Experian Credit Report Question

ginja_ninja_2

Hi there

I have a few questions about my credit report that I can't find an answer to on Experians FAQ's page - the questions I have relate to previous entries on my report that have now been deleted.

I had quite a few debts that got out of control - considered bankruptcy but chickened out despite the lovely folk of MSE helping me and I have been juggling them ever since (6 years ago).

I was rather shocked to see on my credit file today however, that only 2 of the original 8 debts are on my experian credit file as it has been more than 6 years from the date of registered defaults.... initial reaction was woohoo! :beer: But before I get too excited, I would just like to ask a few questions.

My queries are:-

(1) Once a debt has been removed from your credit file, can it somehow be re-registered/updated, or is it a case of once the 6 years have passed the default notice it's gone, and it's gone forever?

(2) If it is gone forever, but the company/agents continue to chase me, can they still proceed to a CCJ or is there a time limit from the date of default?

(3) Two of the companies that I owe money to (credit cards) but are no longer on my credit file are still chasing me to make more payments - these debts have been passed from one company to another and are no longer registered to the original bank. If I enter into a new payment scheme with the people chasing me, will those new arrangements re-appear on my credit file as new credit arrangements? Or because it relates to one that has been deleted, it is gone forever no matter what?

(4) I have Standing Orders to 2 companies of £5 per month - these debts are no longer on my credit file. If I stop paying them, can they proceed to CCJ and have the debt re-registered on my file?

(5) How much of an improvement to your credit score is there when you settle a CCJ?

Any help much appreciated

Tixy

Hi

1) once its left your file its gone forever (unless they obtained a CCJ against you at a later point.

2) the creditors/DCAs can continue to chase you for the debt. There is a time limit for which you can be taken to court, but its not related to the default date. Assuming you are in england/wales then the creditors have 6years from the last time you paid towards the debt or acknowledged in writing that you owed the money to take you to court. If they don't take you to court in that time then the debt becomes statute barred. This means the debt still exists but you cannot be taken to court, and if you write to say you don't intend to pay then they have to stop chasing you. Sounds like you have been paying your debts so this is unlikely to be relevant in your case.

3) Shouldn't appear again, if it did then it would be wrong and you'd need to get it removed by complaining to the credit reference agencies.

4) yes they could take you to court to obtain a CCJ (assuming there was never a period of 6years with no payments). If you get taken to court the CCJ could be registered on your credit fle

5) no idea, credit scores are pretty worthless, not worth paying to see. However with regards to how much it will improve your credit rating, it will a bit although whilst ever a CCJ appears (its on for 6years) then your chance of getting mainstream credit is low.

ginja_ninja_2

Thank you Tixy....

Basically, on my Credit file I have a CCJ registered (no defaults), one small catalogue debt (no payments made, defaulted April 2008) and a credit Card debt that is due to be deleted in July this year (no payment plan - last payment made April 2007).

The payment plans I have in place are on those debts that are not on my credit file, ironically enough. And I am guessing that if I stop paying them, they would chase me again and threaten a CCJ.

So I am no better off for having the debts deleted from my file as they can be replaced with a ccj - unless I can dodge them for 6 years and go for the statute barred - or consider going down the bankruptcy route again.

No celebratory beer for me today then.

ginja_ninja_2

Another question... on the CCJ I have, because I was so ridiculously skint at the time, I was only ordered to pay £1 a month, can they apply to have that increased at any time?

Tixy

They could apply for it to be increased - but would have to go back to court to do so. It does happen sometimes if they have reason to think you could afford more.