When is the 6 years from?

monstermuncher

I feel like I've spammed the hell out of this forum the last few days. So much going on at the moment!

I've accessed my credit file (while hiding behind a pillow) and I have 3 defaults for stupid reasons.

1 is because it wasn't technically my debt, but my ex ordered something on my account and I tried (and failed) to get the money from him, then moved, and forgot about it and ended up with a default. They've now tracked me down to this address.

The second is just from moving house twice and only changing my address once so I wasn't getting the letters in time. That one was settled in full a year ago.

The third is because they wouldn't let me pay it. It's to a catalogue, they say they sold the debt to a collection agency so I'd have to pay them, the agency have no details of me. I'm on my credit report it's down as owed to the catalogue, not an agency.

I know they're wiped off after 6 years, but my question is, 6 years from when? Some places say from the day they put it on, and others say from the last contact.

The one that's settled in full I intend to write to, and explain that my understanding is that had I not paid them at all, my credit rating would not have been affected. In fact, because I paid the date of my default showing on my file is the date I paid, which means it'll be 5 years until it's cleared. I could also have tried to agree a lesser amount to settle in full, and it would still just be marked on my file as 'satisfied'. I will ask them to consider removing the default from my account as I paid the full amount in good faith, in the knowledge that it would actually hurt my credit long term. I'll lose nothing for asking, so it's worth a try.

For the catalogue, I'm wondering if they'll consider removing the default seeing as the reason it's still outstanding is due to them not being able to take payment despite me actively trying.

As for the last one, it's not a small amount, I'm wondering about explaining that it wasn't my debt, and offering full payment for good will, on the condition that they remove the records from my file.

I don't expect any of them to be successful, but I intend to try. With the first one I'll lose nothing, but with the second two, if the 6 years is from the date of last contact or payment, I actually stand to lose nearly 2 years!

Even if I settle in full without asking for anything, it will still mean the 6 years starts from the date it's settled, adding another 2 years onto my bad credit.

It honestly seems when it gets to this stage, that you're better off not paying.

fermi

monstermuncher wrote: »

I know they're wiped off after 6 years, but my question is, 6 years from when? Some places say from the day they put it on, and others say from the last contact.

6 years from the initial recording of the default.

donna-c-86

the 6 years starts from when u last made a payment
hth

monstermuncher

Well....now I'm even more confused!

fermi

donna-c-86 wrote: »

the 6 years starts from when u last made a payment
hth

You are probably thinking of when they might be legally statute barred.

As far as I can see, the OP was asking when they come off the credit reports. THAT is 6 years after the default was first added.

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Hi

It's 6 years from date of issue of that particular one.

HHx

donna-c-86

yeah that was exactly what I was thinking, sorry for any confusion

Hopelessly_Hopeful

fermi wrote: »

You are probably thinking of when they might be legally statute barred.

As far as I can see, the OP was asking when they come off the credit reports. THAT is 6 years after the default was first added.

Post crossed but glad we are saying the same thing. Your thanks button appears to have gone awol Fermi?

HHx

monstermuncher

So really, what is the incentive to clear the balance that you owe? I intend to because I don't want it hanging over my head, but on one level it would make sense to ignore them and save the money, seeing as it's not going to make things any better anyway!

Another point, is there a way of seeing when they were added to the file? I have a date by the settled one, and it's the date it was paid off, not the date it was added. Does that mean it'll still vanish 6 years after it was added, even though I don't know when that is?

I just feel so stupid, I had a couple of months of being an idiot, and I'm going to pay for that for 6 years. I can't see me ever being able to get a mortgage. It's not even like I can take out credit to build up my rating now, because I can't imagine I'd be accepted for anything for another 5 years.

My finances are better now, I'm working really hard and all the overtime I can get, I've learned my lessons and I'm a lot more frugal but I feel like my life is written off by this.

Steviek_2

I know exactly how you feel Monstermuncher! I have1 default from Egg registered in January 2007 I finish paying it in March 2012 but it wont come off my record until next Jan. My husband has loads of defaults which he didnt tell me about until we made a mort app in 2010 (the meeting with the broker after the application refusal should be on youtube!). He hasnt paid any of these so they wont come off his record until the 6 years from date of registration which will be 2015! This means despite my earning £60k per annum I cant have a normal bank account high street rate mortgage low rate credit card loan etc its just the way it is and after years of beating myself up about it Ive realised there is nothing I can do except keep up maintaining a good record (and then seeking a divorce ha ha!)