Help!

cgallagher

Hi there,

I am hoping someone can offer me some advice. I have been with the Halifax for 4 years now with a card cash account which provides a visa electron card and that's pretty much it. I want to upgrade my account as I am fed up of shops not accepting it and want to feel like a grown up but I have tried and they wont do it. I have also tried Smile on line bank and last night I tried to get myself joined onto my partners account with Barclays and they told me to sod off too.

I requested all my reports from checkmyfile.com and my ratings are awful. There are 2 defaults on there dated 2004 one of which isn't mine and I have written to Equifax on this and the other was a catalogue I defaulted on 3 times but settled (I was going through a very bad time)!! I know these things don't come off your report until 6 years so am I doomed??

My reports from checkmyfile.com said:

Experian gave me 2 score but hold no details on my file whatsoever - its says I have no credit and no searched have been done in the last 12 months. This report was practically empty apart from confirming I had no CCJ's and was on the electoral role. I cant help but think it is damaging alone that the record is not up to date and shows no credit whatsoever.

Equifax gave me a 1 score and said I had an active account at another address (this is the default account I am disputing) and said I had been in serious arrears..

Call Credit gave me a 4 score (if only all banks used them huh)

I have taken out a Next retail catalogue and one of those extortionate Capital One credit cards in a bid to up my status but I am lost with what to do next. My partner and I ended up getting a mortgage with GMAC RFC over 2 years ago and I know it was because of my credit file that we had to go with them because no one else would look at us and we are now paying 7.4% and are tied in until June 2007. We want to move next year but I think I am facing the same problem if no one will even give me a bank account......

Sorry for ranting just very frustrated - any advice appreciated!

C.

all_hours

In the shops that don't take electron - use your credit card as a debit card and pay off the full balance as soon as you receive the statement.

CLAPTON

obviously you are right to dispute the incorrect default but there is nothing you can really do about the correct default as such.

the significance of the default will however decrease with time...many credit companies look at the last three years of history as being more important than the older stuff.

i assume that by saying you have a next card and a capital one card you mean you are using these but paying the full amount off each month?

over time this will start to show up on your credit files and will improve your credit rating

i would suggest you recheck your credit records in about six months and see whether they show an improvement.

dancingfairy

Just wanted to say hi and welcome and hope you get it all sorted out.