Credit report errors

Minniemoo_3

Morning

I recently obtained an online credit report for myself through Equifax, under their '30 day free trial' offer.

There are a couple of things on my report that I don't understand. Equifax's website wasn't very helpful and when I tried to ring them I was left on hold for ages so I gave up. I know you guys are BRILLIANT with your advice :j so I thought I'd ask for your help.

My ex boyfriend's name is under 'Financial Associates' ( we applied for a mortgage in 2005 but didn't go through with it). How do I get this removed from my report as we are no longer together or associated financially in any way?

One of my debts was written off last year but it is still on my credit report. How long before it is taken off?

Another debt has a 'start date' of 2001; as this debt is older than 6 years shouldn't it no longer be on my credit report?

There are a couple of debts on my report that I am able to pay off now; is this wise? Do I contact the original debtor or go through Equifax to pay them off?

There is a note on the 'Notice of Correction' section about my IVA which was removed from the Insolvency Records in 2008. This info was not put on there by me; it is ok for other people to put info on there under Notice of Correction?

Now I have my credit report I want to close my account with Equifax e.g. end the free 30 day trial. If I do that but I want their help with my credit record, say by post, do I have to keep my online account open and will I be charged?

Any help would be most appreciated, I am a bit thick when it comes to these things!

sportbeth

I can help with a few of these, perhaps not all.

You can request that you have a notice of disassociation or correction put on your report to take off any association financially that you don't want. You can do this online, from memory you do it via a helpdesk or correction button and it goes through pretty much straightaway. You get an e-mail from equifax confirming what action they've taken.

Even if a debt is written off or paid off it stays on your file for 6 years of the last action on it as I believe. The same goes for the debt with the start date of 2001, for example if you had it starting in 2001 but made a payment in 2005, it will stick there for a few years yet.

If you want to pay off any debts, its best to go via the creditor, if they have passed it on to a debt collector they'll tell you soon enough if theres a glimmer of getting cash out of it. When you have found out who its been passed onto, communiccate in writing and get a full and final settlement at a reduced rate, don't pay the whole amount.

Not sure about your last two questions I'm afraid!