Improving my credit file

happy_bunny_2

Yes, well someone was reporting the account as not defaulted until 2010 or it would be gone from your report by now

They own the account, so they will need to go to Barclaycard to get the info they need.

It will give them something to do and keep them quiet for a month or 2. You never know, they might change the default date in your favour.

happy_bunny_2

If you stopped paying in 2010, why has the balance gone down since then?

fuzzgun19

happy_bunny wrote: »

Yes, well someone was reporting the account as not defaulted until 2010 or it would be gone from your report by now

They own the account, so they will need to go to Barclaycard to get the info they need.

It will give them something to do and keep them quiet for a month or 2. You never know, they might change the default date in your favour.

happy_bunny wrote: »

If you stopped paying in 2010, why has the balance gone down since then?

As far as I can remember the balance at it's highest point was probably £800 odd in 2001, then I got into difficulties paying, and explained this to Barclaycard and they put me on an arrangement until I stopped paying in 2010, so 2001-2010 the balance has gone down to £132.
After I stopped paying BC sold the debt to Cabot (I didn't know about this as they didn't have my current address).
I found this entry on my credit file a couple of months ago.

happy_bunny_2

That default on your report says you defaulted on £823 in 2010.

I wonder if they just changed the default date to when they bought the account?

That would make sense.

fuzzgun19

That sounds likely, so if I asked for a statement it would probably come back as all the payments I made up to 2010 and they would ask me to pay the remaining £130.

But I did not default on £823, it was the lower figure.

I don't think I've any chance of it being removed, but like you said it's an old debt so there's little chance they will have a CCA.

happy_bunny_2

If you complain, it creates a stack of work for them to go to Barclaycard etc. would give me a bit of satisfaction.

If they send contradictory info back, complain about that too.

They are not allowed to change that default date, they likely did so they could screw your file for longer in the hope you would pay.

I would complain about the wrong default date and keep a CCA request handy for when required. Also request a detailed statement as entitled.

HB

fuzzgun19

Thanks again happy_bunny.

I am sending a letter tomorrow disputing the default date, and also asking for the historic statement.

So, according to my bank statements, the last payment made to this Barclaycard was May 2009 therefore the default date would have been November 2009 (6 months after no payments).. have I got this correct?

happy_bunny_2

Sounds good.

HB

fuzzgun19

Not heard anything from Cabot after I sent them the letter.

Do they normally take this long, or should I chase them?

happy_bunny_2

Should not take too long. They are supposed to acknowledge complaints promptly and have 8 weeks to give you their final response.

Fire off another letter, stating they have 14 days to respond or you will be getting the FOS involved.

If nothing after that, call the FOS. They will tell them to respond for you.