Really old debts - can anyone advise?

GeorgeUK

Blimey - where to start with all this?

Calling your bank was the right thing to do and i'm glad that it's an admin error rather than something gone horribly wrong. They probably want a hard copy so that they don't need to pay for a copy of the report to fix their mistake. I'd contact experian as suggested and talk to them about it - they may try to sell you a hard copy of the report (which you can get for £2) but hopefully they'll do the right thing and say they'll contact the bank. In about a week i'd also write to the bank requesting confirmation that they have updated all the CRA's with the correct information regarding the status of the account and request written confirmation that this has been done.

Not being on the electoral roll may actually be a bigger obstacle than the late payments which could be why your credit score is so low and why your credit limit was reduced. I'd sort that asap.

As for the old debts, if they don't appear on any of your credit files, then they are probably older than 6 years old and have fallen off the file (The CRA's are only allowed to keep data for a certain length of time). If you are sure the debts are more than 6 years old, and you don't have any CCJ's for them then all you need to do is inform the debt collection agencies that the debts are statute barred and unenforcable, so you have no intention of paying them.
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=11571227&postcount=4

ktat08

Hi be careful how you word the letter there must be no acknowledgement of the debt do not speak to them over the phone. I can give example of letter to write if you can wait to sent the letters for a day or two.

If the debt collectors still chase you for the money after you have sent the letter check which association they are members of read the code of conduct for members and make a complaint to the association as once you have informed a company that you believe the debts are statute barred they should stop contact.

keep a copy of all letters you write and send recorded delivery. if you still have problems you can contact FSO and the OFT

ktat08

Hi just noticed there is already a sample letter link good luck

Cashola

Many thanks George and Ktat

I am going to do as suggested and contact Experian/Equifax and find out about getting these mistakes removed. I will also fax my bank with a copy of the credit report as they requested and see if they do anything there end - I guess a two pronged attack might have more chance of working?
Also calling the council today to get added to the electoral roll ASAP.

Lastly @ George's comments on the 'really old debts':

As for the old debts, if they don't appear on any of your credit files, then they are probably older than 6 years old and have fallen off the file (The CRA's are only allowed to keep data for a certain length of time). If you are sure the debts are more than 6 years old, and you don't have any CCJ's for them then all you need to do is inform the debt collection agencies that the debts are statute barred and unenforcable, so you have no intention of paying them.
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...27&postcount=4

My credit reports from Experian/Equifax both show zero CCJ's on them. Although the Experian one has a ton of 'linked addresses' which it says are provided by 'creditors'. Some of the creditors listed are the ones I 'avoided' - although none of these creditors show in the 'Credit Agreements' section (which only shows my current/recent last 5 years agreements all of which have been run well (bar the recent bank error). I can definitely confirm that all debts are well over 6 years old without doubt; all being at least 9-10 years old. So I have 1 question:

- How would I know if I had a CCJ connected to these really old debts? Would it just show in my current report (despite being older than 6 years?)?

Thanks guys you have made me feel better - although not out the woods yet!

GeorgeUK

For CCJ's older than 6 years, you may need to contact the registrytrust.
Only read a little about it, but they keep a record of all CCJ's for the court so they will have details - you may need to do a seperate search per address though and i've no idea how much it costs.

Cashola

Thanks George you've been really helpful

I don't know if I should start digging up all this information with the registry trust, since if I have no CCJ's on my current credit report (despite the linked addresses), then I don't know if I should really go 'looking for them'. Thinking about it I didn't have any trouble getting credit for the past 3-4 years, apart from I just had these letters DRA/DCA coming through in the last couple months. But it now appears the credit problems are from what my bank have said - RE: the loan error, and the lack of electoral roll. I think I will sort out these things first, then see where the credit report / score stands.

Hmm...