Next step 6 years after discharge from bankruptcy?

RS2014

As the title says I am have just passed the 6 year anniversary of when I was discharged from bankruptcy, 7 years since I was declared bankrupt. Was an awful time and the circumstances surrounding it and I am very ashamed but what I would like to say to everyone although it is very difficult there is light at the end of the tunnel but it does take time, and I wish everyone here the best in their circumstances. I still find it difficult but try my best, and am still learning all the time as I am not great with money.

I have learnt from the past mistakes though and have tried since to go about things the right although I have made a few errors along the way with duff savings etc as mentioned in a previous thread, and also not being a disciplined enough as I should be.

My credit files (Experian and Equifax) are all clear now which took a lot of work and bankruptcy has dropped off credit file.

I got a vanquish credit card purely for credit building purposes after my discharge and had this for years – I have built up the limitto the maximum £3000 – I have perfect payment history.

I much more recently obtained a Capital One card again for credit building purposes which has a £1500 limit.

I basically put my living costs on these each month and pay the bills when they come through out of my wages.

At the beginning of this year I finally got a proper current account with Santander as well with a £500 overdraft. I did have a Halifax eashcash for years but even though Halifax promised through good conduct they would upgrade me to a proper current account after 6 months - after 5 years + they still refused to even though I had ran account fine so thought I would try my luck elsewhere and it worked.

My question relates to my next step the ultimate aim is a mortgage although I am a long way off in realistic terms and will need to save a lot of money but I want to improve my credit eligibility in the mean time.

I was looking at applying for another card, more reputable but don’t want to start getting refusals on my credit file and more importantly donot really know what is best. Is there like a card up from these basic ‘bad credit building’ cards? Or anything that anyone would recommend next?

All that is on my credit file is all the above with perfect history.There is still a refusal for a Barclaycard I applied for almost a year ago. Again I was only trying to obtain this to help build credit rating/eligibility so I am in best possible position when the time comesfor a mortgage – but I am talking years off currently as I want to try and save as much possible and just maintain a perfect history and strong credit eligibly.I don’t just want a load of ‘bad credit building’ cards on my credit files.

What does everyone think/ advise/ experiences etc?

Thanks in advance.

RS2014

bump

Anyone got any ideas on above?

missspeedy23

I was 6 years discharged in November and it does feel good

I know on this website somewhere they have a page that does a soft search on your account and tells you the likelihood of getting a card and who with. I also had a Vanquis card which I've now cancelled, it did its job and last year I got a Barclaycard platinum.

There is definitely light at the end of the tunnel, my partner and I are in the final stages of buying a house with the Halifax, contracts are exchanged and we hope to be completing on the 27th. We have a 15% deposit though so do be prepared to have to save.

Good luck.

alastairq

Doesn't the BR fall off credit records 6 years from date-of-petition, rather than date-of-Discharge?

missspeedy23

Mine didn't fall off automatically, I had to send copies of my discharge cert to the 3 agencies but they did this after 6 years rather than 7.

sacha1dog

alastairq wrote: »

Doesn't the BR fall off credit records 6 years from date-of-petition, rather than date-of-Discharge?

Yes. 6 years from date of BR.

RS2014

Does anyone know what card would be a good one to apply for next then - as there seems to be no information about any cards as a step up its just 'bad credit' cards and then the standard?