Credit Rating Issue - Where do I stand?

Robstone

Hey

I'm looking for some advice or feedback on what I can do about Santander marking a loan account as defaulted and severely damaging my credit rating.

I purchased a kitchen through B&Q and the loan was provided for by Santander. I was making my monthly payments without fail. During the term of the loan I was diagnosed with cancer (Not something you expect at 30 years of age)

I contacted Santander and explained I would be unable to make the monthly payments I explained I was under going chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. I provided Doctors\Consultant letters and medical certificates.

Santander were less then helpful - They constantly pestered me through my treatment and passed or sold my account onto a 3rd party to chase.

The treatment I under went was successful - It took over a year to get the all clear and as soon as I could return to work I resumed payments and finally made the last outstanding amount on the account.

I checked my experian credit report as I was having issues getting credit and found to my horror santander has defaulted the account which in turn dropped my Credit rating to very poor.

I find this to be incredible harsh and callous thing to do on Santander part. They were provided with all the medical documentation and proof of my condition. Santander have been the only Company I had to deal with during my illness to take this action, Can large company's such as Santander treat cancer sufferers this way?is there any legal stand point I can take to get this reversed? I'm just so angry after everything I went through, keeping santander informed they have behaved this way and dealt such a low blow.

I'm not sure where to start and try and get this changed.

Rob

Bravehearted_2

Sympathies on the health - hope you're well.

However you did default and Santander are right to record it as such. Not much chance of getting it removed. Unfortunate things like illness or job issues or life in general aren't considered acceptable reasons for defaulting.

fatbelly

You can ask them to remove it (address at the end of your report) and you can say that you intend to refer it to the ICO.

But unless they are prepared to remove it as an act of goodwill, it will remain. They have acted in the letter of the legislation.

If you find a caring bank, stick with them. It won't be Santander or any of the major ones.

FireWyrm

My sympathies.

Not that long ago, a bank had the power almost of life and death over a person. They could (and did) simply foreclose on mortgages putting people onto the street in little more than what they stood up in. They sent people to prison where it was almost impossible to buy your way back out.

These days, they're not allowed to do that, but it doesnt mean they play fair or nice either. Nothing has changed very much in 200 years.

You did ultimately default and they wont care much why, only that you did unfortunately. Anyway, most of us wish that we had never borrowed money from a bank in the first place, so perhaps a silver lining in that you are prevented from borrowing any more because of the credit score. Look at it this way, you survived cancer and now you have a real opportunity to start afresh. Do what you can to pay off Santander and take it as a life lesson. There's no such thing as a 'caring bank'.

Gordon_Hose

If it was sold on it will be down to who's name is on the default. When Santander sold the account, the DCA should have amended the owner of the account to their name.

If the default is registered in Santander's name, the debt was never sold on or the DCA who bought it didn't update it.

Robstone

Thank you for all the respones, I have written a letter to Santander asking them to remove the default. I will let you know how it turns out.