Credit Report - where to start if you disagree with the info..?

weedgie1

Hey all,

My Mum filed for her credit report recently when looking for a new deal for her mortgage; there is a default from a high street bank's credit card; which she paid (religiously) from her bank account to them.

However, they claim that they put on a default notice in 2005 but it didn't show up when she got a credit report that year, and instead it took until 2006 for it to be added to her 'file' etc.

Now my Mum has been advised by this bank that she was already in arrears (she has bank statemnts which prove it was paid to them every month ON TIME) but a default was applied. :huh:

She has made calls to three seperate organisations associated with this bank today, and was really distressed by their attitude of simply talking over her when she tried to explain that she didn't understand the default etc, nor was she notified, and now - TWO YEARS LATER - when she needs the financial advice/help - the Bank are refusing to offer any solution other than *that's what it says on our records*...

How can she start to fight this..? Who does she contact if the Bank simply won't listen/pay attention..?

I'd love to step in and help her out - but she won't allow me to call them/get involved on her behalf. My Mum has been a loyal customer of theirs for over 20 years, and is absolutely dumb-founded that this has been allowed to happen. Until today, she was blissfully unaware of any *administration error*, but it seems that she will end up paying the price for someone else's mistake

Please advise!

poorandindenial

Can your mum access her statements from back then?? Perhaps through internet banking??

That should show the payments going to the credit card if they were paid by a transfer or direct debit.

A default can't be added more than once and can't be added after it was actually made either so it sounds pretty iffy that there is a year gap. The bank have to notify you in writing when they add a default.

Which organisations did you contact??

Your mum can do a subject access request to the bank asking to see all the information and correspondence thet they have for her, this should (if they send one) unearth the default notice (or not if it doesn't exist)

The bank have a duty to supply accurate information to the credit reference agencies and the CRAs have a duty to hold accurate information. If you end up getting stonewalled then it might be worth contacting the information commissioner (the information commissioner website also has info about making a subject access request)

You might also want to give nationaldebtline a call, they may be able to provide template letters as well as talking you through what you need to do.