Please help - Post bankruptcy

antony7820

Hi I am looking for some advice following declaring bankruptcy, I will try to give as much information as possible I have lots of questions and am very grateful for any help/advice anyone can offer.

Firstly I declared myself bankrupt in August 2009 and was discharged a year later.

I would like to do everything I can to start repairing my credit history so that in the future one day I can have good credit, not that I ever want credit cards or loans but one day I would like to buy a house, I know this isn't going to be easy and is going to take a long time but I want to do all I can to make this as easy as possible. I have definitely learnt my lesson with regards to credit, for any of you wondering how I came to be bankrupt, in short I ran a small business that was very busy, i committed myself to lots of credit agreements when the recession took hold the work dried up and I was left with a load of debt I had no way of paying hence the decision to declare myself bankruptcy, not an easy decision but it was the only way out of that situation.

Anyway, I have carried out a credit check and all my previous debts are listed, all are listed as defaults however some say that they have been settled, I would like to know why some do not say settled and should they? for example and account with Lloyds says settled but one with natwest says defaulted. I still occasionally get contacted from agencies working for natwest and I have informed them of my bankruptcy but it doesn't seem to have changed anything.

Also I have CCJ's on my credit report, these are dated prior to my bankruptcy but they don't say that they have been satisfied, is this important, will these ccj's expire after a number of years or do I need to do anything.

I would also be very grateful for any further advice on how I can get things back on track, I haven't been able to get a bank account I have tried all the high street banks and all have declined me even for accounts with no credit facilities at all, I don't really need an account as I use my wife's for wages but with a view to repairing the damage done it might be a good idea if i can get an account.

I have some credit in my name, this was credit obtained prior to the bankruptcy such as my mobile phone bill. I don't have any other credit and nor do i want any, I make sure all bills are paid in time and haven't missed any payments since my bankruptcy.

From what I have read the bankruptcy will effect me for 6 years I'm sure it will no doubt be longer than this but I am concerned about the defaults, Im sure if they don't say settled they will remain on my credit report indefinitely.

Thank you all in advance for your help and guidance.

fermi

For the credit accounts/defaults, read this link:

Credit Reference File Clean Up Post Bankruptcy

CCJs work a bit differently, and don't need to say settled.

mazman83

Hi and welcome

You need to take a look at the Credit file cleanup thread which will guide you in sorting out you credit files so that your BR and your creditor will drop off after the six years.

Then a high interest credit card from capital one or vanquis can help build your credit history, as long you pay the balance of in full each month.

Have you tried a basic account from Barclays or coop, they are both BR friendly banks.

You will find it hard to get a normal current account whilst your BR remains on your credit file.