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Got my equifax credit file

It's a first step to sorting out my credit score, which is bad.

I don't have much debt now, but have bad credit history due to me being too laid back, a student with 3 children etc etc.

But working now and want to fix it.

There are 2 things on my equifax file I don't understand. This below says I still owe £179 to capquest, I have just phoned them, I don't owe them anything and my account is dormant...


Company Name / Insight Account NumberAccount TypeTermsStart BalanceCurrent BalanceCapquest (Formerly Ftc) (I) / XX9723Bank Default0 @ £ 0 (Monthly)£ 0£ 179StatusCredit LimitDate UpdatedStart DateDate Last DelinquentDate SatisfiedDefault DateDefault / Delinquent BalanceDefaulted£ 009/03/200818/03/200404/06 17/04/2006£ 1,529Payment History YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec2006


And this one says I owe £15, but I have never heard of them...

Company Name / Insight Account NumberAccount TypeTermsStart BalanceCurrent BalancePhoenix Recoveries Sdfs (I) / XXXX6479Mail Order Agency0 @ £ 0 (Monthly)£ 0£ 15StatusCredit LimitDate UpdatedStart DateDate Last DelinquentDate SatisfiedDefault DateDefault / Delinquent BalanceDefaulted£ 025/01/200922/07/200212/04 03/12/2004£ 399

Do you have any advice?

I won't be able to perfect my credit file, as I have a CCJ from 2005. It's paid, but I think they stay for 6 years, is that right?

I would love some advice from you guys.

Thanks,

Star x
«1

Comments

  • ooh sorry just seen those tables didn't come out too well!
    Hope it makes sense :-). Just ask if any questions, as I really have no idea what I am doing here, and need all the help I can get!!!
    Star x
  • First thing you need to do is ring up Equifax and get them to send a letter to this company, write yourself as well, especially if you suspect the information is incorrect.

    You are right about ccj's they stay on your file for 6 years as does all the other information.
    Blackadder: Am I jumping the gun, Baldrick, or are the words 'I have a cunning plan' marching with ill-deserved confidence in the direction of this conversation?
    Still lurking around with a hope of some salvation:cool:
  • laura2481
    laura2481 Posts: 4,305 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 30 July 2009 at 2:53PM
    stargirl72 wrote: »

    And this one says I owe £15, but I have never heard of them...

    Company Name/ Insight Account Number Account TypeTerms Start Balance Current BalancePhoenix Recoveries Sdfs (I) / XXXX6479Mail Order Agency 0 @ £ 0 (Monthly)£ 0£ 15 StatusCredit LimitDate UpdatedStart DateDate Last DelinquentDate SatisfiedDefault DateDefault / Delinquent BalanceDefaulted£ 025/01/2009 22/07/2002 12/04 03/12/2004 £ 399
    Hmmm, looks like it might be debt from a catalogue which has been sold on to a debt collection agency- I'm guessing that's who 'Phoenix Recoveries' might be. Catalogue account opened 22/7/02? And the default amount is £399- not £15

    Ringing any bells? :confused:

    Good luck anyway :D
  • laura2481
    laura2481 Posts: 4,305 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 30 July 2009 at 3:10PM
    I'm bored at work so trying to work out what the mystery debt says-
    It's looking like:

    Company Name/Phoenix Recoveries Sdfs
    Insight Account Number / XXXX6479
    Account Type Mail Order Agency
    Terms 0 @ £ 0 (Monthly)
    Start Balance £ 0
    Current Balance £ 15
    Status Defaulted
    Credit Limit £ 0
    Date Updated 25/01/2009
    Start Date
    22/07/2002
    Date Last Delinquent 12/04
    Date Satisfied
    Default Date03/12/2004
    Default / Delinquent Balance £ 399

    Is this what it says? :confused: very confusing..

    I would read that to mean that possibly you had a catalogue debt with a balance of £15 which wasn't paid in December 2004 and then with charges and stuff that DCA's will add on it is now at £399. But I would expect you to have had letters and stuff ... weird

    or you didn't- and someone has coc*ed up!
  • Hiya

    Thanks for your replies.

    I did have some debts, but when I started working in 2007 I paid them all off, now I just have 'normal' debt (if that makes any sense!!).

    Some of the debts were through collection agencies, so it may well be that I had a debt with that company. The name isn't familiar but I know debts get sold on, one debt I had about 4 agencies throughout the life of the debt.

    Anyway, I phoned capquest today, as I am certain I don't owe them anything, which they confirmed. But they couldn't access my file as it has been closed. Apparently, the only way to get that taken off is to contact the original people I owed, but I have NO IDEA who that is!!! (there were a few!).

    I guess I will have to google phoenix recoveries (no idea who they are) and ring them tomorrow too. Fingers crossed they will know something! It looks like I defaulted in 2004 when there was 399 remaining, the current balance is £15.

    By the way, should I be getting my credit file from experion too?? I got equifax as that was the company my bank told me they used (when they turned me down for a loan recently). I hadn't realised there was more than one. I am hoping I haven't just wasted £14.99!

    How long do things that you have defaulted on in the past, but since paid off (not CCJ) stay on credit file?

    I am feeling good about getting my file, and have to say it's not as bad as I thought! I know the CCJ will be on for 2 more years though, which is a bit depressing, but it's not that long really is it??

    Thanks again

    Star x
  • laura2481
    laura2481 Posts: 4,305 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    It wouldn't hurt to look at the experian one, it may show up something different. Do the free trial, look at the report and then cancel it and it will cost you nothing. Don't bother paying £5.95 or whatever for the credit 'score' as it doesn't mean much as every lender uses different criteria to 'score'.
  • Fire_Fox
    Fire_Fox Posts: 26,026 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I wouldn't necessarily ring Phoenix: that debt is already almost five years old and it will be statute barred in just over a year. If you pay it now it will be another six years before it falls off your record. You can send a letter that asks for information (??possibly the CCA letter) that does not acknowledge the debt. If you don't acknowledge you can still do the statute barred thing I believe. I'd also be inclined to write to CapQuest as I am sure they are responsible for what is on your credit file in their name. Someone who knows more than me will be on in a minute I am sure.
    Declutterbug-in-progress.⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️
  • Fire_Fox wrote: »
    I wouldn't necessarily ring Phoenix: that debt is already almost five years old and it will be statute barred in just over a year. If you pay it now it will be another six years before it falls off your record. You can send a letter that asks for information (??possibly the CCA letter) that does not acknowledge the debt. If you don't acknowledge you can still do the statute barred thing I believe. I'd also be inclined to write to CapQuest as I am sure they are responsible for what is on your credit file in their name. Someone who knows more than me will be on in a minute I am sure.

    That's a really good point... and probably answers my other question about how long a debt stays on file... is it 5 years?

    What exactly does statute barred mean?

    Star x
  • mdes
    mdes Posts: 32 Forumite
    can anyone help??

    i have a 5 year old outstanding loan default i dont want to pay cos the company exposed my debt to a third party and then denied it. it caused me alot of stress and pressure.
    the credit agreement i have was signed by me and the company i bought the car off but not by black horse finance!!

    is there anything i can do??
  • stargirl72 wrote: »
    That's a really good point... and probably answers my other question about how long a debt stays on file... is it 5 years?

    What exactly does statute barred mean?

    Star x

    Every entry on a credit file whether good or bad remains there for 6 years unfortunatly.
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