports for all three credit reference agencies?
Paul Doherty says
Yes he was 17 at the time but they don’t seem interested in this fact, the original debt was with shop direct and Lowell took it over when he called Lowell they have said to him yes it was 14 years ago and it was settled 14 years ago but wherever it is they refuse to remove it, isn’t it a legal point that they have to be removed 6 years after any default with the limitations act?
Thanks
Sara (Debt Camel) says
have you applied directly to a bank or through a broker? Which bank?
Does he remember anything about this debt at all?
Anthony says
Got a similar situation, I’ve got 3 defaults 2 coming off in this year and 1 coming off next year.
Will that affect my mortgage application if I was to apply in the next 2 months. The defaults have all been paid and don’t have an outstanding balance. They weren’t paid recently either.
Just also found out that I had a CIFAS marker against my name ( employee pulled me into a meeting after doing some checked ) but that comes off this month as it’s been 6 year and they deemed it as nothing to worry about as it’s so old
Sara (Debt Camel) says
When were the defaults repaid? Do you have any debts you are making a lower payment arrangement to?
John says
Hi I entered a DAS agreement 7 years ago and it has now ended. Out of the 8 creditors I had 2 of them never defaulted me for entering the agreement and still remain on my file but have marked me negatively for under payments through the scheme. Should they have defaulted and should they remain? Seems highly unfair that it would be another 6 years from agreement end for them to drop off
Sara (Debt Camel) says
I am not an expert on Scottish debt solutions. I suggest you ask in the comments on this Scottish blog: https://www.advicescotland.com/home/debt-arrangement-scheme/
Habib says
Within the six years of the court judgment for a (car finance) , I’m on a monthly payment plan , since we agreed on an amount that has to be paid every month . And 6 years from the default date will be 2026 , however if I pay the whole balance before the 6 years would my credit improve? As I tried to open a business last week and got rejected because of my credit. After clearing the debt and “satisfied” how long it will take to get my credit back on track as I will try and apply for the business again but I just don’t want to do it too soon . Or how does it work?
Many thanks
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Do you have a CCJ you are paying monthly? Or just a defaulted debt with a default date in 2000?
What sort of business did you try to open – did this involve borrowing money?