How to get a default removed from credit file?

Moneybus

Myself and my husband each have a Yorkshire Visa card and have banked with the Yorkshire bank for over 15 years. My wage goes into Yorks bank and all my monthly direct debits come out of my account, Each month I do a monthly transfer to pay the minimum amount on both Yorkshire Visas. Back in April 2011 I made a genuine mistake whereby I made two payments to the same Visa card rather than one payment to each. This resulted in a default on my visa account as by time I had explained that I made made a genuine mistake and that the advisor who rang to say I was in arrears had transferred the payment to the correct Visa is was past the billing deadline and therefore a default. I have never defaulted on any payments in the past and despite struggling with money we always made sure every bill was paid on time. I feel genuinely upset that this one honest mistake has grossly affected my credit score despite my exemplary history with Yorks Bank. I tried writing to the Head of Customers Services at Yorks Visa to see of they would remove the default but 8 months on I haven't heard anything and the default is still on my file. Would someone be able to advise the next steps I could take to try and get the default removed? Has anyone been successful in getting a default removed?

ch3101

The only way it can be removed is if the bank or lender made a wrong move.

It's very unfortunate but I can only assume there'll have been an option to make minimum payments by direct debit which should always be done.

bigadaj

A single late payment default won't have a huge impact. Unless there is significant other adverse data, and you pay everything else on time the there shouldn't be too many issues for you.

Naf

There shouldn't be a default for a single late payment. And if the payment was made soon after the due date, they're supposed to give you some grace period before applying anything to your file (as I understand it?). It is your fault, so you have no grounds to force them to take it off; but if you appeal to them that it's a one off and a genuine mistake, then they might leave your file clean as a nice gesture.

grumbler

Moneybus wrote: »

.... I made a genuine mistake whereby I made two payments to the same Visa card rather than one payment to each. This resulted in a default on my visa account as by time I had explained that I made made a genuine mistake and that the advisor who rang to say I was in arrears had transferred the payment to the correct Visa is was past the billing deadline and therefore a default.

Are you sure it's a default, not just a late/missed payment?

picklednut

Hi, thanks all for the replies. I don't know the difference between a default and a missed payment. I've just signed up for Noddle and it shows as a bid red dot! I've got a credit rating of 3/5 and have been refused a loan and also credit card increase and thought my reduced credit rating was due to this late payment/default. We do have quite a lot on cards and I was part time and my OH is self employed so this too might count for the credit rating. However I did get credit to buy a new TV last year and thought I would be refused so really confused.

UsetheFORCE

I queried an overlimit marker on my Yorkshire Bank Current Account with the CRA, it was removed within 2 days.

guesswho2000

picklednut wrote: »

Hi, thanks all for the replies. I don't know the difference between a default and a missed payment. I've just signed up for Noddle and it shows as a bid red dot! I've got a credit rating of 3/5 and have been refused a loan and also credit card increase and thought my reduced credit rating was due to this late payment/default. We do have quite a lot on cards and I was part time and my OH is self employed so this too might count for the credit rating. However I did get credit to buy a new TV last year and thought I would be refused so really confused.

Oh I wouldn't pay any attention to Noddle's "rating". Mine's fluctuated constantly, and has apparently dropped to 2/5 this month - no adverse whatsoever, the only change being settling a personal loan and closing one of eight CC accounts.

Into perspective - it was only 3/5 when Nationwide approved me for my mortgage. I'm more inclined to thing Noddle's a bit out, rather than Nationwide!

fermi

picklednut wrote: »

Hi, thanks all for the replies. I don't know the difference between a default and a missed payment. I've just signed up for Noddle and it shows as a bid red dot! I've got a credit rating of 3/5 and have been refused a loan and also credit card increase and thought my reduced credit rating was due to this late payment/default. We do have quite a lot on cards and I was part time and my OH is self employed so this too might count for the credit rating. However I did get credit to buy a new TV last year and thought I would be refused so really confused.

If it was actually a default, then it would show as a "D" in the the row of status histories and stay that way. Plus you would see a "default date" listed and the account status would still say either default or a settled default.

An actual default would end the account (by definition) in most circs, and is only applied when the relationship between you and the lender has seriously broken down. e.g. several months of missed payment, referral to a debt collector etc....

As others have said, sounds like this is just a late payment marker. If accurate, i.e. you did pay late due to your error, then unlikely to get it removed, but it will have less impact over time. Still, if you think the time-scales involved still make it arguably unfair, then complain again.

Forget the credit score given by the CRAs. It is what the lenders make of the history on your file that matters.

You could add a notice of correction to your file to explain what happened? I'm never 100% convinced if that is wise in all cases, but if you get rejections etc due to this then it may be.

gb12345

Moneybus wrote: »

Myself and my husband each have a Yorkshire Visa card ...

picklednut wrote: »

Hi, thanks all for the replies.

It would appear that having multiple accounts causes you confusion all over the place :rotfl:.

Moneybus

Yes, I should stop having duplicate accounts!

I've just logged into Noddle and the missed payment is showing as a red dot with "AA" in the middle of it and 1 at the side of it. What does this mean? Is there a guide anywhere which shows what the abbreviations mean? Eg on another payment there is a green dot with "UC" in the middle of it.