Hbos credit card default

hugh12

Hi all,

looking for some advice RE trying to get a default removed from my credit file. I got a HBOS credit card when I was 18 (4 years ago-big regret now!!) because I paid any balance off in full, within 12 months they increased my credit limit from £1600 to £4600. I did increase the balance on the card as I moved out of parents and continued to pay well above the minimum monthly payment.
In September 2011, I was unexpectedly made redundant... 2 months after just buying my first home and taking mortgage out with Halifax. I called BOS card services and advised of my situation and that paying my new mortgage was my priority. After going through I&E we arranged a payment plan which I kept to. In January 2012 I got a letter from Moorcroft Group debt collectors saying they were taking over this account as I had defaulted. I'm sure I did receive default letter but to be honest I was so naive I didn't even really understand what it was/the impact it would have.
I contacted Moorcroft and set up an arrangement which I have stuck to and have just started paying even more towards.
Is there anyway I can try to appeal this default with HBOS due to the following:
- Personal situation was explained to them that my priority was to pay the new mortgage with the same company. I stuck to this arrangement and wasn't aware that I would get some threatening letter from a debt collection company and would default- I thought I made an arrangement with HBOS and stuck to it so didn't see what the issue was
-irresponsible and unethical lending- they gave an 18 year old a massive credit limit without reassessing income etc, I accept I spend on the card but the payments became unmanageable due to redundancy
- the debt is apparently with this Moorcroft Group but it still shows on my HBOS online banking and I can still make payments to it through this.
-all other credit is great, pay everything on time but this 1 default has made my credit file awful and is stopping me from progressing financially and personally

Any further info please let me know... Any assistance is much appreciated!

Tixy

The reality is that you defaulted on the original agreement that you had with them. So the default is a correct reflection of the history of that account.

What default date is shown on your file? if this is within 6months of you starting to pay reduced payments then there will be little you can do. It the default date is later than that then you may be able to argue to get it backdated to within 6months (which then obviously means it comes off your report sooner).

-irresponsible and unethical lending- they gave an 18 year old a massive credit limit without reassessing income etc, I accept I spend on the card but the payments became unmanageable due to redundancy

Anyones debt repayments may become unmanageable due to redundancy as far as a lender knows.
If banks only lent to people at a rate that would be manageable if they were made redundant then nobody would be able to borrow more than was manageable to repay on just benefit income.

- the debt is apparently with this Moorcroft Group but it still shows on my HBOS online banking and I can still make payments to it through this.

This is quite typical when a debt has been passed to a debt collection agency, sounds like hbos probably still own the debt but they have appointed moorcroft to collect the debt on their behalf.