omg my credit rating is a Z!!!

teabag29

So basically I was in a violent relationship many years ago (7 years ago it ended). My ex was a wa**er to put it mildly. I finally left him when he killed my unborn child by punching me in the stomach. Whilst I was with him I had a very good credit rating and had credit cards etc (i had just started uni to). To cut a long story short he stole my money, often withdrew money from by bank as he knew my pins, opened up catalogues in my name and ripped them off and left me very little to live on so that I couldnt afford to pay the bills. When I finally got the strength to get out of the relationship I had nothing and was in debt up to my eye balls. I moved area and tried to build a new life for myself.

Fast forward 7 years and my credit rating is terrile. I had hoped that 1 day I could gradually repair it but was told today by the bank that my credit rating (which they score in alphabetical order) is at z!!!

Is there anything I can do to repair my credit? i cant even open a current bank account its so poor.

Its hit home that i'll never be able to get a mortgage and such like and its far to late to take my ex to court over it, not that i could ever face him again after everything he did.

sososilly

tea bag. I'm really sorry I don't have the kind of answers you are looking for, but lots on this site do.

I just wanted to say well done for getting out of a violent relationship. That in itself is A* rating.

lala9

Me too, well done for removing yourself from such an awful situation, I know how that feels! Not sure how you stand legally with the debts that have been run up. We need to understand how they came about, did he force you to sign or sign without you knowing etc.

rocketman80

TeaBag,

First thing, well done on getting out of an abusive relationship.

Have you checked you credit score with Credit Expert and Equifax etc (for free for 28 days and cashback on quidco)
Are you on the electoral register where you are living?

Rocket

gillypkk

i think you need to take advise from one of the debt charities.

there are links to them all in a sticky at the top.

ill pm you too.

teabag29

lala9 wrote: »

Me too, well done for removing yourself from such an awful situation, I know how that feels! Not sure how you stand legally with the debts that have been run up. We need to understand how they came about, did he force you to sign or sign without you knowing etc.

Well basically he was violent and i took out an order on him preventing him coming near me but like an idiot i let him come back believing he'd changed, the police told me not to let him back as I had an order to keep him away and i could get in trouble if i let him back. After that he knew i coldnt ring the police on him as he knew i was so scared about getting into trouble and so the violence got worse, thats how it started really. He used to steal my barclaycard and withdraw money out each day (4.5 k debt thats about 6-7 yrs old) he also opened catalogue accounts in my name as his credit was so poor and order lots of things and not pay them back. I tried to pay them off each month but it spiralled out of control and he would steal my money so in the end i had nothing, even the regular bills werent getting paid. I have a water bill from back then for around £1800 and im so scared to even get in contact incase they cut my water off here. Most of the debt is from barclaycard and catalogues but theres also some smaller household bills too. I tried to get a credit report online but it said i needed to get in touch to confirm my identity??? im too scared to do that incase they send the baliffs round or i get arrested or something incase they think i was comitting catalogue fraud because ive no doubt when i escaped from him he prob rang them up and told them i'd done a bunk or something.

lala9

teabag29 wrote: »

Well basically he was violent and i took out an order on him preventing him coming near me but like an idiot i let him come back believing he'd changed, the police told me not to let him back as I had an order to keep him away and i could get in trouble if i let him back. After that he knew i coldnt ring the police on him as he knew i was so scared about getting into trouble and so the violence got worse, thats how it started really. He used to steal my barclaycard and withdraw money out each day (4.5 k debt thats about 6-7 yrs old) he also opened catalogue accounts in my name as his credit was so poor and order lots of things and not pay them back. I tried to pay them off each month but it spiralled out of control and he would steal my money so in the end i had nothing, even the regular bills werent getting paid. I have a water bill from back then for around £1800 and im so scared to even get in contact incase they cut my water off here. Most of the debt is from barclaycard and catalogues but theres also some smaller household bills too. I tried to get a credit report online but it said i needed to get in touch to confirm my identity??? im too scared to do that incase they send the baliffs round or i get arrested or something incase they think i was comitting catalogue fraud because ive no doubt when i escaped from him he prob rang them up and told them i'd done a bunk or something.

Hi Teabag

At least you have him out of your life now, I too made the mistake of letting him back in and I certainly paid the consequences mentally and physically, but I'm determined not to pay financially.

I suggest you seek the advice of the Debt Charities, I spoke with National Debtline, they are great and really put you at your ease. You really need to know where you stand and don't bury your head in the sand, things probably aren't as bad as you think. Get hold of your credit report, do it by post it's only £2 and there is a form online to complete and send off. The credit reference agency probably wanted you to get in touch with them because they have no record of you at your current address.

Once you know where you stand you will feel so much better and judging by what state your finances are in begin to understand which path to take to rectify the situation

tigerfeet2006

Don't be afraid to send your details to the CRA's they are just making sure they have the right person and not sending you someone elses details. Get your details from all 3 of the CRA's so you know what you are dealing with and then phone one of the debt charities.

This is Martin's article on CRA's
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/credit-rating-credit-score

The right people to go to...


The aim is to find non-profit debt counselling help, in other words a one-on-one session with someone paid to help you, not to make money out of you. Be careful not to confuse this with ‘free help’: many commercial companies say they’re free as you’re not charged directly, but you’ll still pay somehow.
Stop debt collectors harrassing you for 30 days
These non profit agencies are also the ideal people to go to if you're being harassed and bullied for payments by debt collection agencies.
An agreement between the Government and Credit Services Association, the body that represents debt collecting agents (see its Code of Practice), gives new power that guarantees debt collectors won't contact you for at least 30 days, provided you've sought debt help.
The debt counselling service will inform collectors, who'll then give you a month's breathing space to get yourself on better footing.
The places we'd suggest contacting are:
Christians Against Poverty

Debt counselling agency, which specialises in helping those who are emotionally struggling too. The religious focus is why they do it, not how they do it.

• Link: Christians Against Poverty
• Tel: 01274 760720
• Opening times: different for each bureau

Citizens Advice Bureau

Full debt and consumer advice service with many bureau having specialist caseworkers to deal with any type of debt including repossessions and negotiation with creditors.

• Link: Citizens Advice or visit your local CAB centre (find nearest)
• Opening Times: different for each bureau

Community Legal Advice (includes Housing Duty Scheme)

Legal advice on a wide range of issues, including debt (usually for those on benefits or a low income). The Housing Duty Scheme gives free advice by phone or at around 100 courts across England and Wales if you are in danger of eviction or repossession.

• Link: Community Legal Advice
• Tel: 0845 345 4345 (or text 'legalaid' and name to 80010 to get a call back)
• Opening times: M-F 9am-6:30pm, Sa 9am-12:30pm.

Consumer Credit Counselling Service

A full debt help service in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Online support is also available via its Debt Remedy tool.

• Link: CCCS
• Tel: 0800 138 1111
• Opening Times: M-F 8am-8pm

Debt Advice Foundation

A debt advice and education charity offering one to one advice.

• Link: Debt Advce Foundation
• Tel: 0800 043 40 50
• Opening times: M - F 8am to 8pm, Sa 9am to 5pm

National Debtline

A full debt help service in England, Scotland and Wales. Online advice is also available via its My Money Steps tool.

• Link: National Debtline
• Tel: 0808 808 4000
• Opening Times: M-F 9am-9pm, Sa 9.30am-1pm (or see Business Debtline for business debts).

Northern Irish residents

Two free, confidential and independent schemes in Northern Ireland are: advice4debtNI, a government funded service offering phone and email advice and AdviceNI, local centers that offer face to face advice and the ability to chat online to an advisor via its 'beattherecession' scheme.

• Link: advice4debtNI
• Link: AdviceNI
• Tel: 0800 917 4607
• Tel: 028 9064 5919
• Opening times: M-F 9am-5pm
• Online: beattherecession

Payplan

Free debt advice and solutions for those in financial difficulty.

• Link: Payplan
• Tel: 0808 280 2816
• Opening Times: M-F 8am-9pm, Sa 9am-3pm

Local agencies

There may be a local debt help agency in your area, if so check it is non-profit or a charity, before signing up. Try entering your postcode into Money Advice Map to find free independent financial advice centres in your area.

gilly021

hello everyone, apologies for randomly posting on someones topic but it wont let me post for some reason.

I have a problem with my credit rating and after doing a recent check via equifax iv noticed i have a default on my file from 2009 which stays on until around 2014-15. Unfortunately i am in need of credit for a mortgage and this default is causing me to have a poor score and therefore im running into problems being accepted.

Basically the default is from a catalogue of mine which i thought was paid off.....however to my suprise my sister (great family) had discovered my password and ordered a large amount of goods without me knowing. anyway one thing lead to another and she ran the bill up too much to afford - this was then passed to debt collectors - then defaulted as she couldnt afford the repayments (ALL without me knowing). I eventually found out that she had done this to me and she paid the debt off slowly but surely.

i did not know a letter intending to default my credit file had been issued. But now i cant seem to get this off my file and onto hers because once the debt is settled its "apparently" classed as acknowledgement that the debt is yours. So the creditors/debt collectors will not remove the default.

What do i do? i dont want to get my sister into any trouble yet im the one suffering as a result???

PLEASE PLEASE help and once again for posting in this section

Jariya

Teabag..that is some great advice you have there!

But..I spotted you said you were scared of contacting companies you owe to.
Been there myself...and when I had no choice..they were incredibly helpful.

If you are in debt the worst thing ever is to hide and ignore it.
If you have small debts (eg..£2K) if you pay them £5 per month - properly regulary..you are doing somethign towards it - not heaps but they can see you are paying - small and regular payments keep people off your back.


In reply to Gilly..how did your sis get your details? The debt is in your name..so therefore your debt.is my first thought.

adyj73

OMG I'm a bloke and your story upset me Teabag. I don't know the answers to your financial problems but you most certainly have my thoughts with you at this difficult time. At least you are now 'safe' and no one can take that from you - financial issues pale into insignificance when you have gone through what you have. All the best xx